Darts Question Rising from the ashes

[LesWallace180]

Ok here's my problem When I started playing pub darts I was age 15 I won a crazy amount of Regional cups and even runners up cups..You name it I got something for it gold or silver even doubles whoever played as my doubles partner won it was that easy...

Now that sounds like a good CV I kept this form up until i was about 19 then it happened work took over relationships started bla bla..I then got back into my darts and I got pretty inconsistent but I was still asked to play for a super league team that was a nice offer...

Things changed for the better for me in terms of employment I got a job with a fantastic company whom I'm still working for I'm now head of my department so thats a bonus a real bonus I'm proud of that. Work and Family will always come before darts and rightly so...

I had to relocate to be closer to work when my responsibilities changed so I did I moved into a new home and left my old darts team and friends behind Guests cannot see images in the messages. Please register at the forum by clicking here to see images. Thats hard. I do go back and visit them though..Off topic now

So here's the problem I lost some time on the dart board I was the kind of player who would arrive a good 2 hours early before any game I was very committed and very loyal to my team. The teams biggest practicing player by a long long way.

I would travel to away venues in my car at about 2pm and leave at about 4pm. I used to work very early mornings so I had the time to go and do this it worked and it also made every venue feel that bit more homely.

My practice routines were solid very solid.I would start of with round the clock single numbers All 3 darts in each number before advancing then doubles I would hit each one 6 times before advancing but If I hit the double twice I then moved on After all I didn't have all night.

So now I'm living in my new town I wanted to pick up the darts again and play for a team so I found one I emailed the local league and I joined a team again. They were sitting smack bang at the foot of the table low low low but I didn't care where the team were positioned I wanted to play darts and enjoy that team feeling.

My first few games went ok I won a few legs and the team finally got off the foot of the table which was great..these new team mates are a great bunch I'm lucky to be playing with great people.

But I'm constantly getting beat and I don't want to sound nasty But I have been playing with guys at work or at the pub who are not great I know that the old me should be bending them out of shape (strong words) I can't even beat the most basic of players and this has left my entire game and self belief In pieces.

I have accepted that I must go back to basics but I'm finding it really hard to get back to my best. My captains a great guy But he's also struggling with his game I'm used to my team mates helping me out but It feels like our captain expects his players to pick him up..When we miss doubles he shakes his head which puts me and a few others off this doesn't help. But as sated our captain is a great person so please don't paint a bad picture of him...

How does one overcome being the whipping boy? That's me just now and I don't like it! But who would???

Long first post...I'm no editor so please forgive my sentence structure and spellingGuests cannot see images in the messages. Please register at the forum by clicking here to see images.

[The Grip]

Practice practice practice, that's the only way you can get back to your best and better. It's hard finding the time when you have a family, friends, work and other commitments but it depends how much you dislike getting beat.

The talent is still in you if you have no physical problems so just work at it and the most important thing by a mile, start to just take pleasure out of throwing again and don't worry about results, they will come along eventually.

It's a female dog of a game and it can destroy you but all effort will be worth it when you hit a magical checkout or a timely 180.

Nice introduction btw Guests cannot see images in the messages. Please register at the forum by clicking here to see images.

[Ni518079]

Excellent first post and welcome. You can't be hard so on yourself so soon. Give it time and practice. Practice whenever you can, even if it's just a little bit. It's tough to get old :p , ah to be a kid again, all that free time... as I digress. It could be a lot of things but justs sounds like your "rusty". You'll get back into the rhythm, but you will always have up and downs. Trying not to let those downs get you down is one of the hardest parts of the game.

[LesWallace180]

I have went back to practice and I have went right back to basics Hitting a double 6 times before advancing will take me all night and It's the simple things In my game that I feel are killing me right now.

Example I have turned into a bit of a negative thinker lets say I'm on 43 with 3 darts in hand when I was playing well my thinking was simple I would go 11 for 32...But I have had issues with the BIG NUMBERS by that I mean hitting the 11 or the 9 or whatever so now I just aim clean into bottom of the board to leave me on a finish..Not the best way to do it but I need a pop at a double I count this as a bad habit and lack of confidence on the 11,7 or 9 you guys and Girls will know what I mean..So for me I must practice single numbers I intend to wash these issues out little by little..once going round the clock becomes easy again I think I would feel better. I play to a High standard I maybe raise the bar too much for myself or the current me we should say.

I have also found myself stuck in a nasty position I practiced really hard one week and the next issue i felt was this..."I have practiced hard all week so it had better not have been for nothing" then I lost and felt crap..I mean anyone else would feel the same you don't polish your car and admire it after a seagul has taken a huge dump on it...

Now thats the negative thought train in full swing again I think winning ebcoems habit..One of the earliest darts lessons i was tought was to always shake hands with your opponent win, lose or draw and this is something I used to always do and still do...But back then I was the winning player on most occasions. I think I need to learn to get beat does that make sense?

Its not about how hard you hit its about how hard you can get hit?


haha

[Getagrip]

How long ago was it when you were playing a better standard? If you have only just recently started again then I suspect when you get some sustained quality practice in then things should improve. But as you have already surmised a lot of it is mental. I think it sounds like your expecting too much of yourself by comparing how your are now with how you were in the past and its playing on your thoughts and interfering with your game. Just forget all that and take a different approach, say to your self you are now playing purely for the fun of it and relax. I think things will improve once your mind is more relaxed.

