Hello all,
I used to play a lot of Darts aroound Surrey, I started playing in 1986 and fortunately got to a high level pretty quickly, I was never really commited to it though as I was playing about on and off with Drag racing and building engines.

I never played County although I was asked to because I just knew I wasn't commited enough, I played for a couple of years for teams and in local tournaments but gave the game up for a couple of years before going back to it for maybe a year.

That didn't last but that was 20 years ago now and I feel as I no longer play about with the Race Cars I might have another bash at the DARTS.

Heres my problem, I remember the old adage "good Dart players never come back" and I put a board up last Week and had a few practice darts that made me think that statement is true.

I realise you can't expect much after 20 years (although I have had a couple of odd throws when I've seen a board somewhere I haven't played for that long other than a quick mess about) but I seem to still be able to throw a half decent Dart but then suddenly it feels like I'm throwing with the wrong hand and I've got no idea whats going on.

I have hit a few 180s in the week or so I've been having a practice (about an hour a night) mainly playing against a computer program but its so far off the level I was at it is really hard to keep it up.

Has anyone had any experience of a player giving up for thats ort of time and actually getting back to a good level?

I haven't been to a Pub and played for at least 14 years and that was again only a quick game as I happened to be there...I think playingf against someone might help but I don't want to waste the next few months practising if there is truth in the old words that it just doesn't come back.

I haven't seen any of my old mateds from the game for years now as we've all moved about a bit and heath issues have stopped me going to Pubs like I used to so I'm destined to play on my own until I feel I'm ready to just go in a Pun and put my name up.

Any help would be appreciated.

Cheers

Hi Stinger

Welcome to the forum mate.

Hello Wazza

Thanks for the welcome mate.

good to have you here stinger

Thanks Tommy

Have a Happy Christmas

hi stinger and welcome,
i know where your coming from bud cause i used to play darts every day for hours and 4 times a weeek at the pub ,was pretty decent won a few comps and plenty of league trophys,then i quit the game for 12 years ! been back into darts for around 5 yrs now and my game has never reached the level it used to be although some weeks im really playing well yet the another week not so well,but hey still enjoying it and keeping at it,and i still think i may still get my old game back lol.
all i can say to you is just go for it and see how good you can get again.

Midnight Runner

Thanks for the advice mate, I feared someone would come on and say that but it helps in a way as you have managed to stick at it.

I know when I gave up the first time and went back half of my problem was in my head...I would think that as I'd been out for a while the people who were still there that were my sort of standard when I went, must be better now and I was losing before I started.

I did get through it but that was after only a short layoff, this time I'm not so sure.

Cheers

your welcome stinger,
when i quit darts years ago i too quit for motor racing,-national 2l saloon stockcars,and banger racing,i used to race and really enjoyed it now i just spectate,still follow the saloons as have freinds and family members racing now,but i do have time for my darts now, thats why i got back into playing again.also do you think age could be a factor ? i somtimes think so, plus get aches in my neck/shoulder which i didnt use too years ago, i definately cant play for the number of hours that i used to be able too.
anyway stinger good luck to you and hope you get some where near your old standard.

Oh mate I think you hit the nail on the head there with the aches and pains thing.

I'm not in the best of health and get a lot of aches anyway but I just had half hour of the worst practice I've ever seen...last night I played against that computer game no1 on level 7 and it seems to take me going behind before I start to keep the darts from jumping into the 5s and 1s but it got to 4 sets to one ahead and I suddenly started playing a bit better and beat it 5-4. the computer keeps score and I hit 38 tons 16 140s and 2 180s obviously quite a few legs best of three but nice to get back in from 4-1 down.

Played it again tonight and lost 5-0 no 180s 3 140s and 16 tons when I did get to a double I was missing by a couple of inches and every first dart was a five.

The game really does my head in and I remember when I gave it up the way I felt and why I did it, I've played a few sports over the years but nothing makes me hate myself like Darts.

I don't remember kicking a football and slagging myself off because it missed the goal or a golf ball (and I'm rubbish at Golf) when I miss a two foot putt I just laugh.

Darts is in my opinion is not good for your head and its looking like this could be the shortest attempt at a comeback ever

My misses doesn't even like me when I play as it is no longer a relaxing game but an agravating observation that there's something else other than football or going to the Gym that I can't do.

Does anyone else get wound up after half hour of throwing really bad Darts?

stinger, your spot on with your comments about other sports not making you angry ect,i used to play footie and yes if i had a bad game i just let it go and look foward to the next game,but with darts for some reason if your off form and throwing really bad it makes you think about quiting and makes you (well me anyway) think why should i bother . since i returned to darts theres been a few times i nearly quit again for good but kept at it and at the mo im still enjoying the game(mostly lol).but as in my earlier post age (im 54 now) and the old aches/pains in my neck & shoulder does affect my game.

I haven't played since then and I'm tying to tell myself I'll be more interested if I don't treat it like I have to do it.

To be honest that was always part of my problem, I want to be good but as soon as I start practising hard I feel like its a job.

I'll let you know how my next practice gos in a couple of days.

Thanks again for your comments

Same here mate, if something becomes a chore then I get bored and leave it alone for a bit, took me a long time to relax
and just enjoy what i'm doing without worrying about it.

Thanks Tommy, I know I'm not the only one...Its not a good feeling knowing I gave up when I was good at it and in my early thirties and I'm thinking of getting back into it twenty years on, at first glance Darts doesn't look like something that you need to be young to be good at but then you look at people like Rod Harrington and even Eric and wonder why they have either stopped entering the big tournaments or just stopped altogether.

I wonder if its just an enthusiasm thing or if you lose something with age...I can't see why you should as its not really anything to do with fitness so it must be a mental thing.

I had another go at the computer game last night and managed to beat it 5 sets to three...had some really erratic darts but managed to not get the hump and still actually aim at the doubles when I got there instead of what I did last time which was to think as I'd played so bad I would just chuck instead of aiming properly (been there haven't you )
No 180s only 6 140s and only about 16 tons as I remember.

I'm not enjoying it at all to be honest but I'm thinking thats because I haven't played anybody and have only played first to five sets against the computer...although it pressures you it just isn't the same as when you can have a bit of banter while you practice with a mate, I might try to keep it up for a couple of months and then go out and get a few games.

I don't find I have the enthusiasm to practice like I used to on doubles and stuff and can just manage the quick 5 setters.

Update and last post.

Thanks for putting up with me but I find its too stressful trying to get back and at 2 sets each on the computer game I found myself unable to stand the inconsistency and really feel I have left all my good Darts back in the eighties.

Don't let this put anyone else off the game as I have a terrible temperament and have a stupid belief that I should be able to do what I could 20 years ago within a week or so.

My Board ,lights and Darts have gone where my last two went...in the bin.

I will try to delet my profile but for all who took an interest, I thank you.

Apologies for the typo stinker..

Just noticed your name was spelt stinker.. not stinger (another person I know)

No mat it was stinger I just changed it as I felt giving up before I had started merited the new one.

Cheers