UK Open Night 1

Posted: 06.06.13 in Tournament Analysis Blog category

There is no perfect way to throw Darts!Aidan takes an insightful look at last night's action!

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The Professionals. The Amateurs. The Short Format. The Eight Boards. The Crowd. The Maximums. The Minimums. The Firemen. The Wrestlers. The Bricklayers. The Return of the Vampire’s. The Bounce Outs. The Ricochet’s. The Shocks. The Certainties. The Thrills and Spills. The Joy. The Heartache. The Race. The Survival. The Speedy UK Open of Darts. Night one of the FA Cup has to be one of the greatest nights in our darting calendar. Because nothing.... is guaranteed!

On Thursday 6th of June, I took my seat in the carefully crafted groove in my couch. We have a decent relationship, this seat and I. World Cups, All-Irelands, Premier Leagues, Ryder Cups and World Championships – we have been through it all. But nothing can compare to the epic nature of this tournament.

As fans, we have become immune to 100+ averages on TV tournaments. As fans, it makes this sport so enjoyable to watch. As fans, we take it for granted just how talented the top few throwers are. As fans, it holds us on the edge of our seat as nearly every leg includes a nail biting finish. But as an aspiring player, those 100+ averages do well to make you feel alienated, alone, never to grace a TV Stage.

Flicking between Sky Sports and Twitter (The lack of a Red Button Option is certainly a flaw in the coverage, something that should be considered for next year), I was keeping up to date with the results as they came in. My timeline was full of sponsors geeing up their players, fans despairing with the likes of Winstanley, Pipe and others bowing out. And of course, Lenny Boyle continuing to offer his unique, laugh out loud observations of the action.

I had an observation of my own as I eyed some of the amateurs taking to the main stage. Darts, in this format, is quite like boxing. I could enter the ring and take on a professional boxer. The professional should win. If he performs to his ability, the professional will win. He’s stronger, more experienced, and proven his worth at this level before. But I always have a chance. A cheeky jab COULD stun him; a haymaker swing COULD knock him out. The underdog ALWAYS has a chance.

In darts tournaments, you quickly determine the players you should beat, and the players you will do well to come through against. I have found at times, it is more difficult to overcome the opponent you should ease past, rather than the favourite. I am not sure if this crept in to some of the games on night one of the UK Open, but when the pressure is on, performances will suffer. The underdog is under no pressure, allowed to throw more freely, and do more damage.

More importantly however, for me, was having the chance to see so many different players in action. Each with a different set of darts, stems and flights. Each with a different pair of hands. And everyone threw their darts differently. It’s up to the individual. It’s about what feels comfortable to you. That is the only way you can throw darts and improve. I can stop searching for the perfect way to throw a dart, but instead embrace my natural throw and develop it.

There is no perfect way to throw Darts!

Aidan is a regular contributor to the Darts Performance blog. You can follow his blogs here , on Twitter, or Facebook!

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