From: frampton@skitzo.dseg.ti.com
Newsgroups: alt.sport.darts
Subject: Re: How do you practice?
Date: 22 Dec 92 08:29:33 CDT
Organization: Texas Instruments Component Test Facility

In article <1h5hicINNr9q@transfer.stratus.com>, wayne@sw.stratus.com (Wayne Newberry) writes:
> 
> I'm not sure about this, but is seems to me that you may be expecting more
> from your choice of practice "game" than is reasonable.  If you can't get
> good groups, it may be more appropriate to try one or both of two things:
> 
> 1.  As others have mentioned here before, it is important to develop a throw
>     that is repeatable, and the way to do that is to try to throw darts two
>     and three so that they hit wherever dart one landed.  When doing this
>     it is important to get unhooked from the idea of hitting a particular
>     target with the first dart....just throw it, and then try to throw
>     two and three with exactly the same "feel/motion". (For me, the key
>     thought is that it must feel the same.)

  I kind of felt that last night in the garage although I was still throwing
  at a focused point.  I was using the first dart as a sighter and trying
  to make the adjustments.  A note on adjustments... I noticed that there
  is nothing physical that I can do to make the dart land an 1" or so
  away from the previous dart in a chosen location.  Does that make sense?  
  In other words.... If I can pull it off there was no change noticed in the 
  mechanics, it was almost like a slight thought adjustment.  

  In anycase. I respect your advice in #1 and will try not to focus during
  practice.  Work on getting the groups down.

> 
> 2.  The second thing you can do, and I mention it second because it has
>     been effective, but less so than the first method above, is to think
>     about some of the mechanical things in your throw.  For example, I
>     know that if I let my elbow get out away from my body, instead of 
>     keeping it right below my wrist, I will start to see scattered results.
>     Another thing that I find myself doing sometimes is leaning too far
>     forward so that my stance is less stable.  This tends to introduce just
>     enough sway to throw my groups off.  There are other mechanical things,
>     but you get the idea.

  Sounds good to me to work with tips 1 & 2 together.  I try to work with
  the mechanics alot and try to make note of advanced player's techniques.

  When in practice, I like to make a few false or dry throws (without the
  dart sliding from my fingers) with each toss much the same way a golfer 
  does or when using an axe to get the correct alignment.  Its astounding 
  how much better the groups are.  The drawback is I don't like to dwell 
  at the oche during an actual game.  Dwelling makes me feel like my 
  opponents are standing behind me twiddling their thumbs.  Is it more 
  important to be polite or win the game?  Is that an unfair question?
  
> 
> On the icewater idea, there is only one thing that works for me.  When I
> come to the line, I need to believe, absolutely, that I am going to win.
> That comes from two things, lots of practice so that I know I can hit what
> I want, and success against my oponents.  As soon as I lose faith in my
> abilities, I can watch the darts start to stray and the results go sour.

  Very noble.  I like it.

> 
> This sounds like a cyclic argument, and it is.  Results feed on themselves,
> both positive and negative.

  Food for thought. :-)  I shoot alot of pistol competition (which playing
  darts I believe has improved :-)  I agree that the more you believe in
  your own abilities the better the outcome.  On the side I also think
  that it is important not to be believe "above" your abilities.  It seems
  that only leads to discouragement.  In moral, loose goals may lead to
  burnout.

> 
> Good luck!

  Thanx for the followup.  Inspiration is always welcome. :-)  Now if
  I can stay tucked away in the garage long enough without the wife
  getting pissed I might be able to break some ground with my game.

> 
> Wayne

  Framp..
Newsgroups: alt.sport.darts