Thursday Night Darts – Small Steps Forward, but Forward All the Same

 Last night was the Thursday Night Open at Browns Bar.As always a tough mix of standards, and last night was no different. I didn’t make it out of the group stage, but strangely enough, I probably played my best overall darts for a while.

Two of my matches were in the 60+ average range, which is something I haven’t done in a while. That tells me the work I’ve been doing, especially sorting my mindset, is starting to kick in. I didn’t pressure myself, didn’t overthink, and just let the arm go. It felt smoother, calmer, and much more like me.

Yes, I still had double trouble in a couple of games (don’t we all), but if you take the finishing out of it, the scoring was actually really solid. And right now, that’s what I’m taking as the positive: I’m trending upwards.

With the new four-week plan now in place, plus the upcoming 10,000 darts challenge, I’m genuinely hopeful that I can finish the year strongly. Lots to build on — the foundations are starting to look good again.

Stats:
• Group average: 49.16
• First 9: 57.67
• 100+ scores: 11
• 60+ averages: 2
• Legs won: 4

The 10,000 Darts Challenge — My New 4-Week Training Plan

 

Every now and then, you hit a point in darts where you know something has to change. For me, this is that moment. My scoring has been improving, my mindset is steadier, and my new darts feel better — but now it’s time to build proper, structured, repeatable practice.

And that’s where the 10,000 Darts Challenge comes in.

Inspired by the idea that mastery comes from repetition and good habits, the goal is simple:

Throw 10,000 purposeful darts in one month.

Not random chucking. Not mindless 501s.
Proper, targeted, disciplined practice.

At 300–350 darts per day, it’s absolutely doable. It might be a game-changer.

Why 10,000?

Because repetition builds:

• Muscle memory

• Consistency

• Confidence on the oche

• A smoother, repeatable throw

Matthew Syed famously talks about the '10,000 hour rule', but in darts we can simplify that into volume + focus = improvement.

If you throw 10,000 darts at the right targets, the right habits lock in quickly.

My 4-Week Training Plan (Feel free to follow along)

This is the exact structure I’ll be following — and anyone reading is welcome to join me and see if it improves your own game.

🔵 Week 1 — Foundation & Accuracy

Goal: clean up grouping + sharpen the big trebles.

Daily routine (approx 300 darts per day):

• 100 darts at T20

• 60 darts at T19

• 40 darts at 25/Bull

• 3 rounds of Bob’s 27

• 30 darts at chosen double

• 60 darts on my Darts Challenge game (levels 1–5)

Focus: smooth release, same tempo, no rushing.

🔵 Week 2 — Scoring Power

Goal: build consistency on T20/T19 combinations.

Daily routine:

• 120 darts at T20

• 60 darts at T19

• 40 darts at switching drills (T20 → T19 → T18)

• 3 rounds of JDC Routine (60/60/60)

• 40 darts at clinical set-up shots (like 62, 72, 82)

• Finish with Russ Bray app vs Bot

Focus: steady rhythm + straight barrel entry.

🔵 Week 3 — Doubles & Finishing

Goal: finally turn scoring into winning legs.

Daily routine:

• 60 darts at D16

• 60 darts at D20

• 30 darts at D10

• Around the board doubles (one hit per number)

• 2 rounds of Double Trouble

• 40 darts on finishing combinations (2-dart and 3-dart)

• 40 darts on the Bulls practice game

Focus: calm throw, same routine each time.

🔵 Week 4 — Match Simulation

Goal: bring everything together under pressure.

Daily routine:

• 2–3 matchplay sets vs Bot

• 1 set of the Darts Challenge (levels 5–8)

• 100 darts at T20 (maintain scoring)

• 50 darts at your weakest double

• One “intense leg” drill (you must finish under 21 darts)

Focus: mindset, recovery from bad darts, controlling tempo.

Tracking the 10,000 Darts

I’ll be logging:

• daily totals

• highest scores

• best doubles day

• average over 7-day periods

• match results

• feeling + confidence changes

And I’ll post weekly updates on the blog so people doing the challenge alongside me can compare progress.

Could This Actually Work?

Honestly? It might not make me a Pro overnight, but may get me more confident, straighter and better prepared for matches. 

Since switching darts and sharpening my practice structure, my scoring has been noticeably tighter. I feel calmer on the oche, and my doubles will come with repetition.

10,000 darts is a commitment — but the idea is simple:

If you want a different result, you need different habits.

This is my attempt to build those habits, create momentum, and push toward a proper 60+ average.

If anyone wants to join me, feel free.
Let’s see who improves the most in the next 4 weeks.

Darts Gear and Gift Guide: Three Brilliant Picks for Players of All Levels

 

I’ve been looking at some darts gear recently. Part curiosity, part early gift-hunting, and part seeing what might be worth recommending as useful kit for players wanting to upgrade. Here are three items that really stood out. Each one offers something a little different.

