What’s the right way for beginners to hold a dart?
Let’s talk through the grip from a beginner’s perspective. If you’ve never picked up a dart before, is there a right or wrong way to pick one up?
To put it bluntly, the answer is no!
What is most natural to do is when you first pick up a dart try and hold it like a pen because it’s very similar to what you do when you gotta throw a dart.
This is how I hold my dart like a pen
And with a dart, slightly different to the right due to the pen thickness…
Over time the more you practise and throw the dart I think the more comfortable you are going to feel with it in your fingertips. Your dart grip will therefore evolve to suit how you feel when you practise. You’ll actually find you do slight changes to your grip subconsciously with time.
As you can see from my photos above I only use two fingers and my thumb to grip the dart. Again this is due to throwing my dart like I would hold my pen. Some players use three fingers,
Some players even use one.
From studying players on the pro darts circuit (yes I record matches and watch how players grip the darts and even how they throw them…). Two Fingers is most common, three fingers or one finger are much less common. and nearly every darts player leaves their little finger out of the throw.
But there are players who will use three fingers and even include their little finger because that is what suits them, that is what they have become comfortable with.
Very rarely players will include the top of their thumb to hold the darts, almost propelling it with their thumb as the last thing to touch the dark when they throw. the game door anyone who does this will have a really feather like grip so that there’ll be no tension from any part of their hand as their release which might affect the Arc the dark takes on the way to the dartboard
More of my Television habits
By the way another thing I do whilst I’m watching the players on T.V. is have my darts to hand so that I can see how it feels to hold them as I’m watching other players play and adjusting my grip as I see how they are holding their darts.
The more you’ve got them in your hands the more it’s gonna feel comfortable and you will get used to a certain way of holding the darts the more you play around with them. It’s a bit like keeping a fidget spinner to hand but at least you can get some use as it will help your darts the more you have them in your grip.
How tight to hold my darts
The next thing to consider is how tightly you grip the dart. This is all about pressure. and my main advice on this subject is you don’t want to put a lot of pressure on your darts.
Think about it, if there’s a lot of tension when you’re holding the darts and you try to throw with this tension in your fingers the dart is going to come out all wrong.
I like to think about holding them just like a Feather. You wouldn’t get that really take me. Thinking back in darts history, they were originally made with feather flights so it’s probably not too bad I think to think about
From watching pro players on TV I reckon Michael Van Gerwen is probably the best at holding his dart really lightly so when he releases the darts fly so true and naturally.
Which part of the dart to hold
Confort comfort comfort, this is the key word to all I’ve mentioned so far and that holds true for where to hold the dart on the barrel as well.
As you can see I hold my dart near the front of the barrel but still where there is some grip.
Some people are back grippers, where their grip is near the back end of the dart barrel.
Some people are front grippers, where their grip is near the front end of the dart barrel almost touching the dart tip.
I personally don’t feel comfortable holding the darts either way like this as the dart doesn’t feel balanced in my fingers. But what I’m comfortable with doesn’t matter to anyone except me.
If it feels right and you can generally aim where you want to on the board then all power to you. Go for what feels best.
Holding the barrel in the middle over time you may find that you got more towards the front or the back that’s entirely fine it’s all about feeling comfortable with the dart in hand and being able to release as lightly as possible
There is always going to be a natural evolution to your dart grip, play around and see what feels most comfortable to you because at the end of the day it’s how you feel holding and throwing your darts that really matters.
Also remember the more throwing practise you do, the more comfortable you get with your own grip.
Takeaways
First time you hold a dart as a beginner, hold it like a pen.
Make sure it feels comfortable.
Don’t grip your dart too tight.
Let your throw evolve naturally.
Practice!
