Vertical Frustration

[Grey Owl]

After watching the pros and semi-pros shoot, it became obvious that they seldom miss hitting at least a single twenty. Resulting in their low scores of 60.

I practice 2 hours a day and I have figured out how to hit the triples 20% of the time but I typically push it over into the 5's. Therefore my current precision has caused an unwanted plateau.

Over the last week I have tried changing my stance, grip and spot on the line but nothing has worked as I think my muscle memory has years of bad DNA. Feeling defeated at the moment and have come here for your help.

Although I wish for a quick fix, I am willing to dedicate many hours to resolve this.

Any advice to become the accurate vertical phenom I want to be?

[*Saber*]

You can try the string thing - with thumb tacks run a piece of thread right down the middle - another thing is to practice double 20, this gets you to extend your arm - Join Flight school (free) and get Georges advice.

[Dorian]

Hi Grey Owl,

Any chance you could show us your grip, stance etc, of course a video would be perfect. In the meantime to assist I suggest getting some cord and tying it vertically from top wire to bottom etc through the center of the board. I found some about 1/2 mm in fluorescent yellow.

Its a tip that Phil Taylor suggested to help you align yourself and the darts more easily with the center of the dartboard and you aim at the string not the 20's if you see what I mean.

The last thing I would question is the duration of the practice, I used to do long sessions and it stuffed my back Guests cannot see images in the messages. Please register at the forum by clicking here to see images. (still recovering after a couple of months). If, as I did the sessions were quite long your muscles are not recovering sufficiently and naturally the fatigue will cause even worse inaccuracy. I would cut the overall time down or skip a day or so in between like I do now Guests cannot see images in the messages. Please register at the forum by clicking here to see images.
(Make sure you stretch before and after in particular the opposite side to your throwing arm).

There are so many factors affecting the inconsistencies in darting and like golf a smooth relaxed action is ideal and getting frustrated compounds the problem. There are some very, very experienced darters here but we need more details please.

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

[Jugger]

I can share some advice I got recently with the same problem.

It turns out that even though I thought my arm was moving in a straight line, my elbow was out slightly. depending on when the dart released out of my hand that would drastically change where the dart was flying.

With my elbow slightly out, my motiong was not vertical... it was more like this: \ So you can see that if I let go of the dart slightly early, it would go to the 5s... slightly late... the 1s

I have been trying to bring my elbow into a straight line to accomplish this: | so, if I miss, at least I will mis into the 20s.

It feels awkward and almost like I am over exaggerating, but it seems to be helping (when I remember to do it)

[*Saber*]

I agree with the above, also the aligning your body and elbow perpendicular to the board.

[Dorian]

[Video: https://https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EyX6Lae3-d8]I agree with the above, also the aligning your body and elbow perpendicular to the board.

Well done Saber perfect video Guests cannot see images in the messages. Please register at the forum by clicking here to see images.

Cheers

[Grey Owl]

Hi Grey Owl,

Any chance you could show us your grip, stance etc, of course a video would be perfect. In the meantime to assist I suggest getting some cord and tying it vertically from top wire to bottom etc through the center of the board. I found some about 1/2 mm in fluorescent yellow.

Its a tip that Phil Taylor suggested to help you align yourself and the darts more easily with the center of the dartboard and you aim at the string not the 20's if you see what I mean.

The last thing I would question is the duration of the practice, I used to do long sessions and it stuffed my back Guests cannot see images in the messages. Please register at the forum by clicking here to see images. (still recovering after a couple of months). If, as I did the sessions were quite long your muscles are not recovering sufficiently and naturally the fatigue will cause even worse inaccuracy. I would cut the overall time down or skip a day or so in between like I do now Guests cannot see images in the messages. Please register at the forum by clicking here to see images.
(Make sure you stretch before and after in particular the opposite side to your throwing arm).

