Doubled Over In Pain

Posted: 29.10.14 in Throw Like A Pro Blog category

Aidan makes a welcome return to the blog area and he is struggling to hit the double! Do you know that story?

Picture the scene. We all know it. Standing on the oche, the standing leg nestled uncomfortably upon the toe line, the leaning leg beginning to twitch.

It's league night, and I'm 1-0 down. The second leg is well underway. I'm on tops with my opponent sitting in the late 200s. And for a third consecutive week I manage to make an utter wreck of my match, losing out despite holding a clear advantage.

I'm beginning to lose hope. In fact, if my scoring was as ludicrously inaccurate as my doubles I'd be tempted to pack it in at this stage. But it's not. And I won't.

Desperate would be an understatement. Everything I try in order to maintain composure at the crucial point is failing. You're talking at least 15 visits combined between the two legs. And it's lead to me suffering through rather than enjoying darts matches.

 I've come a good long way since 2011. These blogs used to to focus on complaining about scoring, nerves throughout the whole game etc. It's not that anymore. I am fully confident that I can match most in my league when it comes to scoring.

And I've been working a lot on my doubles with the Practice plan. I'm hard beat off the board when the team meets up for the couple of hours before the game. But the minute I each any score that begins with one hundred and something, I start to fold, like quicker than a delicate origami swan.

 And negative self talk has crept in, sliming it's slivery way through the walls ofself-confidence I've built up through the years. Cracks form very quickly in those walls!

Alas I'm here now. And all I can do is work on it. Somehow, I need to determine a method of approaching a competitive double, and firing AT it rather than being scared of missing it. 

It will happen!

Sigh......

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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, 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