Darts -aiming or sighting

[*Saber*]

My Grip is the pencil grip much like but not entirely like Phil Taylor. Recently over the weeks I have started sighting looking at the target and the top of my thumb. Looking this way I throw my hand and at the last, point my thumb at the target. I am getting much better accuracy doing this.

[guest2]

Just the perfect follow through motion and everything will fall into place my friend. Even if your head is tilting sideways for the aim ala Newton, still - the good follow through determines.

[*Saber*]

I agree with that 100% follow through is so important. I watch other players warming up and those that don't follow through I lick me chops. Those that do I take much more seriously.

[guest2]

I agree with that 100% follow through is so important. I watch other players warming up and those that don't follow through I lick me chops. Those that do I take much more seriously.

You know why that follow through thing crossed my mind when you were talking about aiming - I was instantly reminded of Richie Burnett's dart aiming technic with head snapping throwing style.

[*Saber*]

yeah hes unorthodox for sure but it works for him a lot. What ever works is my motto. I do thing that his jerky motion hurts him too.

[ReggaeDarts]

Umm interesting point there, Sabre... Using a part of your Hand or Wrist to take a sighting or Aim from.

I do the same thing. I raise my Hand up with the Arm extended towards the Board, I bring my hand above my line of Sight and use where my Wrist joins my Hand to Aim of and keep Arm level at optimum, I then try and keep Triceps & Elbow level to ground and pull back my fore-arm through the Line of sight I've just Clocked; as I pull my hand back to nose, cocking my Wrist... I endeavour to keep sight line at all times on Board Aiming point...
I then release my Fore-arm through the line of sight I've just brought it back from and as you lads Have clearly stated.... try and get a good Follow through, rather than a snatched release.... If I get it right I will be pointing at the Board Aiming point with my Index Finger, and hopefully the Dart is there too.

Yes, Follow through is predominantly important. But I don't all ways achieve a good one, and I can feel it's consequences as soon as the Dart leaves my hand and it's whirling through the Air on it's own course...

[*Saber*]

Good post there Reggae - its what works for you, that niche so to speak.
Take a +1 from me for a thoughtful post btw.

[djk33025]

Reggae if I am under pressure I get the yips and will stop my follow through causing a lot of wrist jerking and general bad things. I have never actually thought about "sighting" my darts but I'll try to notice next time I throw might increase my accuracy.

[ReggaeDarts]

Reggae if I am under pressure I get the yips and will stop my follow through causing a lot of wrist jerking and general bad things. I have never actually thought about "sighting" my darts but I'll try to notice next time I throw might increase my accuracy.

When I go through this sighting routine it slows me down to a nice speed, that I'm finding more and more it allows me to keep calm and relaxed; so when I'm releasing the Dart my throwing hand is travelling through the line of sight steady and assured, and my Bicep and Tricep Muscles are not over tense and pulling my throw; this allows me to more consistently achieve a more confident relaxed follow through with my throwing hand.

I've recently discovered by doing this routine that my throwing hand does not need to be in a vertical line with my elbow as I'm pulling back and releasing, this discovery has helped greatly, rather than worrying about having Shoulder, elbow throwing hand all aligned.... just make sure your hand is travelling along the line of sight

Has helped me to get all my upper arm and shoulder much more relaxed, cos I'm not tensing muscles trying to get too many body parts in line.

And as an after thought.... pay attention to how tight your hand is around the Dart in the throwing hand, the more tense your arm is the more tense your fingers will be around the Dart.

[Dorian]

My Grip is the pencil grip much like but not entirely like Phil Taylor. Recently over the weeks I have started sighting looking at the target and the top of my thumb. Looking this way I throw my hand and at the last, point my thumb at the target. I am getting much better accuracy doing this.

I like that idea Saber and with all sighting-aiming if you can closely repeat it your grouping should improve are you finding this is the case?

For myself, I look down the barrel (mmm I wonder if that's where the phrase came form Guests cannot see images in the messages. Please register at the forum by clicking here to see images.) and in my peripheral vision I align it with the target.
Ensuring that the dart itself is straight and perpendicular I then make sure that the drawback is as straight and as 'in-line' as possible. Its important that the distance from the rear of the dart to my eye is the same only then do I push the dart to the target as smoothly as I can with soft hands. Keeping the dart in vision for as much as possible helps my accuracy and of course remaining as rock solid as I can throughout.

Cheers

[*Saber*]

Yes my grouping has improved- I won Top shooter this season and when I used the thumb my grouping made the difference.(albeit lower league that I'm use to)

[Dorian]

Yes my grouping has improved- I won Top shooter this season and when I used the thumb my grouping made the difference.

This is a very valuable post (+1)and hopefully we can learn something and share our knowledge and experience. After all aiming & sighting the target correctly is unquestionably one of the most crucial aspects of a winning technique.

Cheers

[*Saber*]

Thanks

[Icedmind]

Can't quite describe my way of aiming and pulling back motion, but I pretty much aim through flight and barrel as they're close to my left eye (yes, leftie here), pretty much like a crosshair. My grip is index finger and thumb somewhere at the end of the barrel, my middle finger keeping it straight at the front. other fingers loose, away from the dart. As I pull back I flick my wrist, as I am about to catapult the dart forward, giving me the follow-through I need in order to release it properly.
(I'm not good at describing things, my vocabulary isn't great, hehe)

[Islander]

There are many great ways to aim and everyone should try to find what works best for them and their game. I lay my hand very flat against my wrist chickadee and aim through the opening created between my thumb and forefinger, but regardless of how you aim if the follow through is not complete all the aiming in the world will not get the dart to the intended target.