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Does anyone truly know what makes a great darts player? It’s a topic of discussion, and even for amateur players new to the game, is something to think about, because we all copy what we think is correct.
But what actually is it that makes the pro players stand out, and be better than us, and their fellow pros?
Hopefully in this article, we’ll get you a little closer to the answer, and it’s probably a mixture of things, including traits, habits, skills and of course, natural talent.
Mental Strength & Focus
Let’s begin with an aspect of darts that can be the most challenging for amateur players, but one that separates the best pro players from the rest of the pack.
Mental strength, and focus, are key to what makes a great darts player, and there’s a case to be made that this is the biggest key of them all.
With darts, consistency is key, and concentration is required at all times. With a rowdy crowd behind them, an opponent to play, and then different match lengths, including numerous breaks sometimes, there’s plenty of distractions for players to contend with.
When all of that is under control, we then need to add in another factor, which is pressure.
Being able to perform at your best, when under the most pressure, is a big part of what makes a great darts player. The sudden death legs, hitting a double to win, or stay in a game, the very best darts players rise up when the going gets tough.
To sum all of that up, I think what makes a great darts player is being at the top of your game when it matters the most. If you’re at your best in easy first round games, and then struggling in the latter stages, that’s not ideal.
If you’re at your best in finals, when the most pressure is on, and when you need your mental strength at it’s best, it should put you in a very good position.
Physical Stamina and Technique
I don’t think there’s enough spoken about when it comes to the physical stamina needed to play darts.
It may not be the first thing you think of when looking at what makes a great darts player, but still an important aspect for me.
Some events require players to play two, even three, games in the same night. Others may need one, but it could be a much longer game, including stopping for breaks at various intervals.
Then of course, the stamina needed for the duration of an event is also worth considering. Those reaching finals will need to play for a full week, sometimes even more with big events like the World Championships, this will almost always include playing multiple back to back days.
This also needs linking to technique. Good darts players have good technique, that’s a given, but what makes a great darts player is that they maintain that technique despite being physically tested.
The release of a dart, grip they have on it, and their stance at the oche will all come under more pressure when they’re being physically pushed. Despite this test, they all need to remain on point, enabling consistency and high scoring.
If, for example, your grip struggles when you’re tired, or your release isn’t as perfect, then that’s going to prevent you from being a top player.
Practice Discipline & Training
I’m not going to go in depth into the practice routines you could use here, this is more about the level of practice, type you should be doing, and your overall training to improve the quality of your darts.
When it comes to training, this is where most of your darts will be thrown, so when it comes to what makes a great darts player, training should be at the front and centre of your thoughts.
Whatever routine works for you is fine, as long as you’re getting strong practice time at building scores, hitting doubles and making big checkouts on a regular basis.
Every player works a little differently, but there are many popular training games you can follow, if you need some help.
Warming up is key, make sure you have time on the board to get yourself ready to play. But just throwing the darts is not enough, you need to make sure you are doing it with purpose, this is what makes a great darts player.
Get this right, use your time wisely, and you should see your game improving every time you step up to the oche.
Tactical Awareness & Game Management
Back to the scenarios on the board, and an element of darts that is often under rated by lower ranked players is the tactical side of darts, and game management.
The very best darts players have top darts strategy, they’re not just thinking about the three darts in their hand, but also about the three after, and what they need to do in order to set themselves up in the best possible way.
From switching to make sure you can leave yourself a finish, to hitting a different treble to leave a two dart finish, all of this should go through your head, and to be honest, if you want to make the top, it has to go through your head.
The ability to do this seamlessly is what makes a great darts player. There will be occasions when the pros switch away from 20s, and you’re probably left wondering why.
But then a shot later, all of a sudden they have a finish available, if they’d stayed on the 20s, that would have left a non-finishing score, and it all makes sense.
This is the easy part, spotting what others do, and why. The hard pard is implementing it into your game.
To do this, practice going from the 300s, and what your essentially trying to do is checkout by leaving yourself a finish.
An example would be this: if you’re left with 350 and you score a 180, then you will leave 170, which is of course a finish.
But if you leave lower numbers, such as 159, 162, 163, 165, 166, 168 and 169, then you won’t leave a finish with these. This may then require you to tactically switch, to a different number, in order to land on a number that does leave a finish.
What makes a great darts player is having all of this in your head.
Continue to Improve & Adapt Your Game
With any sport, and any part of life really, the best never stop learning, and that’s exactly what makes a great darts player, the ability to keep improving.
It may be a change of equipment, a tweak in stance or throw, or something else, but you should never stop to look improving your game.
Darts evolves, and if you’re standing still, players around you will be getting better, and will ultimately pass you by.
Game adaptation is also something that’s very important. You will need to know how to play, and how to control yourself, across a number of environments.
This may be in a big room with multiple boards, a quiet game with no crowd, and of course, a game where there’s a crowd watching.
The combination of constant improvement and being able to adapt your game to the situation are key to what makes a great darts player.
Equipment That Matches Your Game
Getting the right equipment is key, but please note here, we are saying the right equipment for you, not the most expensive equipment.
In basic terms, the right type of dart, the correct weight, the best set up with flights and stems. If your darts setup is perfect for you, then you will play at your best, if they aren’t you won’t.
The choice out there for darts players has never been as strong, with different grip styles, barrel shapes and of course flight and stem options.
This may confuse new players, but you will eventually work out what suits you best, and get your setup right. Don’t expect your first darts to be the ones you stick with.
What makes a great darts player is not the most expensive equipment, but instead, the equipment that is correct for you. Our buying guides on site are designed to help players of all abilities make the correct decisions with their equipment.
Support Systems & Lifestyle
A final point for what makes a great darts player comes away from the board completely.
As a sport, darts is tougher than most people give it credit for. Having a support system in place, family, coaches, friends and of course sponsors, is vital to keep top darts players on the right path.
Without these, players can become lost in the game, and struggle both physically and mentally.
Things such as managing travel, booking accommodation and working out schedules are all additional jobs that the player doesn’t really want to focus on. Having these taken care of is a big positive.
When away from the board, it’s important to have people around to keep you happy, and busy, you will need a break from the sport.
This also combines with your lifestyle. Finding the right balance between playing events, training and having rest is vital to your success. Just by playing more, you won’t become better, sometimes a rest is just as good as a practice session, if that is what you’re body needs.
The team of people around the player also have to be considered when we’re talking about what makes a great darts player.
In Conclusion
Everything above is vital when it comes to what makes a great darts player. Without them all, you’ll not be able to reach the top.
It’s also important to understand that there’s no one leading thing to get right, different people will have different focus points.
For example, if you’re naturally good at practicing, but struggle with the mental side, you’ll lean more on your support network and mental strengths. It depends where your darts is, and your personality.
One thing we can say for certain though, is that there is a lot more to it than just natural talent, that’s not enough to get you through.
Finally, if you’re looking for more help and advice with your darts, then we are continuing to build our our sections on the site. They include our tips and tutorials, designed to help you make improvements with your game, no matter what your level.
Here at Throw For 180, we’re on your side, looking for ways in which you can enjoy darts more, improve your skills, and get the best deals when you’re buying.