I'm A Loser Baby

Posted: 18.11.13 in Throw Like A Pro Blog category

Aidan is sending out an SOS, to the World!

I'm a loser baby!!!!

I have had some good nights in the last two years, but at this early stage of my fledgling darting life, the vast majority still tend to be bad nights. That's when you just consider the results. See I lose. A lot.

I'm hoping this is normal for most that start out playing darts. As Phil Taylor says, I'm serving my time. Knowing this from the outset, whilst I never like it, I have had to become accustomed to taking small victories from games. Mini positives that keep me going so that when it comes time to go practice, the motivation is still there.

Last Friday was indescribable. First league outing for my team, a home game against a solid outfit. I was up fourth and when it came to my turn, we trailed 2-1. At this point I still shudder at the thoughts of how that game unfolded. To say I couldn't throw three straight darts... Well. It was worse than that.

I may have hit four trebles in two legs.I was shaking. Uncontrollably. Someone else was controlling my arms. I could feel the nerves collectively swimming through my veins, causing wave after wave of disastrous accuracy.

I was embarrassed. I lost my game, which as I say is not the end of the world. I'm used to it. How you lose a game is what defines progress.

I didn't compete. I just couldn't. I think my opponent would have guessed that my team picked me up on the side of the road en route and offered me a spot to play as numbers were low.

A complete novice would probably have done better, once you incorporate beginners luck and not caring into the equation.

And there in lies the problem.

I care too much. I want to win too much. I don't want to lose, too much.  I am guzzling pressure in through every conceivable pore. I don't want to let the lads down. I want to win for them, not me. When I play singles tournaments, there are no nerves. Not even one swimmer doing his best to break the tide. They're non existent.

But stick me on a team and suddenly all hell breaks loose. I'm a different player. I lose a singles tournament, no one is affected but me. When the game was over, I entertained conversations with a number of players about nerves, chalking it down to a bad night and: 'Have you considered having a pint before you throw? Just one even.'

It's not something I have tried nor will try. It's not an option. So how do I battle these nerves??

A) Leave the team. Just play singles tournaments.

B) Change nothing and hope that one day those nerves will disappear.

C) Change my darts. It has to be their fault.

D) ............

Paul Gillings: Fortunatley for Aidan his crisis has come at the right time. He is flying over from Ireland for our coaching night which just so happens to include sessions on exactly these issues. The reason there are sessions on nerves is because we know what an issue it is for a lot of players. Please do email Adian with what works for you and no doubt he will let us all know what he thought of the coaching sessions on Friday! 

There are spaces available for the coaching night, and you get to meet Aidan! Detail here: http://www.dartsperformancecentre.com/dpc/blog/art/712/a-darts-coaching-event.htm

Image courtesy of stuart Miles / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

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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