Ambition in darts?

[LionCityDarter]

When you first started out in darts, did you have real ambitions to become a pro? Or was it smaller targets such as winning local titles, etc. How did it go? And after months and years of playing, how have these ambitions changed? Very curious to know!

As for myself, I would definitely like to be a competitive player on the soft tip circuit. But hey, when i was younger i wanted to be an astronaut Guests cannot see images in the messages. Please register at the forum by clicking here to see images.

[Getagrip]

I never had any aspirations in darts other than to play it for fun, I was convinced I would never be good enough to even hit a 180 for the rest of my life and it was only when my nephew hit one that I decided I wanted to get one too.

So after upping my practice and taking it a bit more seriously it was not long before I hit one and I noticed I had improved quite a lot and was regularly getting high scores and increasing my 180 count. So I thought great! if I keep this up I will join a team and see how I get on. But that's when I broke my shoulder and that put an end to my aspirations sadly. So I have just gone back to playing for fun and spent the last few years trying to get back to the standard I was at, seem to picking up again now but not sure where I will go from here, will probably just stick to playing for fun Guests cannot see images in the messages. Please register at the forum by clicking here to see images.

[LionCityDarter]

Great reply Grip, of course we all play because we love the darts and have fun playing. Good reminder and hopefully you enjoy your game for years to come

[*Saber*]

Never had aspirations of being a Pro. Just wanted to be Top Shooter in league accomplished that twice and with my team mates have won several Championships and all the trophies that go along with that. Now I just play pickup games at the local Am-Vets club with my buddies. I'm considered a very decent Pub player which is really all I want now. I play for the love of the game. My last league a few months ago I again was fortunate enough to be top shooter. However the travel and late night driving is too much for me so my league days are over for now. It would take a special request from former friends for me to join another league. So now I just once again play and practice for the pure LOVE OF THE GAME.

[Rob22]

Great timing for this question.

Having only started throwing about a month ago I didn't even know the extent to which darting has taken hold. Never really hung out in bars and if they did have a dartboard I probably threw fastballs and sidearm curves at them. I have no aspirations to go pro. I just moved to a small rural town where you have to learn to cultivate hobbies because there can be plenty of down time. My hobbies include chess, playing guitar in a country band, playing some Bach on keyboards, photography, multiple board games (Risk, Scrabble etc.), fixing houses, electronics,computer and network admin, some programming and sundry other tasks on the Honeydoo list.

Darting presents a new challenge for me in that quite like the aforementioned hobbies it is unique, classic, simple to do and yet demands focus, discipline and passion to achieve results. I like results. To be able to measure one's progress in a quantitative way spurs increased effort to achieve goals.

If there is a 'goal' now, it is to promote darting amongst my friends here and enjoy friendly games. Maybe local dart hero?.... I'll give it a few more months to see if my progress would be commensurate to joining a league. Traveling is the real issue though and this may be as far as I go with it.....

Right now I'm having a blast and am really enjoying the Art of Dart.

[conanthewarrior]

My ambition is to get the best that I can be whilst still having fun. Wether that means I only ever play at home against family/over the webcam, or someday on a stage in the limelight, I will be happy.

[guest2]

It's all just to get the most fun that I can have for me right at the start - because here in the US, darts is not a good paying career as a profession.

[gumbo2176]

I got into it on a bit of a fluke by having a few beers with friends one Friday afternoon. They played on a team, and while practicing, I joined in and fell in love with the challenges of the game. I soon joined a team and moved up in league as I got better. I was a bit of a quick study, as they say, and picked up the game pretty easily, developed pretty fast and always sought out better players to challenge. Inside of a year or so I was giving most opponents a good game on the local level.

One day I heard about a tournament that was coming to town and a lot of touring pros and locals were going to attend. That is when I got my first taste of what it would take to play at that level and a bit of reality hit me. I didn't have the time or strong enough desire to put that much time into the game to even attempt to achieve that level of play. I'm happy just playing for fun now and occasionally jump into league play. I do have a couple boards set up in my home and have friends over from time to time to play against just for the hell of it. Truth is, I'm a bit long in the tooth now to even think about making great strides in improving my game, but I will play it as long as I can get the darts to reach the board.

[Daithi]

I started for fun and then set a target of getting on the county team,I did that and it all went downhill from there. Should of set my target a bit higher Guests cannot see images in the messages. Please register at the forum by clicking here to see images.

[conanthewarrior]

Does anyone know what the oldest age a proffesional darter was when they first started, wether past or present? Like is there any that started past their childhood/teens, or have all the proffesionals played from a young age?

[Daithi]

Gary Anderson threw his first darts when he was 24 I think

[conanthewarrior]

Gary Anderson threw his first darts when he was 24 I think

Ahh, my age then. I still have a chance Guests cannot see images in the messages. Please register at the forum by clicking here to see images.

[ElusiveDouble85]

When I first started I was just playing for fun in the house and never had any thoughts of doing anything other than this. Then a few years ago my mate convinced me to join a team and have been playing for them ever since. My goals now are to win some local competitions and make a county team. I have limited time to attend competitions with having young kids, but when they are up a bit I want to go to more competitions in the country. All will be local / county as I know that is my level. So I know I have a few more years to win as many local comps as I can before branching out a little.
To win as many local / county compeitions as possible and hit a 9-darter are my goals

[Munchie]

I play for the pure love of the game ,my personal journey to become as good of player as I can be, the great social benefits it creates and most of all to help introduce the sport to others when ever I can.

[Leaky]

This is my 4th year playing darts. I never had any aspiration with the game other than loving it. I went in my first tournament last year, an Alberta Pro-Am, with Dawson Murschell, Canada's top youth player. Lost in the final. From that moment on I got the self confidence and made some goals. First was to win the City Championship. Lost in final last year and won this year in a clean sweep. My next goal is to make Team Alberta. No goal of going pro, I am 46 and too old for that. That might be it but who knows, if it doesn't pan out I am still extremely happy playing in tournaments and our league. Just wish I would have taken this frustrating but great game up earlier.