Recently I have changed my grip and technique slightly. I'm holding the dart slightly further back and have slowed down too. This seems to be making the dart go straighter, more often, so was keen to see how I got on in the weeks' competitions.
Wednesday 6th was an under 55 average tournament. I got through my group pretty comfortably and darts were feeling good. Averages were below par, but I was happy with the throw. I felt I was unlucky with hitting 5s and 1s. It was a wire's width on the majority of cases, which, on another day, could have been 20s or Treble 20s, so that's fine. Just need to get the muscle memory to slightly adjust. As it was, I made it to the quarter final, and was beaten by the eventual winner, so I'll take that.
Stats: Avg 43.8 First 9: 48.60 100+ 4: 140+ 3: 180s 0
Scoring seemed to be ok in patches, but doubling let me down in a couple of legs, hence the low average.
Thursday 7th was a much improved performance. Thursdays are Open tournaments, so players of any standard, good or bad can enter. Standards are usually very good, and includes players with a wealth of PDC or JDC experience. There are a few mortals like me, so there is sometimes a glimmer of hope of progressing through the group stages.
This was one of those occasions.
Although I had a tough group, it could have been worse. My first game was against an upcoming JDC player. He normally averages around the 70 mark. I thought I just need to stick with him and hope a get a chance at a double. As it was, he struggled with doubles, and I was lucky enough to capitalise. He played extremely well for the rest of the tournament, so the darts gods seemed to be on my side. Results went my way and I just needed a leg in the final game to guarantee progress to the knockout stages. My opponent is another quality player, capable of 80+ averages. This, again, was a game of missed doubles, although I played probably my best darts of the year. I managed to take advantage of a rare miss by my opponent on a big number. I had 3 darts at double 16, which I duly took . So, I knew I was through, so just relaxed. I kept up with my opponent and then managed to finish in 9 darts from 293, for which he had no answer. I ended up with a 65 average and I feel that this is my benchmark for the rest of the year.
I got through to the last 16, but I never really got going until it was too late, but gives me a whole lot of confidence for next week.
Stats: Avg: 52.22: First 9 54.82: 100+ 8: 140+ 1: 180 0
