The Warm Up

Ok, so over the last few weeks things have been fairly busy on the Irish darts scene. I’ll start by offering my congratulations to the Irish lads who qualified through Q-School, brilliant effort!

I had never really heard of this until a couple of weeks ago. What a gruelling yet ultimately rewarding competition for the top players who secure a tour card. I am on the hunt to have a couple of training sessions with the likes of Connie Finnan and Paddy Meaney!

Practice

In the last blog, I posted a picture of my brand new home set up, a lovely new Blade 4 with tyre and all. Now that I have moved from the stand on to the wall, I have noticed a huge difference in my game. Consistency rates are good, doubles are improving dramatically and overall I am relatively happy with my game.

A huge problem I have been suffering was the relentless altering of something in my throw. I was spinning the dart, and then I wasn’t. I had a four finger grip, then a three finger grip, then an appalling two finger grip before settling on the three. I was leaning forward, and then my back would get sore so I started standing straight. Catch my drift??

The problem was I couldn’t develop unless I was consistent. If the routine was changing all the time, how am I meant to get better? For the last few weeks, everything has been the same. I haven’t changed a thing! My head is in a good place too, I am not over thinking the game. Keep my routine solid and just repeat my little mantra before I throw:

'Relax… This is going in.'

Missed out by one leg!

I played in a tournament last week with 32 players. A very good standard of darts were on show in the club, with seven boards up. My board had five players, you played the best of three legs against four players, and the top two from each board who accumulated the most legs progressed to the last 16.

I was covering a match for the Kildare Nationalist and ended up rushing to the venue, leaving myself no time to warm up – I literally walked in the door and on to the oche. I lost 3-0 in my first outing, and while my opponent was decent, I should have done better. My hands were cold, I was rushing and hungry! Missed 12 darts at doubles in the first leg, 5 in the second and my head was completely shattered by the third.

On to my second opponent and I had assigned myself to defeat before a dart had been thrown, which is not good. He was wearing a Unicorn shirt, and that had me nervous! I know, stupid! And I went and took the first leg in 18 darts, before he stormed home with 16 and 13 dart legs to beat me 2-1.

Winning my third game 2-1, I was left with a slimmer of a chance of qualifying for the last 16. I needed to beat my opponent 3-0, something no one else had done in the group. At this stage, I was very confident, and walked up to the oche full sure that I was winning this match. AND I DID… 3-0!

Brimming

At this point, qualifying didn’t matter to me. Well… it did, but I was a happy man. I had won two matches, with ample opportunities to have taken more from the other two. This is development. Although I missed out on getting to the last 16 by one leg, I had a very encouraging night.

I learned that no matter what, the warm up is crucial. You can’t expect to hop on the oche and throw well. In my opinion, you need between 45 minutes to an hour just to give the arm a chance to warm up. It’s only then will you start to see some consistent results.

Had a practice during the week, with six legs against the Computer. In those six legs; 6x100s, 3x140s and 1x180. I’m getting there!

Cheers,

A

Twitter: @A_Farrelly

Email: throwlikeaprodarts@gmail.com

A New Year, with New Goals!

January always spells a new era, a fresh outlook, and a positive perspective. And for me, that has been true, well kind of…

Ok, so I started out on this journey in 2011 with the hope of becoming a professional darts player. Can this still happen…? I think so. Will it be anytime soon…? God no! I knew what I was getting myself in to, a life of tireless practising, and the bitter frustration of a poor visit to the oche coupled with the elation when the third dart flicks in to the double, when the previous two had been a mile away.

A modest assessment would indicate an improvement in my game. It took me a while to build my confidence, and it has been desperately dashed in the tournaments I have played over the Christmas period, even though there are more positives than negatives.

What have I learned about my game?

One of my goals last year was to win four games in a row against the lads in the club. I have done that and more in the last month or so, I think I stretched one run out to seven games on the trot before I fell foul to some double trouble. This was a brilliant feeling, just to hit the double so often tells you you’re doing something right.

I am thinking way too much about this game, to the extent where I am still struggling to find a routine and grip that I am 100% comfortable with. I have commitment issues. When I am on the board at home, I will regularly change something about my throw, possibly three or four times in one practice session.

How can I expect to become consistent in scoring, if my throw is anything but consistent?

Tournament Summary

I have played in two singles tournaments. The first tournament was an experience, it was played in a round robin style for the opening three games, two of which I won. I got knocked out in a playoff for a semi-final spot, and in that leg my scoring had fallen to a 55/60 avg.

The second tournament was different. A knockout out system from the start, I was expecting a little more from myself. That was until the draw was made. I was given little hope by my peers when they heard my opponent; someone well recognised in the county as a formidable player.

I wasn’t nervous, to be honest I was just hoping to knick the opening leg and see what happened from there. The first to three legs, I started the first with 60, 100, 100. Then I started to feel a little shake in my throwing arm, and although I got to a double first I just couldn’t compose myself.

I had three darts at a double in the second leg, and when I missed the frustration boiled over before my opponent comfortably took the third, and winning leg.

What’s in store for 2012?

I am practising a lot, although I know if I want to take my game to another level, I need to increase my hours on the board considerably. The singles tournaments are coming thick and fast, and I would like to be playing one, if not two a month.

I have until September to make it on to the team for next season’s league games. This is a must for me, playing week in week out against different players and more pressure on the throw is vital for my game to improve.

                                                                  My new set up.

PS. Thanks to all the darts folk on Twitter (@A_Farrelly), Facebook and to everyone who have emailed me (throwlikeaprodarts@gmail.com) over the last few weeks sending on your advice and tips, as always they are welcomed and appreciated. J

Cheers,

A