Coaching Clinic 44

Posted: 19.03.15 in Coaching Clinic Blog category

This month we look at how to practice hitting the double!

We're Not Finished Yet!

We are only in the 3^rd month of our Darts World Practice Makes Progress campaign, I hope it has helped and perhaps made you look at your practice in a new light. Last month we looked at Power Scoring and this month it is of course finshing, as the article heading hinted.

Feel The Pressure

The way to get the most out of your practice is to make it as realistic as possible. How do you recreate the pressure of a game in practice? It is difficult I admit but playing this month’s games with a practice partner (who you really want to beat) can help. If you are practising solo be determined to beat your last score. It may not be quite the same but any pressure is going to stand you in a better position when it comes to a game than practising in a relaxed, pressure free environment.

Two Dart Finish

Even the big boys usually finish on a sub 80 checkout so forget your 170 practice and focus in on what happens in reality! Draw 2 lines down and 2 lines across on your paper, as if you are having a game of noughts and crosses. In the 9 spaces put in different 2 dart finishes.

You know the standard you are up against so realistically would you have to take your 2 dart finish out in 3 darts, 6 darts or maybe you could get away with 9 darts? Let’s say you decide you are having 6 darts at each checkout! If you get it in 3, give yourself a point and a star. In 6, give yourself a point. If you don’t do it in 6 give yourself a L for lost! Tot up your score at the end and try to beat your points and star total next time.

If you are playing with a partner then both start on the same checkout. If you have the throw you should feel some pressure to take out the finish. Take it in turns to throw first and feel the tension!

Splitz

We have already admitted we miss doubles and this is why this game was invented!

So write your six Splitz on your paper as follows:

1)  Double 20  D10  D 5   2) D 16  D 8  D4    3) D 4  D 2  D 1   4) D 12 D6 D3   5) D18 D9 Single 1               6) D 14 D7 Single 1

So throw 1, with your first dart go for Double top, 2^nd dart Double 10 and 3^rd Double 5. Go in that sequence whether you hit the double or not.

Give yourself a point for each double you hit and a star if you nailed all 3. One really important coaching point here is to see what method suits you best if you miss. By this I mean do you get more doubles if you stick with your rhythm or do you prefer to stop and play each double with a short pause in between? The same goes for when you have a fat number to hit! What works best? Experiment!

Picture courtesy of Photokanok/www.freedigitalphotos.net

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The Darts Performance Centre is a resource to assist dart players of all standards play better darts. The site is arranged as an online coaching manual. There is advice on technique, nerves, psychology, goal setting, practice games, an area to log your statistics and an interactive area where your darting questions are answered by two sports scientists, one with 30 years dart playing experience. You also get an invite to our free but exclusive members only events and acess to our members only darts coaching app! Membership is £25 per year!