From Pub Player to Professional: The Road to Becoming a Professional Darts Player

 

Every darts fan has imagined it.

The winning double. The walk-on music. The packed crowd. The television cameras. The dream of earning a Tour Card and competing against the world's best.

But how realistic is it?

The truth is that every professional darts player started exactly where most of us are now – playing in local leagues, pubs, clubs and county events. Nobody begins as a professional. The journey starts with a single dart.

Step 1: Learn the Basics

Before thinking about rankings, averages or Q School, you need a solid foundation.

Focus on:

• A repeatable throw
• Consistent stance and grip
• Basic scoring
• Finishing doubles

Many new players obsess over 180s. In reality, doubles win matches.

A player averaging 60 but finishing well will often beat a player averaging 70 who cannot hit doubles.

Step 2: Play Regularly

Improvement comes from competition.

Practice is important, but match experience is where players truly develop.

Look for:

• Local pub leagues
• Open tournaments
• Youth events
• County competitions
• Darts Atlas events
• ADC events

The more different opponents you face, the quicker you learn.

Step 3: Track Your Progress

One mistake many players make is relying on memory.

Keep records of:

• Averages
• Win percentages
• Highest checkouts
• 180s
• Tournament results

Statistics reveal strengths and weaknesses that you may not notice during matches.

This is one reason grassroots ranking systems such as Q4QS are becoming increasingly valuable. They allow players to measure progress against others in their area and across the country.

Step 4: Build Consistency

The biggest difference between a decent player and a top player is consistency.

Most players can throw a brilliant leg.

Far fewer can do it for an entire tournament.

Professional players produce quality darts week after week, month after month, year after year.

Consistency is built through:

• Regular practice
• Match experience
• Confidence
• Mental resilience

Step 5: Raise Your Average

As a rough guide:

• 40-50 average: Beginner
• 50-60 average: Developing player
• 60-70 average: Strong local player
• 70-80 average: County standard
• 80-90 average: National level
• 90+ average: Professional standard

These figures are not exact, but they provide useful milestones.

Remember that averages alone do not tell the full story. Finishing and matchplay are equally important.

Step 6: Travel and Test Yourself

Many players become comfortable winning locally.

The next challenge is travelling.

Playing different venues and different regions exposes you to stronger fields and different playing conditions.

It also helps build experience under pressure.

The players who improve fastest are usually those who seek tougher competition rather than avoiding it.

Step 7: Develop the Right Mindset

Talent helps.

Mindset matters more.

Every successful player experiences:

• Bad form
• Heavy defeats
• Missed doubles
• Tournament exits

The difference is that they keep turning up.

Progress in darts is rarely a straight line.

Some weeks you feel unstoppable.

Other weeks you cannot hit a double.

Keep playing.

Keep learning.

Keep improving.

Step 8: Consider Q School

For many ambitious players, the ultimate target is Q School.

The Professional Darts Corporation (PDC) Q School offers players the opportunity to earn a Tour Card and compete professionally.

However, success at Q School usually follows years of development, competition and experience.

Most players who succeed have already built a strong foundation through local, county and national competition.

The Reality

Very few players will become full-time professionals.

But that should not stop anyone trying.

The journey itself is rewarding.

You make friends, visit new venues, experience memorable matches and continuously challenge yourself to improve.

And every professional darts player once stood exactly where you are now.

The road starts with one dart.

Where it ends is up to you.

South West Grassroots Darts Round-Up – 16 June 2026

 

Another busy evening of grassroots darts saw 32 tournaments added to the Q4QS database, with strong performances across the South West and surrounding regions.

🏆 Tournament Winners

🎯 Tuesday Night Sub 70 Average Round Robin (DartAsylum HQ)

The headline event for South West followers saw Liam Moore continue his excellent run of form, defeating Woody Jewell 3-1 in the final. Liam's recent consistency has made him one of the players to watch on the local scene.

🎯 Faringdon Town In Between Cash Comp #3

Mitch McCarthy took the title after defeating Johnny Haines 3-2 in a closely fought final. Johnny may have missed out on the trophy, but he produced some of the highest averages of the day.

🎯 Railway Inn Round Robin

Kieran Spurdle defeated Steve Boundy 3-1 in the final after an impressive day that saw him rack up nine wins.

