Perhaps a new feature for the LTG faithful.  Not that I’m qualified to answer, but I have gotten a couple of informal inquiries, so I will take a crack at responding.

The first wasn’t exactly posed to me directly, but rather as a Google search of “how to overcome doubts when facing the final game in darts” which led the requester to one of my dart posts.  I don’t think that particular post was responsive to the question however.  So, here goes:

In my view, darts is one part mechanics, one part strategy, and one part mental.  I wouldn’t go so far as to say they are equal parts, but they are equally important in that your game will suffer significantly if you are weak in any one of them.

This question on overcoming doubts relates to the mental portion of the game, which coincidentally may be the weakest aspect of my play.  Which means I’ve thought about it a lot, but just have not found any completely satisfactory solutions.  This is what I strive for:

1. Play the board, not your opponent.  In league or tournament play you will inevitably encounter a player who is statistically superior.  They can be beat of course, but you have to be on your game.  Ultimately, it doesn’t matter who you are playing because it comes down to you and the board.  Simply stated, while you can’t control your opponents throws, you can control your darts.  It’s you against the board, so play your game, your way.

2. Stay focused.  So what if your opponent comes out with a 7-mark or high ton to start the game, there’s a long way to go and a lot of numbers left to work with.  If you get shook, or strive for perfection on every throw, you increase the odds of failure.  Steady beats flashy, at least most of the time.

3.  Think positive.  Easier said than done to be sure.  But it is my observation that when you go to oche you should be thinking “I’m going to hit this” rather than “I can’t miss this”.  Visualize success, not the consequences of failure.  And don’t let the bad dart you just threw impact the darts in hand.  Too often one miss turns into three because that first dart gets in your head and starts the self-fulfilling negative thought processes.

4. Don’t let up.  I find I tend to play better from behind.  It seems when I have a lead I relax or deviate from playing solid fundamentals.  Keep the killer instinct from the first dart to the out.

5. Relax.  At least in Pub play, it’s important to have fun.  When you are having fun, you tend to be relaxed.  I frequently throw my best darts in practice or pick-up games.  In league play, I put pressure on myself (e.g. don’t let the team down) which tends to make me tense and tight which affects accuracy.  Take some deep breaths at the oche, block out distractions (internal and external) and let the dart fly.  Hit or miss, that’s the best you can do.  And there’s always another game and redemption on the horizon.

The second question comes from commenter Dentoku, who asks:

How much does beer drinking during a tournament affect your play?

The short answer is “as much as I let it”.  I have touched on this briefly, but I will elaborate a bit more here. 

Darts is a sport of hand/eye coordination.  So, anything that adversely affects your motor skills is going to adversely affect your game.  However, many darters subscribe to the theory that drinking actually enhances their game.  So, what’s the explanation?

I think it comes down to throwing relaxed.  Especially for experienced darters, your throwing rhythm and release point can be attributed to muscle memory (meaning lower brain functioning).  When you overlay cognitive thinking you tend to “aim” and force the darts, instead of “seeing” the target and throwing to it naturally.

So for me, 2-3 beers and I’m relaxed and in the zone.  5-6 and I’m getting uncoordinated and generally worthless.  Your mileage may vary.

Thanks for participating in this edition of Ask a Darter.