May the Force be With You !

Posted: 10.10.12 in Throw Like A Pro Blog category

The Force was with Aidan and they chatted about some of the vital ingredients needed to be a pro dart player!

Justin Pipe speaks to me about timing, practice and knowing you’re going to win.

I have taken a lot of positives from meeting some of the best darts players over the last year or so. I have been lucky enough to get to the Grand Prix on three occasions, as well as the memorable Premier League in Dublin earlier this year.

There were a couple of players who I had especially wanted to encounter this week in the Citywest, the first of whom was ‘The Force’, Justin Pipe. I wanted to meet him for a number of reasons; to talk about his approach to the game, how he practices and to find out how he has been so successful in the last number of years.

I didn’t think I would get the chance to meet him, as he wasn’t playing on the night I was there, but he was extremely obliging to take the time out and chat. And his number one tip for anyone wanting to improve their game was very straightforward.

“Take your time, simple as that.”

Justin’s style of throw and more specifically, the time he takes with each dart has received a lot of coverage in recent times. Some players like Adrian Lewis and Vincent van der Voort tend to throw in a very quick action, although for Pipe, it’s very important to measure each arrow carefully.

“It’s not a race up there. You have got to throw every single dart the same. I see it all the time on the tour. People throw too quickly. It suits some people, but sometimes you need to stand back, think about what you are doing, and then proceed.

“That’s how I throw every dart. And I wouldn’t do it any other way.”

Many of you will have already discovered how frustrating it is to throw inconsistent darts, landing a maximum and following it up with a miserable 26. For Justin, who has been on an oche from a very young age, dwelling on the last dart isn’t necessary, but turning focus to how the next one will turn out is one of the biggest skills to hone.

“I have been playing darts since I was six years old, because my dad was a county player. He would put a dartboard up on the sofa and I would stand there throwing darts at it. I started getting quite good, even at six.

“I think first and foremost you have got to enjoy darts. You can’t think ‘this is my job’, because that is intense pressure and you don’t want to do that. I think you have to enjoy it, play for fun, and see how you get on and if you have that natural ability.

“If you throw exactly the same every time, then you should be consistent. It’s all about muscle memory, and developing that every time.”

In terms of practice, Pipe’s routine is certainly structured, something which has proved fruitful in recent times. Spending four hours a day on the oche is what ‘The Force’ allows, believing that with a break in the middle, is plenty of time, if structured properly, to bring you to the highest level.

Practising four hours a day, for me, is a non-runner. With work and family commitments, most amateur players would not be in a position to commit to this, although he also acknowledged the need to take your practice at your pace.

Pipe’s dart is certainly a nice piece of equipment, an arrow that he has become scarily accurate with. A common story among the world’s elite, it took quite a while before the Taunton man found a set up he was 100% comfortable with, until now.

“It’s taken me about seven years for me to get my darts exactly right. Not so much the barrel, but the stems, flights and points. I have extended the points, shortened the points. Now I have it where it feels right for me.”

Despite knowing I might be a better player than my opponent, I am liable to doubt myself during a game and end up missing a stupid amount of doubles. Pipe finished our chat by stressing the need to go in to every game knowing you will win.

Comparing it to a boxing match, he acknowledged that sports such as these require a huge amount of self-motivation. If there is a little doubt in your mind, you will struggle to throw with conviction, comfort or belief that you will win.

“If you’re not mentally fit, and things get on your nerves, then your opponent will win. You have to go up there and into a game confident and clear headed. You don’t go in to any game if you’re not confident.”

Justin Pipe is enjoying some of his best darts at the minute, with no signs of the former tree surgeon letting up anytime soon. A major win can’t be too far away, and although the speed in which he throws can frustrate some people at times, when you see the results, you realise there is cause and method behind each throw. And that’s why he is always a ‘Force’ to be reckoned with. 

Justin is managed by MDA Promotions. Justin's website is maintained by Krispy, the webmaster of Darts Beers & Cheers and you can visit it here!

..............................................................................................................................................

Meet Aidan:

Aidan has been a fan of darts since a young age, although he didn't pick up his first set if arrows until he was 23. In that time, Aidan has been dedicated to finding out what it takes to become a professional. He plays with two club teams in his County in Ireland.

Aidan documents his ups and downs of improving his game, and explores some of the unknown, yet crucial elements of darts such as nerves, confidence and much much more.

Aidan teamed up with the Darts Performance Centre ahead of his battle with Raymond van Barneveld 12 months ago, a relationship which he admits has "helped me to focus on certain areas that needed improvement, and the support from Paul and Andy guarantees will make you a better dart player".

Aidan throws a 21g DPC dart. He loves to tell people that he has now lost count of the amount of 180s he has thrown. His highest checkout in a competitive leg is 130, and the closest he has come to a perfect leg was two maximums before crippling under pressure to finish out with a 15 dart leg.

His plan is simple: to be a Pro! Follow his journey right here!

Aidan welcomes any feedback, advice or questions. You can find him on twitter:

@A_Farrelly or email: throwlikeaprodarts@gmail.com