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Last month I touched on what is the first thing
to do when taking this wonderful game seriously, namely having the
right darts for YOU.
This month is all about darts technique or the way darts are thrown.
There is no exact science when it comes to holding or throwing
darts. Personal feel is likely to create a throwing method for each
of us, but if anyone wants to improve beyond their current
proficiency, then refined technique is an area that should be
addressed.
 ‘Back to Basics’ is a term used by all achieving sportspersons who
study their game of choice. Basics are the building blocks that
enable an individual to evolve from a novice at the game (any game)
to an accomplished player. These fundamentals if applied will always
stay with them and most certainly be revisited from time to time
when they “lose the feel”
What makes a good player at any sport stand out from the average
Joe. I believe it is ‘sustainable repetition’. In darts the reason
why some people can hit 140’s regularly is because they can
consistently throw their darts at a target marginally smaller than
the area of the semi-bull (25). This requires good technique and
good technique requires practice but starts with good habits.
Stance: Some players throw with their toe at the line, while others
have the outside of the foot along the line. As long as you maintain
good balance, this again is personal choice, and individual
flexibility but the latter does move you slightly closer to the
board.
Position: Always throw from the same position, whether it be
centered or offset to the left or right. Whatever works best for
you, shifting around creates bad habits and dissipates form.
Stability: All good players at the game have limited body movement.
The perfect throwing technique would see only the forearm extending
to the board from a horizontally maintained upper arm, with all
other body parts reasonably to perfectly still.
Rhythm and tempo, these two are not the same but one will not work
without the other.
Rhythm: is the total amount of time it takes to throw three darts,
each taking the same amount of time. The longer the rhythm time, the
harder it is to maintain. If it takes more than 15 seconds to throw
all three darts, work on reducing your throwing time. Similarly if
you throw all your darts in 8 seconds or less try extending to 10-12
Tempo: is the speed and force with which you throw each dart.
Consider this; darts are designed to travel with an arc or a curve,
landing at an angle with the flight slightly higher than the point.
The level of arc that each of us creates depends on the force used
and the weight of the dart. Light darts will usually require
slightly more force than heavier darts and therefore will naturally
have less arc. Again this is all personal choice but try developing
a controllable throw that is unhurried yet rhythmic, easily
repeatable, but balanced.
• Develop good habits
• Establish good posture and position
• Maintain good rhythm
• Discover a good repetitive tempo
 Then comes, practicing your darts technique.
There are many practicing methods and any practice is good – to a
degree, but when practicing to develop a good darts technique having
incorporated all the above then a disciplined regime is called for.
Find three targets on the board the size of the semi bull that you
are prepared to throw at for long periods of time say at least one
hour. These can be treble 20, 16 and 15. Spend 20 minutes on each
before moving to the next. Soon you will find that grouping your
darts in that small area is not so difficult as long as you maintain
the development rules above, then you can move on to specific double
or treble targets around the board.
• Use disciplined practice without deviation
• Good practice will give good repetition
Good shooting
Ben
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