🎯 Highbridge JDC Volts Series 6

One of the standout youth events in the South West saw Jenson Jones defeat Cooper Cornish in the final.

🎯 Minehead JDC Volts Series 6

Charlie Mossman edged out Luke Bennett in a 3-2 final to claim the title.

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🔥 Performance of the Day

Johnny Haines

Although he finished runner-up at Faringdon, Johnny produced a remarkable 104.73 average, one of the highest recorded averages in the entire database yesterday.

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🎯 South West Standouts

• Liam Moore – DartAsylum winner
• Woody Jewell – Runner-up at DartAsylum
• Mitch McCarthy – Faringdon champion
• Johnny Haines – 104.73 average
• Kieran Spurdle – Railway Inn champion
• Jenson Jones – Highbridge JDC winner
• Charlie Mossman – Minehead JDC winner

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Top Averages Recorded

1. Sam Jackson – 120.24
2. Sion Thomas – 111.33
3. Llew Bevan – 109.98
4. Llew Bevan – 107.36
5. Johnny Haines – 104.73
6. Lewis Gurney – 103.66
7. Johnny Haines – 102.48
8. Sean Holley – 102.11
9. Stephen Cake – 101.38
10. Max Carter – 100.20 

🏆 Q4QS SOUTH WEST TOP 100

16 June 2026

Here is a list of the Top 100 players in the South West (England) according to my Q4QS database

Usual caveats apply: Rankings are based on results currently in the Q4QS database. Players must currently have at least 6 qualifying events to appear. Rankings will continue to evolve as additional historical results, venues and tournaments are entered  Ranks based on Average, tournament strength, tournament performance, opponent strength and a couple more things!

Top 100

Rank	Player
1	Josh McCarthy
2	Ashton Brown
3	John Brown
4	Nick Eggbeer
5	Terry Jenkins
6	Geoff James
7	Kieran Smith
8	Bailey White
9	Mike Harper
10	Robbie Long
11	Scott Mc
12	Andy Steed
13	Danny Humphries
14	Luke Harding
15	Ricky Palmer
16	Graham Jenkins
17	Clive Burgess
18	Rich Griffee
19	Joshua Lewis
20	Shaun Vernall
21	Iain Howie
22	Dan Williams
23	Adrian Wood
24	Dean Brown
25	Joe Quiney
26	Zach Quinn
27	Andrew Cook
28	Steve Boundy
29	Declan Cox
30	Mitch McCarthy
31	Lee Andrews
32	Darren Herbert
33	Gary Hiscock
34	Gary Eastwood
35	Steve Brown
36	Ellis Radford
37	Steve Handley
38	Joe Bagguley
39	Matty Rogers
40	C-Jay Pipe
41	Jack Walker
42	Cameron O'Brien
43	Paul Meyer
44	Martyn Freeman
45	Rory Pearce
46	Steve Donohue
47	Woody Jewell
48	Leighton Cox
49	Darren Davies
50	Lewis Kendall
51	Owen Smith
52	Andy Hammond
53	Dave Legg
54	CJ Ayres
55	Jamie Shovelton
56	Joe Sellick
57	Mervyn Adams
58	Joseph Meason
59	Richard Smith
60	Cori Wiltshire
61	Taylor Morgan
62	Ashley Pope
63	Joe Smith
64	James Long
65	Sean Taylor
66	Leslie Higgs
67	Liam Moore
68	Daren Field
69	Steven Rees
70	Jacob Godber
71	Dave Fisher
72	Alfie Barney
73	Mark Wellington
74	Martin Walker
75	Al Ayres
76	Jake Tucker
77	James Wintle-McKay
78	Samuel King
79	SKITZ 007
80	Ben Collins
81	John Maggs
82	Warren Ryan
83	Shay Goff
84	Will Jackson
85	Joe Silvester
86	Craig Britten
87	Brogan Bayford
88	Robbie Roy
89	Brooklyn Anthony
90	Louis Hamblin
91	Matthew Webb
92	Glenn Pearce
93	Liam Rowe
94	Mitchell Atkins
95	Declan Holly
96	Ian Higgs
97	Alfie Palmer
98	Daniel Jeffrey
99	Richie Hunt
100	Collis Palmer

South West Darts Round-Up – 15 June 2026

 

Monday night delivered another packed evening of grassroots darts across the South West, with several standout performances recorded in the Q4QS database.

