My Weekend at the PDC Pro Tour in Killarney-Part 2

Posted: 25.10.13 in Throw Like A Pro Blog category

Aidan reports back on his Sunday "PDC Experience" in Part 2 of his Killarney blog!

Sunday 20^th October 2013 - PDC Pro Tour Qualifying Event 2

7.10am            Up again. It is too early for this! Same as Saturday, back down to register. Before breakfast. I was still full from the dinner the night before!

9.00am            You can’t improve unless you identify your flaws. So it’s important to acknowledge that by Sunday morning, I was tired. And my confidence was shot. I knew my opponent who I had drawn in the first round of this qualifying event. Knowing someone can be good, or bad. In this case, it was bad. Because I knew he was considerably better than me. I had no chance. And what a terrible mind-set to have going in to a game of darts.

9.30am            Losing 4-0 isn’t embarrassing. But playing like I played this morning was the definition of embarrassment. I was annoyed with myself for approaching the game like I did. It was as if I had picked up a set of darts for the first time. I lost belief in my throw, the technique. I was worried about every single little movement in my arm. Focused on everything apart from the target. Shambolic.

10.30am          Breakfast done. Bags packed. Time to go home. Winning games wasn’t important this weekend. I know that might not make sense to many players, but I just wanted to play like I know I can. If that means I win, great. If not, I shake my opponents hand and forget about it. What really frustrates me about darts is that while there is an apparent lack in variables i.e. everything bar your opponent is the same, no matter where you go, my performance is always different. Before I leave, I manage to identify and hone in on the positives from this weekend. I can’t drive three and a half hours home in a negative mind-set.

8.00pm            The test of a true  pro!!! Back on the practice board. Apparently, practice makes perfect you know!

A huge thank you to all the staff at the INEC Killarney and the Gleneagles Hotel for their support and sponsorship over the weekend. I cannot rate their service highly enough!

Also, don’t forget to keep checking out the Darts Flight Centre website. Their deals are fantastic, brilliant equipment for players

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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 23g DPC Elite Performance 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