[heppy147]

It sounds like you were one hell of a player earlier in ya life, It is still in there. Practice will bring it back out and you can laugh at the defeated ( Inside,not to faces, unless you are Bristow ) then your form will increase again with the confidence , good luck mate Guests cannot see images in the messages. Please register at the forum by clicking here to see images.

[LesWallace180]

It sounds like you were one hell of a player earlier in ya life, It is still in there. Practice will bring it back out and you can laugh at the defeated ( Inside,not to faces, unless you are Bristow ) then your form will increase again with the confidence , good luck mate Guests cannot see images in the messages. Please register at the forum by clicking here to see images.

I had a many people in my local area supporting me I used to go into games with my head the size of the sun buzzing really buzzing!

Today I played and lost at work lunchtime darts But I hit a nice 112 checkout I do need to learn to relax and I do have some bad habbits which i need to wash out.


Winning becomes habit but so does losing haha darts is a horrible game at times

[LesWallace180]

How long ago was it when you were playing a better standard? If you have only just recently started again then I suspect when you get some sustained quality practice in then things should improve. But as you have already surmised a lot of it is mental. I think it sounds like your expecting too much of yourself by comparing how your are now with how you were in the past and its playing on your thoughts and interfering with your game. Just forget all that and take a different approach, say to your self you are now playing purely for the fun of it and relax. I think things will improve once your mind is more relaxed.

I would say I stopped playing for about 2 years maybe a little bit more. Before I stopped playing I had went down hill a little as well I never stopped playing darts on a high but I was still able enough to win or get beat by anyone My domination days had run out a little haha

I often look at Paul Nicholson I think he's guilty of paralysis for analysis Maybe I do the same I know what I could do thus resulting expectation..And when we expect and we don't get we don't like it

[Getagrip]

yeah I understand, I think its probably tougher once you have already been at a good level though.

[LesWallace180]

yeah I understand, I think its probably tougher once you have already been at a good level though.

You make a valid point..It ry to see what others have done MVG said that he has this issue..He's knew he could do better but yet he want and it was much harder because he knew that.

I'm probably guilty of heaping pressure on myself.

[heppy147]

It sounds like you were one hell of a player earlier in ya life, It is still in there. Practice will bring it back out and you can laugh at the defeated ( Inside,not to faces, unless you are Bristow ) then your form will increase again with the confidence , good luck mate Guests cannot see images in the messages. Please register at the forum by clicking here to see images.

I had a many people in my local area supporting me I used to go into games with my head the size of the sun buzzing really buzzing!

Today I played and lost at work lunchtime darts But I hit a nice 112 checkout I do need to learn to relax and I do have some bad habbits which i need to wash out.


Winning becomes habit but so does losing haha darts is a horrible game at times

I have heard this lots of times Les , I have always said you have 3 choices. You act like a wee jesse, put up ya darts and give up, stop playing matches and only practice on your own to build confidence or you carry on and suck it up and learn from it. I am happy you are not the first kind, its your call my friend Guests cannot see images in the messages. Please register at the forum by clicking here to see images.

[Daithi]

It will come back to you with practice. Im in the same boat(although not as good as you were by the sounds of it),didnt play for 3 years and couldnt hit a thing for the life of me when I started again.At the start of the league season I was loosing almost every game to players I could one time beat easily but with plenty of practice it has started to turn around,I started winning games again and every now and then I will throw better than I ever could and other games I may as well be throwing nails but the bad games are becoming less and less frequent.

Its just a little rust. Dont get too down over loosing,just keep throwing and try to enjoy playing and it will all come back to you and once you start winning again there'll be no stopping you

[LesWallace180]

I played in a comp last night mixed pairs in my local town. I played well and we lost I took out a nice D4 to get the game level and I also was the higher scoring players...I'm aiming to walk away from games with a lesson learned and positive..Like hitting the higher scores...But I also learned a few things...Last night a drew my captain I wanted to really beat him..Everyone wants to be their captain...I felt a bit of a mental block come over me which did cause me about 2 poor visits..and by two poor visits I mean very slack darts I scored 50 i got a bit lucky I hit 12.20 and 18...I know it doesn't sound like too much of a bad visit because 26 is a much worse score but I was slack and I sorta got away with it..Great night though league game tonight little by little..I think talkign about it here helps cheers folks

[LesWallace180]

Brief Update for those who were kind enough to discuss this with me.

League match last night

I went into the Pub last night nice and early a good 90minutes before Game on time..I went round the world in doubles and singles then just threw at the 20 for a while

I went down 1-0 to a very well thought of players he is a good player!

2nd leg i set up 8 by hitting a 174 then took out the double Bingo 1-1

3rd leg Started off a bit rough with a 26 not what i wanted more so when my opponent hits a 100 start

I find myself on 247..He's on the double so i scored 77 leaving 170!!

He missed his double

I take aim 60 60.....25 sore one but what an effort!!

He then finishes and I dint get to return good night and I would like to point out that both teams and the people watching all took some time to compliment my game..Happy with that means so much...

also a wee tip...Drumguish Whisky its a single malt with no age statement try that stuff I drank it last night and wow!!

[Getagrip]

Unlucky on the 170 but also well done for being so close Guests cannot see images in the messages. Please register at the forum by clicking here to see images.