The headline result came from Bristol's North Star Club, where Josh McCarthy defeated Johnny Haines 3-2 in a high-quality final to claim the North Star Vault Break title. McCarthy also produced the highest average of the tournament with 99.28 and was one of the standout performers of the entire day.

Johnny Haines pushed the champion all the way and recorded a superb 98.02 average of his own, underlining the quality on display in Bristol.

Elsewhere, Jamie Kelling stole the headlines statistically with a 100.20 average on his way to victory in the Money In Money Out Round-Robin at The Wolversdene Club. Kelling won eight matches during the evening and capped the night by defeating Luke Getty in the final.

In Radstock, Bradley Hall lifted the U65 Average Round Robin title at Clandown Darts Promotions, overcoming Jayden Osmond in the final. Craig Britten posted the tournament's highest average with 81.24.

Southwick Sports Club saw Bak Ko take the honours after defeating Ronnie Sumner in the final. Both players enjoyed excellent nights, each recording seven victories during the event.

Away from the South West, several impressive performances were recorded nationwide, including Alec Small's outstanding 112.73 average at the Wattsville Vault Break, the highest individual average logged across all events entered into the database yesterday.

South West Highlights

🏆 Josh McCarthy wins the North Star Vault Break

🎯 Jamie Kelling averages 100.20

🔥 Johnny Haines averages 98.02

🏅 Bradley Hall wins at Clandown Darts Promotions

⭐ Bak Ko claims victory at Southwick Sports Club

Highest Recorded Averages

1. Alec Small – 112.73

2. Connor Hopkins – 109.98

3. Jamie Kelling – 100.20

4. Josh McCarthy – 99.28

5. Johnny Haines – 98.02

Grassroots darts continues to thrive across the South West, with strong fields, quality performances and another busy evening of results feeding into the Q4QS rankings.

PDC Players Championship 21 & 22 Preview – Six To Follow

 

The PDC ProTour returns this week with Players Championship 21 and 22 as another huge field of Tour Card holders chase valuable ranking money and momentum heading into the second half of the season.

As always, these floor events can produce surprises, but several players arrive in excellent form according to the latest Q4QS data.

Six To Follow

Luke Humphries

The world-class standard continues. Humphries remains the highest-ranked player in the Q4QS database and already has a Players Championship title this season alongside a World Masters final appearance , as well as the recent World Cup win for England, alongside Luke Littler. 

Gerwyn Price

Price continues to produce strong results and arrives on the back of a European Darts Grand Prix victory. His recent form suggests another deep run could be on the cards.

Wessel Nijman

One of the breakout stars of the season. Multiple titles, strong averages and another recent quarter-final make Nijman a serious contender.

Ross Smith

Fresh from winning Players Championship 20, Ross Smith will arrive full of confidence and looking to add further silverware.

Luke Woodhouse

A Players Championship winner earlier this year and still producing excellent performances. Woodhouse remains one of the most dangerous unseeded threats in any draw.

Kevin Doets

Consistency has been the key. Several semi-finals and strong scoring power mean Doets is always a threat to go deep.

Surprise Packages

Joe Hunt

Three titles and several deep runs have gone slightly under the radar. If he can string together a few big performances, he could surprise many of the bigger names.

Sebastian Bialecki

The young Pole has enjoyed a superb run of form and arrives with momentum on his side. One to watch closely.

Final Thoughts

With Humphries, Price, Van Gerwen, Dobey, Nijman and Smith all in action, the standard is likely to be exceptionally high. However, floor events often reward confidence and momentum, meaning players such as Woodhouse, Doets, Hunt and Bialecki could be capable of making significant runs over the two tournaments.

Who are your six to follow this week?

South And South West Darts Round-Up: Radford Claims Rise Up Vault Finals Glory (14th June 2026)

Sunday produced another busy day of grassroots darts action across the South and South West, with regional finals, junior competitions and local opens all contributing to a packed schedule.

Radford Wins South West Rise Up Regional Finals

The biggest event of the day was undoubtedly the ADC South West Vault 17.0 LEVEL UP RISE Regional Finals at the Sartan Club.

A strong field gathered to battle for the title, with Ellis Radford emerging victorious after a 4-2 final win over Rich Griffee. Both players enjoyed excellent campaigns throughout the day, with Griffee and Radford each recording seven victories.