1. Trinidad Pro Steel-Tip 90% Tungsten Darts (18g) De Sousa

These Trinidad De Sousa darts instantly caught my eye. They’re made from 90% tungsten, giving the slim profile and durability you’d expect from a higher-end dart, but without the intimidating price tag of some premium models. What stands out most is the barrel design: the machined grooves offer a confident, textured feel without being overly aggressive. It’s the type of grip that suits just about any style- front grip, mid-grip, even players who sit slightly further back on the barrel. The balance is excellent too, giving a smooth, controlled release. They are a little light at 18g, but they fly really well and easy to get used to..

2. Star Wars R2-D2 K-Flex No.2 Flight System

As someone who loves the K-Flex system anyway, these R2-D2 flights from Target really stood out. They combine the stability of a one-piece flight and shaft with the fun of the Star Wars theme which are perfect if you enjoy a bit of personality in your setup. The polymer frame absorbs impact well when you’re grouping tight, helping keep your darts flying true without the usual flight pop-outs. The R2-D2 design is subtle but brilliant, and at under £20 they’re a genuinely cool upgrade without spending too much. Target’s Star Wars range is huge (darts, flights, accessories.More on that in a later post), but these were the ones that really grabbed my attention.

3. One80 Darts Advent Calendar

If you’re after a darts gift that feels fresh and a bit different, the One80 Advent Calendar is ideal. Instead of chocolate, you get 24 days of darts accessories and small surprises. A brilliant way to build some excitement in the lead-up to Christmas or the World Championship. It’s perfect for players who like trying out new flights, stems and small bits of gear, and usually the total value of the items inside ends up being more than the cost of the calendar itself. It works for every type of player too: beginners, casual throwers, or regular league players who enjoy experimenting with new kit. A fun, affordable gift that always gets people talking.

Whether you’re upgrading your own gear or looking for something for a darts-mad friend, these three items are great picks.

Wednesday Night Under 55 Average Tournament – Browns Bar, Bristol

 Last night (Wednesday) I played in the Under 55 Average Comp at Browns Bar, Bristol. It was a bit up and down overall, but I’m happy with my scoring. The big takeaway? My head was in a much better place than it’s been for the past few weeks.No overthinking, just enjoying the game.

I definitely need to practice my doubles more, but mentally I felt solid. Lost focus a little in the Last 16, but I’m fine with that. Tonight is an open tournament, so the goal is to keep this upturn in form and mindset going.

Stats from Wednesday

Result: Last 16

Match Average: 45.74

First 9 Average: 53.79

100+ scores: 7

Legs Won: 7

Legs Lost: 6

Breaks: 4

Reflection

Scoring was decent, but finishing let me down. Still, the mental side felt strong, which is a big win for me right now.

Darts Counting – Maths or Memory?

 I’ve always enjoyed numbers, and I think that’s one of the main reasons I’ve always enjoyed darts. As a sports fan in general, numbers are everywhere.Stats about form, points needed to win a league, or what’s required to clinch a game. But darts is unique because every throw can be planned, and that plan is built around numbers.

Snooker is similar, but in snooker, the position of the white ball often dictates sacrificing a higher-value shot to keep a break going. In darts, the goal is simple:score 501 points and finish on a double, in as few darts as possible. There are exceptions, like setting up a shot when you have a big lead, but generally, the aim is maximum efficiency.

My first interest in marking darts games came when I was about eight or nine. At my local youth club, older lads would pay me in crisps or soft drinks to mark their games. I quickly noticed certain scores kept coming up. They were amazed I knew what 17 × 3 was, but I wasn’t adding it up,I just knew that segment was worth 51 because I’d seen it often. 

The real challenge was adding three darts together and subtracting from the total. That took some maths at first, but after many games, it became second nature.

Fast forward to today, and I still love marking games. It’s fascinating because I’m always learning new finishing routes and setups. I’ve been lucky enough to mark on all the PDC Tours, and that sharpens you up fast. You need to call out totals almost instantly and, if asked, tell a player their finish just as quickly. Rhythm matters.

So, do you need to be a maths genius to do this well? In my opinion, no. People ask me that a lot, and I explain why: it’s mostly memory. You need some interest in numbers because memory works best when you care about the subject. When I was a competitive quizzer, I could remember Olympic champions or Oscar winners easily because I liked those topics. Birds and flowers? Not so much.

Marking darts is more about pattern recognition,almost like muscle memory. Do it enough, and it sticks. I know three treble 20s is 180 without adding 60 + 60 + 60. A more complex example: single 20, single 19, treble 18. I’ve seen it so often I know it’s 93 instantly. Over time, you build up a library of patterns. Oddly, I get caught out more on low numbers because they come up less often. The better the players, the easier it is because their scoring is more predictable.

The hardest part is telling players what they have left. That’s less about memory and more about quick subtraction. Tablets have made this easier compared to chalkboards, but speed still matters.

Predicting where a player will go next helps too. If someone has 116 and starts on 19, they’ll probably go treble 19 next (leaving 97). If they hit another single 19, they’re on 78, likely aiming for treble 18. Sometimes they surprise you with something like treble 14 to leave 36, so you add that to your mental playbook.

