Great Expectations

Posted: 16.01.13 in Throw Like A Pro Blog category

Aidan is back with his first blog of the year-He discusses his darting philosophy for 2013!

Whilst I haven’t written a great deal about my recent darting expeditions, December and January have certainly been my busiest months to date. And as usual, there have been some good moments, as well as some shockingly bad ones. Frustration boils over quite easily in this sport, and I have been at boiling point quite a bit lately. Here’s why:

I will bring you back to pre-World Championship time. And I find myself on the oche with Kevin Painter. Just 12 months after suffering a shock defeat to Barney, it was time for ‘The Artist’ and I to go to battle. It wasn’t easy. Hell, I was taught a harsh lesson in power scoring. Alas, stranded on 360 in a 701 leg, and with Painter sitting on a double, the MC offers me the opportunity to rub out a number.

Tempted to act smug, and subtract the three to leave myself a two dart finish, I opted instead to leave double 18. Easy. Done it a million times. That is until my legs start to shake so badly that Elvis himself would have been proud. When I hit the single, experts would tell you to take your time. Stand away from the oche, focus on the double nine, big deep breath and go for it.

I did the opposite. In a style similar to Tony O’Shea, I had barely glanced at the new target before landing my second dart in the bed, subjecting Painter to his first defeat of the night. Victory, as always, is sweet and it should be taken regardless of the method. Its rare players of my capability can turn around and shake hands with one of the games’ greats. But I hadn’t fooled myself in to thinking I deserved it!

On a more serious note, my competitive darts have turned a corner during the Christmas period. I am winning legs, even winning matches. From my observations, it’s not heavier scoring that is suddenly seeing me victorious, but I am taking my doubles quicker. Why?

I am no sports psychologist, although it is a career I am becoming ever more interested in. But what I do know is this: there are certain factors that will make throwing darts easier.

·         Consistency: If you do the same thing each and every time you throw a dart, in time you will see improvement. FACT. Yes, you could be doing the same things wrongly time after time, but in general this is a must for any beginner.

·         Nerves: I am not nervous anymore. I have embedded a philosophy in my head whilst playing competitively: What’s the worst that could happen? I could lose embarrassingly and even throw four or five darts out of the board in a single leg. Well, I have had that experience. And whilst they might have been thinking it, no one laughed. No one jeered. No one kicked me out of the pub. So everything else is a positive. I can now let go of all anxiety at the oche.

·         What will be will be: I am of a certain standard. My opponent is of a certain standard too. He will hit some good shots. I will hit some good shots.  We will both hit some bad shots. And one of us will hit our double. Thats the game in its simplest form. Don’t worry, or pressurise yourself, or try too hard. It’s then when darts start to go astray.

·         Concentrate: Respect your opponent by keeping focus throughout the game. Stay in tune with the game, and try your best with every dart. If the first lands in the five, and the second floats in to the one, you still have potentially 60 points in your hand. Don’t waste them with a frustrated effort at the board.

 .         Maximise the positives: In golf, you don’t expect to make 18 greens in regulation. So why expect to hit 180’s all the time. If you hit T1 T20 S5, don’t curse yourself for not succeeding with the last dart. Instead, be happy the second didn’t land in S5 as well. And turn your attention to your next three darts, not your previous three.

·         Enjoy it: I don’t think I need to explain this one.

A little trivial point before I wrap up. Feel free to add your thoughts on twitter (@A_Farrelly) about this one. I have struggled to win games, although lately my confidence is blossoming despite the fact I am not liking my current set of darts. I won my most recent League game 2-0. Scored ok, but the most impressive part was my doubles. Just got up there and hit them.

I usually aim to have a one hour warm up prior to any game. On this occasion, I was running late from work and could only afford six darts before we started. Is a warm up needed? I think it is. I think the crux of this win is the fact that I told myself in my head: ‘I am late. I have had no time to prepare. So there is a great chance you will lose this game. So why not just go up there and enjoy it. If you lose, at least you have the excuse that you didn’t warm up!’

These are my rules for 2013! I think if I stick by them I will see myself improving steadily. I won’t be in the PDC next year, or anywhere close. All we can hope for is to improve. And maybe one day...

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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