5 Common Darts Mistakes And How To Fix Them
When I was a beginner at darts I looked out for ways I could shortcut my dart to improve my game quicker. If learning darts tips to make you a better player sounds like something you would like to do, read on.
Get your 3rd dart right
One of the most basic dart tips I can give you, one which affects new dart players is that when they have thrown their third dart they move onto the dartboard too quickly.
So for your first dart throw, you’re taking your time and you’re getting ready for the throw. You are methodical, your arm is straight, you bring your dart back, go through your throwing motion, and release. The second dart goes pretty much the same, you take your time, you take aim, bring the dart up, throw and release, no problem. However with your third dart, something comes into your mind, something that you’ll probably not even be aware of, your subconscious tells you that you want to get towards the dartboard, pick them out and throw them again. So what do you do? On your third dart throw, you bring the dart up for release just like the first two, throw, release, and then almost as soon as you have let the third throw go you are heading towards the board. STOP!!
Learn to take your time on your third dart, consciously remember to pause after you’ve thrown it. Wait a couple of heartbeats before you go to pick your darts from the dartboard. My dart tip #1: I am a big believer that pausing after your third dart is going to improve your third darts scores.
Play your own game
The second common dart mistake is that you take too much notice of what your opponent is doing. again almost subconsciously the pace you are playing becomes dictated by the pace that your opponent
is taking. Sometimes they are throwing like a pro: boom, boom, boom, 3 darts on the board before you can even think and what do you do? Speed up your own game. Now, don’t get me wrong if you are already a fast player, this is fine, however you may find yourself going the other way. So if you are steady, don’t speed up. My tip on playing a slow methodical player when you play fast darts is what? Obviously continue to throw at our own pace – this is not as simple as it seems. So concentrate on your own game or before you know it instead of you throwing your darts at your pace, you have subconsciously started to slow down which affects your game as you won’t be playing your natural darts. My darts tip #2: Make a conscious decision to play your own game and ignore what your opponent is doing.
Do it naturally
The next common dart mistake usually comes after the previous dart doesn’t quite go where you hope. Immediately after an errant throw such as drifting into the 5, you start to overcompensate. But this only means you are concentrating so hard on what the next dart is doing that you lose your natural rhythm. You inadvertently stop your own flow. You tense up and force yourself to overcompensate for previous throw, which of course means another missed dart! Normally the second dart is pulled into 1 or if you’re lucky 18 but , and all because you overcompensate in your mind. The same approach, it’s at times like these, that I realize darts has a little bit of zen to it. Ignore what has gone on before, you can’t change that, you can only concentrate on the next shot. My dart tip #3: put the previous dart out of your mind, refocus, let your next throw go on its own merits without thinking about it, and get that next dart into the 20!
Why switch?
The fourth co,mmon mistake is switching to 19s when your 20 shot hasn’t gone so well. You see it time and time again. If you’re at the level where you can hit 57 just by moving your eyes on the target and throwing then all is good. If you’re like me and the other 98 and a half percent of the dart playing population you can’t just smash the 57. I’ve already talked about the mental side of darts, so never mind your opponent a lot of the time, you just have to overcome yourself. Just because it’s been a bad day at the 20 doesn’t mean you shouldn’t shoot again, after all 20 is where most of our practice goes so let’s get the muscle, memory in action not give up before we have started and get back into the 20 bed. Even if your first dart means ,you haven’t got as much of the treble 20 bed to aim for, I’d always suggest staying up top.
Another reason why 19 is not your best friend comes when you try to switch back to the 20s. Unless you’ve practiced and practiced and practiced and practiced and got in the hours switching between 20 and 19 and it comes so naturally you could do it in your sleep you won’t be able to do it consistently. My dart tip #4: Do yourself a favor! Until you’ve got those hours on the board – stick with 20.
Concentration on Calculation
The 5th mistake, and one of the most important mistakes many dart players make is one you have seen a few times on TV and that’s obviously with the pros, this one is not calculating how you will have a checkout down to a double. You know you’re going to have to check out on the double so always think about how that’s going to be. If you are 109, going for the 20 is going to leave you with 89, always think about how you’re going to finish.
This becomes more natural the more you play, but as a beginner darts player you always have to think a little about what’s coming up to m,ake sure your next throw will count. My dart tip #5: Get used to thinking about your out shot, and avoid making simple calculating errors.
Your 5 Takeways
- Get your 3rd dart right
- Play your own game
- Do it naturally
- Why switch?
- Concentration on calculation
