Vic's New Point Of View

Long before Vic Oliver moved down to Hernando County 11 years ago, he had established himself as a great bowler in New York.

By that point the then 26-year-old had 13 300 games and one 800 series under his belt, and he continued to add to his list of accomplishments after relocating to Florida.

Yet in the past few years, the 37-year-old Spring Hill resident, who now operates Vic's Lawn Service, has taken his game up a notch.

Not only has his averaged ballooned into the high 220s and even 230, he has had nine 300s and five 800s. He has 24 300s and nine 800s overall.

He has bowled as high as an 836 series two years ago at Hudson Bowl. He averaged 235 in 40 games of a summer league this year; 225 and 223 in the two winter leagues in which he rolled over 100 games.

Then on July 21 in the five-game Monday Singles League at Mariner Lanes (the same league where he averaged 235), the lefty shot two 300s in one series.

"It was a great feeling," Oliver said. "The first time I ever did that. Of all the honors I've got and achieved in bowling, I never thought I'd do that."

So what has sparked this improvement in a veteran of the lanes, someone who has bowled seriously since age 13?

Oliver credits the one-year period, July 2006-07, when he owned the pro shop at Mariner with Jason Mahr, who still operates what is now KMA Pro Shop.

"That's what did it," Oliver said. "That's when I started to know the physics of the game, how to drill my own bowling ball.

"I gave lessons. That taught me a lot. Some of the things you teach, you don't realize you do wrong. So you teach yourself that way."

Better mental game

According to Oliver, learning about the science of bowling equipment helped him hone his mental approach.

"I learned basically the physics of the game, the part of the game you need to know to make changes quick, before anybody else," Oliver said.

"...The mental part of my game improved. Before I owned the pro shop, I used to leave corner pins and get frustrated. I finally realized why I was leaving them."

Oliver has taken part in many leagues, including five this new winter season, and he believes that has also helped his game.

Because of his business, however, Oliver doesn't have the time to think about trying his hand on the PBA regional tour. Instead he looks to continue his rise amongst the elite local bowlers.

"I never thought I'd average 230," Oliver said. "Now that I am, anything below that I think I've had a bad night. I thought it was good to average 230 for a week. Now that I'm averaging that my next goal is 240.

"...I need to go out and maintain to meet that goal. The more I bowl, the better I get."

In one of those leagues, Oliver bowls with his 8-year-old son Tyler. Despite his long resume of honor scores, his son's involvement in the sport has made all of them a little more special.

"They mean more and more, everyone one of them, considering my son gets most of the awards now," Oliver said. "It's an incentive for me personally and for my son."

BY THE NUMBERS: VIC OLIVER 2007-08 SEASON
- Compiled by CHRIS BERNHARDT JR.
League Games Average House
Coca-Cola Classic 108 223 Mariner
Hammer Classic 102 225 Hudson
Spring Hill Youth/Adult 96 218 Spring Hill
Friday Early Mariners 36 229 Mariner
Kevin's Pro Shop 30 210 Spring Hill
PBA Challenge 52 209 Spring Hill
Monday Singles 40 235 Mariner