One thing I’m really pleased with at the moment is my grouping. The darts are sitting much closer together, and it genuinely feels like progress rather than a short-lived purple patch. I’m fairly convinced this has come from the practice games I’ve been inventing, where the emphasis is on repetition, focus, and hitting areas of the board consistently rather than chasing big moments.
Those drills seem to be doing exactly what they were designed for. The wild darts are reducing, and even when I miss, I’m missing well, which is often the biggest difference between struggling and improving.
Tournament-wise, I know I need to get back into regular competition soon. I may try a Monday or Wednesday event to ease myself back in and then return to my usual routine of two tournaments per week. Match play is still the real test, and it’s important I don’t leave it too long before putting this progress under pressure.
Another interesting development is that my grip has naturally evolved slightly. I haven’t forced it, but I’ve noticed the darts are going in straighter, with less unwanted movement through the air. That’s usually a good sign. My hope is that I don’t revert back under pressure, because it feels like this change has come organically rather than through overthinking, which is exactly what I want.
My trusty Mervyn King darts are still performing well, but I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t tempted by something new. The Wessel Nijman darts have caught my eye recently; the grip profile looks like it could suit my throw really well. That said, I’m not rushing into anything. I’ll give it a couple of weeks, see how things settle, and then decide whether a switch is genuinely needed.
For now, I’m encouraged. Things feel like they’re moving in the right direction and that’s not something I take lightly.
