Been giving this a bit of thought over the weekend and I've decided to try and really push my darts the second half of this year. I've ditched the trainer board, gone back to my old darts and am aiming to put at least 2 hours practice a night in. I've dropped SuperLeague for a local league, aiming to cement my place in a new team on a Monday night and want to challenge for most wins on a Tuesday night (probably the hardest league I play in)
I'm hoping to enter more tournaments in the next 6 months and really am going to push it culminating in what I hope will be a proper go at GSoD qualification on 4th November as well as a successful debut at the "Clash Of The Forums" on 25th November. Alot of people tell me I can play this game well but I don't really believe them. To build that confidence up I need to put the effort in and get some good results.
I've set what I think are ambitious aims. I just love playing this game and hopefully I won't lose sight of that, even if I don't hit my targets.
Aim for the moon and maybe you'll land among the stars (or something)
First up...Stirchley Open
Monday 8 August 2011
Friday 24 June 2011
Harsh realities
The money in darts has increased dramatically during the last 20 years or so. The rewards are so much greater but so is the cost and the risk. Players needing sponsorship to compete is nothing new but in the PDC, you can't get on the tour without a major financial backer so the number of players looking for sponsorship has increased. There's only a finite number of people/companies interested in sponsoring players and they only have a finite amount of money.
There are success stories like Nigel Heydon and Mark Hylton who quit their jobs and have made it a success but they have only been able to do that with the help of sponsorship and speaking to them, they openly acknowledge they have been fortunate on that front. Others are not so. In a local paper last month, a player was practically begging for sponsorship to be able to continue on the tour. Another player had to drop out the UK Open qualifiers when his sponsor told him he could no longer afford to sponsor him.
Now, an argument could be made that if they did any good then they wouldn't have a problem. Bring in money for the sponsor, increase their profile and sponsors will follow. But not everyone can do a Barney, Whitlock, Lewis (to name 3) to come in and get in the latter stages early in their PDC career to do that. But what about the BDO? Build your reputation & profile then move? This is not a bad argument but you only have 2 opportunities to really do that (World Champs and World Masters) You still need sponsorship to do the BDO tour (though significantly less of it) and if people think they're good enough, they'll play in the PDC.
This does add weight to the arguments that the PDC caters for the elite and for every success story we hear about, there's probably another 10 that failed. Elite sport has always been a ruthless affair and Darts is now no different. The only thing apparently stopping Scott Waites moving is lack of sponsorship and the cost. I'm surprised no one has offered him some after his superb victory in the Grand Slam of Darts last year.
Darts is big business now and there will inevitably be casualties. Is it the PDC's responsibility to help?
There are success stories like Nigel Heydon and Mark Hylton who quit their jobs and have made it a success but they have only been able to do that with the help of sponsorship and speaking to them, they openly acknowledge they have been fortunate on that front. Others are not so. In a local paper last month, a player was practically begging for sponsorship to be able to continue on the tour. Another player had to drop out the UK Open qualifiers when his sponsor told him he could no longer afford to sponsor him.
Now, an argument could be made that if they did any good then they wouldn't have a problem. Bring in money for the sponsor, increase their profile and sponsors will follow. But not everyone can do a Barney, Whitlock, Lewis (to name 3) to come in and get in the latter stages early in their PDC career to do that. But what about the BDO? Build your reputation & profile then move? This is not a bad argument but you only have 2 opportunities to really do that (World Champs and World Masters) You still need sponsorship to do the BDO tour (though significantly less of it) and if people think they're good enough, they'll play in the PDC.
This does add weight to the arguments that the PDC caters for the elite and for every success story we hear about, there's probably another 10 that failed. Elite sport has always been a ruthless affair and Darts is now no different. The only thing apparently stopping Scott Waites moving is lack of sponsorship and the cost. I'm surprised no one has offered him some after his superb victory in the Grand Slam of Darts last year.
Darts is big business now and there will inevitably be casualties. Is it the PDC's responsibility to help?
Friday 25 March 2011
Difference time makes
Just been reading through my last entry (http://grazer501.blogspot.com/2011/02/over-last-few-weeks-ive-considered.html) and I can't believe the difference a month has made. I'm not sure what has changed but I'm more relaxed, finding it easier to get into a rhythm, not losing my temper if the darts aren't going right..... win or lose I'm just loving the game again and can't wait for my next match. I'm even enjoying practice again.
