Developing consistency on bull

[JayPro]

This is an ongoing frustration for me. Trowing at triples, of course I miss and I occasionally do have a wild dart but consistently hitting the bull is something I am trying to work on. I guess it's frustrating because it is pretty much dead in front of my eyes and has more area than a triple.

On the odd time that my first dart goes in the double, darts 2 and 3 "refuse" to conform and I miss, not by millimeters but inches. Sometimes 3+ (8-ish cm). That's a huge miss.

Most of my misses like that are due to an early release. From time to time, trying to focus on following through, I'll release late and miss low by a few inches.

Focusing on the bull, I've hit T20 and fat 17. Those are BIG misses.

I've hit 6 bulls, I think, 3 times and have hit 40-ish 180s - two of which were during league play - so I know I can do it.

I've messed with the consecutive bull challenge. The most I've gotten is 4.

I don't have any particular aiming method - just look where I want to throw. I'll check the vertical attitude of my forearm occasionally. Not having it straight could definitely be why my 'high' shots are usually in the 5 and the 'low' in the 17.

Thoughts?

[Banned]

Thoughts?

I would say just keep throwing at it until you are absolutely sick of it. And just then, throw at it some more.

I've thrown at nothing but the bull for hours on end. I really think it's a HUGE part of playing 501 at it's highest level. When you want a 25 or a bull while playing it should be automatic.

So just spend more time throwing at it. Invent ways to keep it interested. The consecutive bull thing is a great tool for overall concentration. You can reel off 25 or more attempts right in a row. Point is, spend more time on the bull. A lot more time.

I've hit 6 bulls, I think, 3 times

This also struck me as odd. Are you in the USA? Do you play with 6 darts? 3 bulls is the most ya can ever hit with 3 darts Guests cannot see images in the messages. Please register at the forum by clicking here to see images.

[Getagrip]

Bull is always the worse for me especially with my double vision it is so much more difficult which is why I was amazed I ever hit a triple bullseye. I guess its just a case of practising until you get better really.

[JayPro]

I've hit 6 bulls, I think, 3 times

This also struck me as odd. Are you in the USA? Do you play with 6 darts? 3 bulls is the most ya can ever hit with 3 darts Guests cannot see images in the messages. Please register at the forum by clicking here to see images.

Yes, I am. No, I don't. That's just what they generally call it here. 3 double bulls = 6. Some call it a 'deadeye', apart from a hat-trick which is 3 darts in any part of the bull, single or double.

[Dorian]

I've hit 6 bulls, I think, 3 times

This also struck me as odd. Are you in the USA? Do you play with 6 darts? 3 bulls is the most ya can ever hit with 3 darts Guests cannot see images in the messages. Please register at the forum by clicking here to see images.

Yes, I am. No, I don't. That's just what they generally call it here. 3 double bulls = 6. Some call it a 'deadeye', apart from a hat-trick which is 3 darts in any part of the bull, single or double.

Not another name for the center of the dartboard Guests cannot see images in the messages. Please register at the forum by clicking here to see images.

On a more serious note Jay is there any chance you could film your action. A picture's worth a 1000 words and there's so many experienced people here who maybe able to help you with some friendly advice.



Cheers

[*Saber*]

My practice routine includes hitting 50 bulls at the end of my session. Say I'm practicing heres an example
20's
19's
Bull
18's
17's
Bull
16's
15's
Bull
double 20's
double 10's
Bull
double 16
double 8
Bull
get my drift? mix them up any way you want, miss the number go to the next number and so on until you have hit each one 5 times in a hurry make it three times.

[Beacon_Darts]

I've been trying to do the same as you the past few months. Really work on bull consistency, to go first, and to finish in cricket, and set up or finish in '01. Ive been doing 100@Bull every practice session, much like I do 100@20. You could also split it up like Saber suggested, but I agree that you just have to keep shooting at it over and over and over.

[JayPro]

Sometimes it seems that 100@ is a lot for me because I tend to have the attention span of a gnat. I guess that's where I need to work more on focus. I think if I was hitting it more consistently, I wouldn't notice so much?

Someone could write a book with all the different practice routines available online. I like Saber's list of targets above, as I play Cricket as well as (and prefer) '01. Hitting each 5 times then removing it from the list is reminicient of Flight School.

I'll try shooting a video. I just got a tablet which is a heck of a lot easier to move around than my 17" laptop - I live on the 3rd floor and practice in the basement.

[SlingBlade]

Would there be any advantage throwing 6 darts at the bull, not three at a time? Muscle memory is a huge thing. Just wondering out loud here

[JayPro]

Muscle memory? I swear mine have Alzheimer's.

[guest2]

First phase is to develop your sense of grouping.

Throw in a way you can see/visualize the path that your darts is taking towards the board. Then adjust with a good follow through, on your next dart.

Like firing using tracer bullets. Take it slow. Focus well. Take your time, until you achieve a tighter grouping.

When you have mastered this, go for the targeting phase.

[Banned]

Would there be any advantage throwing 6 darts at the bull, not three at a time? Muscle memory is a huge thing. Just wondering out loud here

I don't remember who it was, I want to say Bobby George, but he said something like "he wants to practice throwing darts, not walking"

He was talking about using 6 darts. Makes sense to me.

[psixr]

I throw harder at bull than my normal throw, which for some reason works. I practice bull a little but not heaps but I'm a fan of what I call the one dart bull. Instead of throwing 3 at bull over and over I'll have either my first or last dart at it, to more realistically replicate the one dart to finish or to win the throw. But I can hit it pretty consistently, if you can't hit it consistently with 1 dart (1 every 2-3 darts at it) just keep at it until you find your "trick" try throwing harder or just practice practice practice

[JayPro]

I did get some video, with me facing the camera, and it looked like I wasn't bringing my arm straight back - kind of to the left side of my face. I'm right-handed/left-eye-dominant, so shoot from the middle of my face. From my perspective, I was bringing it straight back. From the camera's perspective, not so much.

I'd like to get video from behind me but don't have a web cam and am reluctant to duct-tape my new tablet to the wall behind me. I took a picture of my setup and will post it to "Show us your setup" when I get a chance.

[ChrisTheFish]

ONLY THE RED BIT IS THE BULL. ONLY THE RED BIT IS THE BULL. ONLY THE RED BIT IS THE BULL ETC ETC ETC