ARLINGTON, Texas - When the Professional Women's Bowling Association went on hiatus in 2003, United States Bowling Congress Hall of Famer Carolyn Dorin-Ballard of Keller, Texas, was at the top of her game.

She was two years removed from one of the most dominant seasons in bowling history and still thriving in a profession that had her on the road for most of the year.

The petite right-hander always was among the players to beat, stylishly sporting her signature popped-collar and distinctive New Jersey accent, while perfecting the art of the trip 4 pin.

While some would expect to wear down with each grueling week of practice, pro-ams, qualifying and match play, the 2001, and eventually 2003, PWBA Player of the Year seemed to get stronger and more confident as the weeks went on.

And then, it was over.

The PWBA closed its doors partway through the 2003 bowling season, and CDB was among the many players left wondering how to adjust to life in the "real world."

As it turned out, the timing was unfortunate but couldn't have been better for Dorin-Ballard, who went on to achieve what she considers her greatest accomplishment, her daughter Alyssa, with USBC and Professional Bowlers Association Hall of Famer Del Ballard Jr.

Parenthood was an opportunity Dorin-Ballard absolutely cherished. It was the highest of highs after a career of regular success and victories. Then came the lowest of lows and another challenge for the Ballards to face together, when Del was diagnosed with tonsil cancer in May 2010.

It was an opponent far more intimidating than fellow hall of famers Wendy Macpherson or Pete Weber, but the bowling industry and a great support system of friends and family rallied behind them as Del fought through the most significant match of his life.

From their darkest time came another opportunity to use their influence to unselfishly make a difference. They combined their two passions - bowling and finding a cure for cancer - to create Ballard vs. The Big C, an ongoing effort to raise money and awareness. Del's voice as a cancer survivor resonates throughout the bowling community.

In the last decade, despite the challenges and opportunities life dealt her, Dorin-Ballard never strayed far from the lanes, maintaining a variety of jobs in the bowling industry, coupled with success in the pro shop and coaching realms of the Dallas-Fort Worth area.

She tried to stay competition-ready and made sure to be a visible presence at every major women's event. She found success in PBA regional competition, in the PBA Women's Series and with Team USA.

Over the years, the game changed. Equipment changed. Priorities changed. Through it all, the Ballards stayed relevant and up-to-date, using their influence and expertise to help make the next generation of bowlers better.

Dorin-Ballard watched the game evolve and learned things that allowed her to deviate from the trademark down-and-in-style that earned her more than 20 professional titles in her career.

She thought the changes were necessary to help her compete with today's younger players, who are more powerful and hook the ball more than was required years ago.

And, when it was announced that the PWBA Tour was re-launching in 2015, Dorin-Ballard felt versatile and ready.

However, it didn't take long for her to realize that even though the PWBA was dormant for more than a decade, a new crop of talented female bowlers quietly had used opportunities like the Junior Gold Championships, Junior Team USA, Team USA and collegiate bowling to stay sharp and create an unrivaled rookie class.

Dorin-Ballard knew she had more knowledge and tricks than before, having studied the changing nuances of the game as a coach, but something was missing.

"It definitely took me a couple of weeks to get back into it, but even then, I felt like something was missing," Dorin-Ballard said. "We talked a lot out there last season, and Del and I worked on a lot of things, from my mental approach to my grip, feel and thumb. It turns out, I was trying to do it all, and that was too much. I decided to go back to basics and focus on my strengths."

The short 2015 season was a learning experience for Dorin-Ballard, who thrived in the long weeks and long formats of yesteryear but was forced to also adapt to the two-day sprints of the new PWBA.

Statistically, Dorin-Ballard finished the 2015 season 21st in points, 24th in earnings and 30th in average, while cashing six times. She made three match-play appearances but was absent from the championship round, where she'd made herself at home in nearly 100 career TV appearances.

Looking back, perhaps more valuable than the trophies and prize money, were the things she learned in Round 2 of her professional career. And more accurately, the most important thing she learned was there were a lot of things she needed to unlearn if she was going to be successful again.

In formally grading her return to PWBA competition, Dorin-Ballard admits she wasn't as sharp as she thought she was, and that wasn't only physically, but also in reading the oil patterns and ball motion.

"I got away from the straight game that helped me win, and even though I could do more, and it worked a little, it wasn't consistent," said Dorin-Ballard, the 2001 USBC Queens champion. "I truly believe if you have good fundamentals, a good 'A' game and make your spares, you'll succeed. I needed to get back to classic Carolyn, who was good at repeating shots and executing."

Classic Carolyn was known for being up the back of the ball, was proficient at reading lanes and was incredibly tough mentally. Her strength came from her legs, and she always managed to control the pocket, regardless of the lane condition.

Dorin-Ballard isn't used to, or fond of, mediocrity, so her 2015 PWBA Tour experience has served as motivation, while her real-life experiences of the last 13 years have made her much more OK with the outcome, regardless of what it is, if she knows she gave it her all.

"Anytime I don't perform well, it does motivate more, and after last season, I knew changes needed to be made," Dorin-Ballard said. "It's one of those things where after you've had so much success, being in the middle of the pack only makes you work harder. Right now, I feel 1,000 percent better than I did six months ago, and I'm excited for the 2016 season. I've been bowling more, making better ball choices and reading lanes and transition much better."

A recent test of Dorin-Ballard's progress came at the 2016 USBC Masters in Indianapolis, where she showed mental toughness and used a strong final-day push to secure a prize check with a 98th-place finish.

While the end goal was to make the cut (to the top 64), every event she bowls in now is just preparation for the upcoming PWBA Tour season, where the 51-year-old wants to prove she's still a contender.

And, just like they have after every event for decades, Carolyn and Del Ballard sat down after the Masters to evaluate her performance.

What more needs to be done before the new PWBA season kicks off in Las Vegas on April 29? Have they been able to re-discover the Classic Carolyn, who won seven titles and broke or tied 11 PWBA records during the 2001 season?

Or, can they combine her with the hard-working mother and resilient wife, who showed so much strength in helping her husband overcome the most poorly timed gutter ball in history, to create a competitor even more fierce than the CDB so many grew up watching on TV?

"The No. 1 thing I saw last year was that she simply wasn't sharp," Del Ballard Jr. said. "You can practice all you want, but you're not as sharp physically or mentally as you would be if you were bowling in tournaments more frequently. Now, she has a job that gives her more freedom to bowl, and after seeing Carolyn at the Masters, I think she's ready. She was able to grind. She made faster moves. She kept her head in it. She really showed me the Carolyn of years ago."