Making progress

[Darthlete]

I'm interested to hear how other darters' skill progressed over time. Were you good from the get go? Did your game slowly improve over the course of years? How long were you playing before you feel like you were throwing at your peak potential?

[Getagrip]

I am not as good as I was but when I first played I was really just playing casually for fun and I think I did that for a year or more before I decided to get serious and practice with the intention of improving. Once I did that though I improved quite quickly and was regularly hitting 100+ scores and more and more 180's but sadly that only lasted about 4 months and I broke my shoulder so that was the end of that.

[Darthlete]

I've been playing for about 10 months, and I've had slow but steady progress. For the past three months, my game has improved exponentially, though. I'm consistently throwing about 10-15 ppr and 0.5-1.0 mpr better. It's like something just clicked one day, and I've been able to sustain that level of play through continued practice and repetition.

[Grey Owl]

I'm interested to hear how other darters' skill progressed over time. Were you good from the get go? Did your game slowly improve over the course of years? How long were you playing before you feel like you were throwing at your peak potential?

Progression is a personal thing and sadly not linear and more like the stock market.

When I first started playing league other players thought I was good, so I believed them but looking back I was not good. I was average but possessed timely focus and a desire to practice.

Improvement takes place in many areas: precision, tactical, mathematically, confidence, preparation, dart IQ. So ... there are many places to keep improving.

After 6 years of progression I decided that I had reached my peak. So I quit darts and focused on other things.

Three years later I was asked to pay again. I returned with an average that was lower than I ever had ... even in my first year of play. This was embarrassing. I took this as a personal challenge and found a site like this, to learn and ask. I removed bad habits and revamped my throw. I learned the game from people I respect on forums. I learned how to practice and I did dedicated practice.

AND

I am still learning. Learning how to set myself up better for victory. I suspect golfers do the same as they strive to leave themselves on high percentage shots on their green approach shots.

Hopefully when you look back you will feel you still can improve and embrace the journey.

[Adams]

One friend of mine who shoots at a regional to national level told me if you shoot an hour every day (whether practice, league or tournament) you’ll end up being a really good competitive shooter. I’ve never been able to hold that level of shooting, so I can’t tell you my experience confirmed his statement. However, he’s shot at a regional to national level for a couple decades, so I can’t question his wisdom...

[gumbo2176]

To add to what the others have said-----playing darts is just like any other game/sport, you usually get out of it what you are willing to put into it. Naturally, some folks possess an innate ability to do well in almost any endeavor they choose to take part in while others only do so-so no matter how hard they try.

I could practice 10 hrs. a day and not come anywhere near what a player like Phil Taylor has in ability. For a long time I competed in league play and the last several years I played in top league until I had a few nagging injuries that forced me to quit for a while. Now, I just play against folks in pick-up games and when people come by the house and head down to the man cave for a few games and some cold beer. Every once in a while I'll head over to the bar on league night and toss some games with my old teammates while they are warming up for league play.

As for how I progressed, let's just say it wasn't mercurial, but it also wasn't at a snails pace either. I started league play in the Silver(middle) Division, progressed to Gold after a couple years and then went to top league after a couple years in Gold. I have taken breaks over the years from league play but remained active in the game, similar to how I like to play now. I no longer put several hours a week into practice like I once did. I don't really have too much on my plate that keeps me from doing so, I just don't have that level of desire any more.