The mental side of darts

Most players throw better in practice than in matches. The difference is rarely technique. It's what happens in your head when the double matters.

Build a pre-throw routine

Do the same thing before every throw: feet in place, a breath, look at the target, throw. A routine gives your mind something familiar to do instead of worrying. Keep it short so it doesn't slow you down.

Breathe out before you throw

Nerves make your breathing shallow and your arm tense. A slow breath out before you set up loosens your shoulders. Many players release on the out-breath.

Think about the target, not the result

"Don't miss" is the worst thing to tell yourself. Focus on a small point in the double and on your throw. The result takes care of itself.

Know your numbers in advance

Doing maths while under pressure adds stress. Learn your checkouts until they're automatic, so you step up already knowing what you're throwing at.

Let missed doubles go

Everyone misses doubles. Professionals miss more than half of the darts they throw at them. When you miss, reset your routine and throw the next dart as if it were the first.

Practise with pressure

Practice that has a consequence trains you for matches. Bob's 27 punishes blank visits, and the 121 challenge sends you back when you miss. Competing on a leaderboard, like DartsPal's weekly challenges, adds the feeling of being watched.