Most people have their first experience of Darts either at a bar or at a friend or family member’s house. Over the years, the game of darts has gained more popularity. Annual tournaments happen all across the country, and many people have started considering it as a viable career option.
The game of darts is not about throwing the darts aimlessly towards the board. It requires technique to master hitting the specific area you want to get. It takes practice and strategy to reach the score that you are trying to achieve. Practicing is necessary if you intend to master your skills and impress your friends.
This article will talk about the importance of practicing darts for your skill enhancement. We also talk about the frequency of practice required and the importance of a warm-up session before your matches.
Why Do You Need to Practice Darts?
Practicing Darts will help you to identify the areas where you need improvement. Practice will help you enhance your skills. It will let you improve your weak spots. You should dedicate a certain amount of time every day to master the art.
Darts is also a good sport to improve your hand and eye coordination. It helps you build on your concentration and develop and accuracy towards your shots. In every turn, you get three throws, so it becomes crucial to accommodate your targets within those three throws and reach victory in the shortest time.
What to Practice
It is always best to work on your weak spots first. Also, depending on the kind of dart game (01 game, cricket, etc.), you need to focus on a specific area of the dartboard in order to win. Below are a few areas where you can get started with your training sessions.
Checkouts
Practicing under pressure will help you face your competitor with more confidence. During a match, there is always pressure on the player who is taking their turn. Hence, during a training session, try aiming for the numbers that are divisible by two.
For example, if you have sixteen left and then hit an eight, try aiming for a double four. If you have hit a single sixteen, you can still make up by hitting a double eight.
Doubles
Most games finish on doubles. There are two reasons for it. First, it is easy to break down doubles if you hit a higher number, leading to another double number (16→8→4). Second, a high score finish will involve high double scores.
To practice hitting doubles, set a number first. Set a time limit for the practice. This could help you in building the accuracy of your shots. For example, pick 16 or 32 and set a time limit of 10 minutes to hit those scores. With time, you should be able to hit any double within two throws.
Another way to practice a double would be to practice hitting a number or a combination of numbers before the double. For example, if you need to score 33, try hitting a one first and then aim for a double 16. This way helps you to be comfortable with all of the sections on the dartboard.
High Scores
Scoring consistent high scores is a crucial part of the game. If you are a consistent high scorer, you are most likely to win your match.
For a high score, set a target for scoring 140+, 120+, 100+, or 80+. If you are ambitious, you can even attempt 180. Try setting a target against each of these scores. Imagine a virtual opponent. It will help you to get a feel for the competition atmosphere.
Practicing high scores help you in building confidence and increasing your concentration while aiming at a particular target. It helps you develop precision. However, do not practice high scores during warm-up sessions.
Practicing Under Pressure
Practicing under pressure helps you improve your accuracy. The game is often more fun when the pressure to win builds up. Having a simulated environment will prepare you to face the actual match environment with ease.
You need to design a strategy and assess the target score. Focus on your hand-eye coordination and block out the external distractions. Sometimes people think more rationally when they are under pressure to perform. It helps you concentrate better on the target.
Technique
You become a good dart player by constantly practicing the techniques. The throwing technique is very important, especially when you need to coordinate your shoulder, elbow, and wrist. While throwing the dart, you need to do a backward motion while keeping the wrist loose and your shoulder fixed.
Your elbow needs to be still, and only the wrist needs to be in motion. The dart’s tip should be in a straight line with the target and your eye. Also, having the perfect stance will help you attain a balance while throwing the dart.
How Often Should You Practice?
This is the most common question asked by improving darts players. The answer is that if you intend to improve your skills, you should practice as often as possible. But this doesn’t mean you neglect everything else. It would be great to set up a time-table and a warm-up routine and follow it regularly.
A dedicated and focused one hour a day is more than sufficient to develop your skills gradually. If you have a tournament coming up, you can increase the practice hours based on your convenience and availability. But most importantly, you need to develop accuracy to help you win the game.
Warming up Before the Game
Like any other precision sport, it is important to warm up in the games of Darts too. Having a warm-up routine helps you focus on your target. It improves your aims and your confidence.
Many players try hitting a single target multiple times to build their accuracy. Some try hitting the bull’s eye, while some try hitting only 20s.
Since your arm is the most crucial body part involved in the game, it would help to perform few stretches and loosen the muscle. Practice the coordination among the shoulder, elbow, and wrist. A ten-minute stretch would be very helpful and more than sufficient.
Include aiming a particular number or region on the dartboard as part of your warm-up routine. It will help you build your concentration.
Conclusion
It is crucial to practice when you are a beginner, especially if you are interested in perfecting your skills. Focus on every shot, and you will build your consistency. It is also important to practice under different pressured-filled scenarios. Under moments of pressure, concentration can often be compromised. So, it becomes critical to train your brain in such scenarios to help your chances for victory.
When you are playing in a tournament, and all eyes are on you, it can get a bit overwhelming. Hence, it will help you if you practice beforehand by simulating such an environment. It will boost your confidence in aiming, stance technique, and throwing. Make it a point to dedicate a few minutes every day to your training.
Lastly, since the dart tips are sharp, we also advise you to practice the game safely.