There are so many factors affecting the inconsistencies in darting and like golf a smooth relaxed action is ideal and getting frustrated compounds the problem. There are some very, very experienced darters here but we need more details please.

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

I used to practice 2 1/5 hours at a time ... now I practice 1hr 2-3 times for the reasons you mentionned.

The video idea is awesome ... I would be very grateful for some feedback on this. You know it's a very warm feeling to be supported by people like yourself.

Umm ... any specific requirements on this video ... angles ... how many darts?

[Grey Owl]

I can share some advice I got recently with the same problem.

It turns out that even though I thought my arm was moving in a straight line, my elbow was out slightly. depending on when the dart released out of my hand that would drastically change where the dart was flying.

With my elbow slightly out, my motiong was not vertical... it was more like this: \ So you can see that if I let go of the dart slightly early, it would go to the 5s... slightly late... the 1s

I have been trying to bring my elbow into a straight line to accomplish this: | so, if I miss, at least I will mis into the 20s.

It feels awkward and almost like I am over exaggerating, but it seems to be helping (when I remember to do it)

What you are saying rings true to me as I notice my arm flaring due to my elbow. Sometimes I even feel my elbow move to the left as my forearm moves forward causing the chain reaction of misalignment. Its frustrating because the rest my action is very solid and my brain is telling me "HEY ..Whatzup that should be in the Triple" .

So what practice and focus can I do to begin to eliminate this nasty habit?

[Grey Owl]

[Video: https://https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EyX6Lae3-d8]I agree with the above, also the aligning your body and elbow perpendicular to the board.

Incredible video!

[Grey Owl]

You can try the string thing - with thumb tacks run a piece of thread right down the middle - another thing is to practice double 20, this gets you to extend your arm - Join Flight school (free) and get Georges advice.

Last nite I applied the D20 practice before league play and in between games ... I believe this is good thing.

Ummm ... Is there a routine associated with the string?

[Jugger]

I can share some advice I got recently with the same problem.

It turns out that even though I thought my arm was moving in a straight line, my elbow was out slightly. depending on when the dart released out of my hand that would drastically change where the dart was flying.

With my elbow slightly out, my motiong was not vertical... it was more like this: \ So you can see that if I let go of the dart slightly early, it would go to the 5s... slightly late... the 1s

I have been trying to bring my elbow into a straight line to accomplish this: | so, if I miss, at least I will mis into the 20s.

It feels awkward and almost like I am over exaggerating, but it seems to be helping (when I remember to do it)

What you are saying rings true to me as I notice my arm flaring due to my elbow. Sometimes I even feel my elbow move to the left as my forearm moves forward causing the chain reaction of misalignment. Its frustrating because the rest my action is very solid and my brain is telling me "HEY ..Whatzup that should be in the Triple" .

So what practice and focus can I do to begin to eliminate this nasty habit?

Wish I had the answer... all I'm doing is trying to focus on getting my elbow in before I start my throwing action. Seems to be helping

[ico]

Check you're lined up, do a slower simulated throw and see where your hand is going and where it's pointing when done. Watch out for horizontal movement during aiming. Also, some (not excessive) gym training might help - trained muscles are easier to control.

[brenthahn]

There's a thread HERE coming at the same thing from the other direction -- talking about the benefits of tucking your elbow. There are folks saying elbow shmelbow, just make sure your drawback is straight. I'm more of the latter -- for me, if the drawback veers left, the throw goes right and vice versa.

[Grey Owl]

UPDATE: FYI

My partner noticed that my usual steady at the line form was being replaced with my lifting the heel of my leading foot and thereby leaning more towards the 5's.

Focusing on my feet and steadiness helped last nite.

Still need much work on figuring out this vertical thing.

[SlingBlade]

I tried the string thing last year and it certainly helped in the alignment issue I was having. I followed the advice PT gave in a video telling the kid he was helping to line his throw up in line with the 20/3 by moving his stance over a wee bit. Seems to helped me and might be worth a try.