How to Master the Sport of Darts
Dart historian Patrick Chaplin traces the game's history to the archers of old England, referring to that fact that in England, "arrows" is a common name for the sport today. A popular bar diversion, dart leagues and competitive tournaments allow players to display their skills for prizes and bragging rights. In 1984 John Lowe, a three-time World Championship titleholder, threw a nine-dart finish captured on television before a live audience for the first time. This level of play is afforded to the masters of the game and is open for achievement by a dedicated student and player.
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Instructions
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Purchase an instruction book about the game or watch professional videos for improving play. Books such as "Fundartmentals: How To Throw Well and Win More," by Frank Pratt and "The American Darts Organization Book of Darts," by Chris Carey, offer tips about equipment, different types of dart games to play and tips from professionals about improving your game.
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Review the fundamentals of your technique. Rick Osgood of the website Cyber Darts says, "Accuracy begins with a solid stance. Keep your feet planted solidly on the floor and avoid lunging, rocking or lifting the back foot off the floor during the dart toss." A solid foundation allows the player to work on finessing his game.
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Play each game with a focused intensity and for as long as attention can be placed squarely on the game. Playing beyond a period where each throw matters will not increase the level of play, no matter if shooting with a partner or in solitary practice.
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Practice often. Karlheinz Zöchling, a professional player from Austria, suggests that how often a player practices is more important than how much he practices. "Try to practice each day of the week, with not more than one or two days off," he says.
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Join a league for regular competitive play. This will pit you against other players of varying skill levels and increase experience in playing when the stakes matter. Getting nerves and concentration under control while in competition is large part of mastering the game.
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Sign up for local and statewide tournaments. Consistently winning games in a bar league means you may want to take your game to the next level. Playing against increasingly better players will improve your own game and move you up the ranks in amateur standings.
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References
Resources
- Photo Credit darts game image by Galyna Andrushko from Fotolia.com
