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Bowling

Man behind drilling helps strike success

By LARRY BUGG
Published November 1, 2005

Many local bowlers don't credit a professional or coach when they roll a 300 game or an 800 series.

The players sing the praise of the man who drilled their bowling ball, John Gibbs . The 59-year-old considers himself a "doctor of bowling," and many agree.

Gibbs didn't start with any intention of drilling balls.

The native of Sagamore,

Mass., manufactured wood fishing boards for Gibbs Lures. His father, Stan , started the company in 1946, and John later bought the business. He sold it in 1988, then relocated to Florida.

Besides hot weather and palm trees, Gibbs discovered bowling in 1988 after moving to Dunnellon. He later went to Homosassa and now lives in Crystal River with his wife, Rita .

Gibbs started the drilling business in 1989, and opened John Gibbs Pro Shop in 1990 as part of Manatee Lanes in Crystal River. He also bowls for fun, and has a 203 average. He's recorded two 300 games.

"I'm still looking for the 800," Gibbs said.

His real triumphs occur when customers see major improvements in their scores. Gibbs has gone to great lengths to learn the art of drilling.

"I'm highly educated in ball drilling," he said. "I have been back and forth to Las Vegas for conventions. I can make the ball do what I want.

"I prescribe the right medicine for the patient, which gives them a step up," Gibbs said.

Every customer's needs are different.

"I have to prescribe the proper ball for the condition he is going to ball on and his athletic ability," Gibbs said. "In golf, you have lies and winds. In bowling, they may bowl on a lane that's been used, and there are differences in oil surfaces.

"You have to educate people along the way so they achieve the entry angle on the pins. It's real hard to explain. There are so many variables. It's an enjoyable game but highly challenging."

At Manatee Lanes, the bowlers find medium oil patterns, Gibbs said.

"If someone is averaging 110, I can select the right ball to get 15 to 20 pins on their game," he said. "If someone comes in and averages 170, I can probably increase their average by 10 pins."

One of his best customers was Melanie O'Grady , who used to live in Beverly Hills but has moved to Port Richey. She began in the sport at Manatee before she was a teenager. Now 16, O'Grady is the youngest female professional in history.

Gibbs likes hanging with the bowlers while they are knocking down the pins.

"There's a lot of good camaraderie," Gibbs said. "There's a lot of challenges in every throw. There are a lot of nice people."

Gibbs is confident he can make a ball right for every customer. "My claim to fame is that I will fit your hand in that ball."

He said he has thousands of customers, including a group of people that comes from Chiefland to see him regularly, at the center owned by Lars and Marion Langlo .

"I enjoy having my pro shop at Manatee because the owners are upstanding people," Gibbs said.

PARKVIEW LANES: The next Mixed Doubles 7-8-9 No-tap Tournament is scheduled for Nov.13.

MARINER LANES: The center is looking for fall-league bowlers.

Mariner has daytime and nighttime openings for men, women, children or couples. For information, call Sue Mitchell , (352) 683-7576.

--If you have announcements, information or comments, contact Larry Bugg at Larrybugg@msn.com

[Last modified November 1, 2005, 05:00:06]