The standard was impressive throughout. Jake Tucker produced the highest average of the tournament with 90.55, while Rich Griffee posted 86.82 and Matty Rogers fired in 85.08. Steve Boundy and Ellis Radford also featured among the day's leading performers.

Junior Talent Shines At Hangar 61

At Hangar 61 in Patchway, the latest JDC VOLTS event showcased some of the region's most promising young talent.

Jacob Godber lifted the title with a 3-0 victory over Robbe Van der Steen in the final. Van der Steen produced the highest average of the day at 88.41, while Eelyas Van Bruyssel and Josh Latham also impressed during the event.

The competition once again highlighted the strength of youth darts in the South West and the importance of events such as these in developing future stars.

Boundy Triumphs In Round Robin Action

Steve Boundy added another title to his growing collection by winning the 16-man Open Round Robin.

Boundy defeated Jamie McKinnon in the final after both players enjoyed outstanding days. McKinnon recorded a superb 100.20 average, while Boundy matched that figure with a century average of his own.

John Maggs and Warren Ryan were also among the standout performers.

Vernall Produces Huge Numbers

Elsewhere, Shaun Vernall claimed victory in The Wahey KO with a dramatic 6-5 final win over Darrel Williams.

Vernall also recorded one of the performances of the day, producing a superb 98.40 average on his way to the title.

Top Performances Of The Day

Some of the highest averages recorded across the database included:

• Riley Milligan – 125.25
• Chas Barstow – 103.66
• Jamie McKinnon – 100.20
• Steve Boundy – 100.20
• Cameron Harris – 100.20
• Mike Huntley – 100.20
• Shaun Vernall – 98.40

Another excellent day of grassroots darts demonstrated the strength and depth of talent currently competing across the South and South West.

Player Profile:Ellis Radford

 A highly active competitor with over 240 matches recorded during 2026. Ellis combines consistency with the ability to produce standout performances, highlighted by a season-best average above the ton and three tournament victories. His strong win percentage demonstrates an ability to regularly progress deep into events and makes him one of the more accomplished players currently featured within the Q4QS database.

Modus Super Series Week 8 Preview

 

The Modus Super Series returns for Week 8 with a fascinating blend of established performers, emerging talent and proven winners looking to make their mark on the live-streamed stage.

Heading the field is Joe Hunt, currently ranked 11th in the Q4QS rankings. Hunt has continued to impress in PDC competition, recently reaching the quarter-finals of Players Championship 16 and recording notable victories over Michael van Gerwen, Christian Kist and Shane McGuirk. When Hunt finds his rhythm, few players in this field can match his scoring power.

Another player arriving with strong credentials is Dylan Slevin. The Irishman reached the semi-finals of a recent PDC Development Tour event and has posted a number of impressive performances throughout the season. A recent 7W-3L run highlights the consistency he brings into the week.

One of the form players entering the competition is Graham Hall. Hall arrives on the back of a remarkable 10-match winning streak and has collected multiple titles in recent weeks. Momentum can be a powerful weapon in the Modus format and Hall certainly has plenty of it.

Sam Spivey has been gaining valuable experience on the PDC Challenge Tour and recently reached the Last 32 stage of Challenge Tour 15. His scoring ability and competitive experience could make him one of the dark horses of the week.

Oliver King enters the competition as a recent Rileys UK Open Qualifier champion. Tournament-winning confidence can often be crucial in the Modus environment, and King has already shown he knows how to get over the line when trophies are on the line.

Joe Croft is another player worth keeping an eye on. Recent results include a tournament victory and a strong run to the Last 32 of the England Open. An 8W-2L recent record suggests he arrives full of confidence.

Elsewhere, Ryan Branley, Alec Small, Bradley O'Connor and Dean Finn all have the ability to cause problems throughout the week. The Modus Super Series has built a reputation for producing surprises, and it would be no shock to see one of the outsiders put together a memorable run.

Six To Follow

⭐ Joe Hunt
⭐ Dylan Slevin
⭐ Graham Hall
⭐ Sam Spivey
⭐ Joe Croft
⭐ Oliver King

With proven winners, PDC experience and several players carrying excellent recent form, Week 8 promises to be another highly competitive chapter in the Modus Super Series. The format often rewards consistency and momentum, and there is no shortage of both in this week's line-up.