Recent performances and results have probably helped a little; 2-1 win against a player from top of the league, last 32 of the local singles comp, 3-0 win with a 148 c/o (a result that seemed to surprise everyone) 2-0 win with a 17 darter on Monday, 180 on the Tuesday in the pairs (lost 2-1 to Stuart Dutton and partner) Now whether I'm relaxed because I'm getting good results and performances or because I'm more relaxed I'm getting good results and performances I'm not sure but I'll take it. Even games I haven't won I've lost 3-2 and arguably should have won 3-0 but just couldn't get into a good ryhthm but I'm not beating myself up over it.......and it's getting noticed.
Played Tuesday and one of the top players in the league was chatting to one of our team after their match. He mentioned to him that every time he sees me play I seem to have got better and that if I keep going I'm going to be very hard to beat. They both knew how much stick I took my first season in the SuperLeague. He's the kind of guy who if he thinks you're playing like a muppet or he doesn't like you, he'll say so. This meant a lot to me but not as much as my team saying how much more relaxed I look and how well I'm playing.
Next up for me darts wise is Monday nights. We got a run of very hard games against 3 of the top 4 and I'm holding no fear of playing anyone at the moment so hoping to get some valuable points for the team. Thursdays there's the Gold Cup singles and pairs but not sure if I will enter them. Next big competition is the PDC UK Open Qualifier in Bristol on 17th April which should a good measuring stick of how I'm doing. Seeing my Dad at the weekend and no doubt some arrows will be chucked then.
They say you have to take the bad with the good. Maybe my run of bad is coming to an end. It's amazing what time and a little perseverance can do.
Recent performances and results have probably helped a little; 2-1 win against a player from top of the league, last 32 of the local singles comp, 3-0 win with a 148 c/o (a result that seemed to surprise everyone) 2-0 win with a 17 darter on Monday, 180 on the Tuesday in the pairs (lost 2-1 to Stuart Dutton and partner) Now whether I'm relaxed because I'm getting good results and performances or because I'm more relaxed I'm getting good results and performances I'm not sure but I'll take it. Even games I haven't won I've lost 3-2 and arguably should have won 3-0 but just couldn't get into a good ryhthm but I'm not beating myself up over it.......and it's getting noticed.
Played Tuesday and one of the top players in the league was chatting to one of our team after their match. He mentioned to him that every time he sees me play I seem to have got better and that if I keep going I'm going to be very hard to beat. They both knew how much stick I took my first season in the SuperLeague. He's the kind of guy who if he thinks you're playing like a muppet or he doesn't like you, he'll say so. This meant a lot to me but not as much as my team saying how much more relaxed I look and how well I'm playing.
Next up for me darts wise is Monday nights. We got a run of very hard games against 3 of the top 4 and I'm holding no fear of playing anyone at the moment so hoping to get some valuable points for the team. Thursdays there's the Gold Cup singles and pairs but not sure if I will enter them. Next big competition is the PDC UK Open Qualifier in Bristol on 17th April which should a good measuring stick of how I'm doing. Seeing my Dad at the weekend and no doubt some arrows will be chucked then.
They say you have to take the bad with the good. Maybe my run of bad is coming to an end. It's amazing what time and a little perseverance can do.
Friday 11 February 2011
Over the last few weeks, I've considered quitting the sport of darts. My performances on Thursdays have been poor, Mondays inconsistent. The only time I really enjoy the game is in practice/messing around and at tournaments. That's why I attend the 2 last weekend and I had a great time. I really believed I could beat the players or at least give them something to worry about (a full write up is available here )
But at the moment, put me in a league match and I suffer despite the players really being no better than what I play at a tournament. I don't know if its preparation, the fact its just me but I'm just not enjoying the game of league darts. Alot of people are trying to tell me its just a blip, a mental obstacle to get over but it seems much more than that.
I have decided to continue Monday nights to keep it ticking over but SuperLeague I will giving up at the end of the season. Looking back over the last 3 years, the problems with my game really started there. It was a rough first season and it had a massive impact on me and my game. I'm not blaming it and I'm not going to make excuses but what I want to do is enjoy the game I dearly love.
But at the moment, put me in a league match and I suffer despite the players really being no better than what I play at a tournament. I don't know if its preparation, the fact its just me but I'm just not enjoying the game of league darts. Alot of people are trying to tell me its just a blip, a mental obstacle to get over but it seems much more than that.
I have decided to continue Monday nights to keep it ticking over but SuperLeague I will giving up at the end of the season. Looking back over the last 3 years, the problems with my game really started there. It was a rough first season and it had a massive impact on me and my game. I'm not blaming it and I'm not going to make excuses but what I want to do is enjoy the game I dearly love.
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