Players evolve, and routes change. Treble 17 is more popular now, and treble 14/double 14 pops up more often too. Like the game itself, marking takes practice. The more you do it, the more natural it becomes. Some players hate this part, which is understandable, but if you want to improve, there’s no shortcut - just keep doing it.

Weekend Round-Up: Grand Slam Glory, World Championship Qualifiers, and More

 The PDC Grand Slam of Darts wrapped up with a cracking final. It was the battle of the two Lukes ,Luke Littler and Luke Humphries, in a match that lived up to their world-ranking status. Littler came out on top, winning 16–11, and by reaching the final, he made history as the youngest player ever to become PDC World No. 1. Both now head to Minehead for the Players Championship Finals, where the draw could see them meet again in another blockbuster final.

It wasn’t just about the Grand Slam this weekend. Across Europe, five players booked their spots at Ally Pally for December: Cristo Reyes, Adam Gawlas, Krzysztof Kciuk, Boris Krcmar, and Andy Baetens. They’ll be joined by Mitsuhiko Tatsunami, who secured his place by winning the Japan Steel Darts Tour. 

Great to see Reyes back on the big stage as only days ago, I wrote about Spanish players making their mark, and this proves the point.

One of the biggest talking points of the weekend came from the JDC Unsigned event, where 13-year-old Harley Glycos hit a nine-dart leg, becoming only the third player ever to do so at a JDC event. Even more impressive, he beat Luke Littler’s record as the youngest player to achieve this feat. A name to watch for the future.

In the WDF, Jenson Walker claimed the Malta Open, beating Cliff Prior in the final. Walker’s decision to focus on WDF events this season has paid off, and he looks like a serious contender for the upcoming WDF World Championships.

The Amateur Darts Circuit (ADC) saw over 300 players take part in the Vault Finals weekend, proving just how strong the amateur scene is right now. With a £10,000 prize for the winner, this is no small achievement for a non-professional event. The eventual champion was Chas Barstow, who produced stunning performances, hitting 100+ averages in both his quarter-final and semi-final matches before defeating Martin Grearson in the final. A huge statement from Barstow and a reminder that the amateur circuit is packed with talent.

What a weekend for darts history made, records broken, and new stars emerging. Next stop: Minehead for the Players Championship Finals 

 

Players Championship Finals Preview: Wide Open, Unpredictable, and Packed With Early Blockbusters

 The Players Championship Finals returns this weekend, and once again, it lands at the same venue as the UK Open. That’s quite appropriate, because this event has a similar sense of unpredictability about it.

Due to players entering different numbers of Players Championship events throughout the year, the seedings can end up all over the place. And this year is no different.

To give you an idea:

• Luke Humphries is seeded 58

• Luke Littler is seeded 36

Two of the most in-form players on the planet… barely inside the top 40 seeds.
Yet despite those low seedings, the draw means Humphries and Littler can only meet in the final, should they both make it that far.

How the Draw Works

The format is simple:
Seed 1 plays seed 64.
Seed 2 plays seed 63.
Seed 3 plays seed 62… and so on.

This system creates absolute chaos every year — and some mouth-watering first-round ties.

First Round Matches to Watch

Gian van Veen vs Luke Humphries

One of the standout ties of the opening round. Van Veen is dangerous on any day and Humphries can’t afford a slow start.

Martin Schindler vs Michael Smith

Two heavy scorers who play at a great pace so could be a classic.

Joe Cullen vs Peter Wright

A TV-level matchup in round one. Cullen has shown flashes of form recently; Wright is trying to rediscover his.

Danny Noppert vs Ricky Evans

Both coming off a strong Grand Slam, especially Evans who had one of the best weeks of his career.

Quarter-by-Quarter Outlook

Quarter 1 – Gerwyn Price’s Chance?

If anyone can take advantage of a friendly-looking section, it’s Gerwyn Price.
He may need to get past Rob Cross and Stephen Bunting, but the momentum is firmly with him after a strong Grand Slam. A second TV semi-final in a row is very realistic.

Quarter 2 – Littler’s to Lose… But Keep an Eye on Springer

Luke Littler lands in quarter two.
On current form, his biggest threat could be Niko Springer, who has been quietly excellent in recent months.

Quarter 3 – The Group of Death

This is the brutal one. It includes:
Josh Rock, Wessel Nijman, Nathan Aspinall, Danny Noppert, and Luke Humphries.

Whoever comes out of this quarter will have absolutely earned their prize money.
Humphries must beat Gian van Veen first,  and that alone is a real test.

Quarter 4 – The Wildcard Section

This one feels wide open.

Possible surprises?:
Dom Taylor and Justin Hood are both local players with strong support behind them.
And don’t forget Ryan Searle, who will be hoping to finish his season strongly.

Final Thoughts

This year’s Players Championship Finals has all the ingredients of a classic:

• Big names with low seedings

• Unpredictable early matchups

• A brutal third quarter

• Local heroes in quarter four

• Littler and Humphries only meeting in the final

If the draw plays out the way it looks on paper, we could be in for one of the most entertaining weekends of the season.