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The throw can be broken down to 10 sublets, or parts. Very little is needed here except
to be aware of what yours are.
We each will be a bit different depending on our body type. If you are aware of what your personal sublets are, you’ll pick up on this when you are off form. Then, you can bring yourself back on form. Just be in an awareness mode, a non-judgmental awareness.
So, lets look at these sublets - rhythm, tempo, timing, power, set-up, back swing, anchor,
forward swing, release point, and follow through.
The technical requirements for a darter’s throw is precision/consistency. We need to
increase awareness of the feel of key elements of the swing.
Awareness of feel is more technical than words, and less confusing. Relaxed concentration on feel will allow you to discern more and more subtle bits of information provided by your body and thus heighten your control. The subconscious mind will automatically differentiate between feelings and select the most appropriate solution for you.
Rhythm is your motion or movement of your throw. We each have our own rhythm. The throw is basically a two beat rhythm - back and forward. When your throw is rhythmic you just know it, and when it’s not you can tell immediately, if you are at all aware. Like the rhythm of breathing-in and out, we don’t have to force it. It is just there. Trying to swing rhythmically will destroy it. Rhythm requires body awareness only. Your own rhythm does not stay the same from day to day, so it’s not a bad idea to locate it again each time you play. Your job is simply to let it happen and to stay attuned to it.
Tempo means rate of motion. It is determined by the relative speed of the arm on the back swing and forward swing. Little is needed to improve tempo other than to become more aware of it, and to be alert to the conscious mind’s slightest tendency to interfere. The conscious mind can’t really describe tempo, however, it can destroy it by trying to speed it up beyond the natural pace of your unconscious mind’s throw, or by really slowing it down through over deliberateness. Consciously trying to influence tempo is likely to throw your timing or some other aspect of your throw off. Just stay in the “non-judgmental awareness mode.”
Timing is the period it takes to throw your darts, all three or each individual dart. Is your timing equal between darts? Does each throw have the same timing for all 3 darts?
Power is merely how hard or soft you throw the dart. Power
begins with your balance; this is why there is value in a stable center. Settle into your center using deep (diaphragmatic) breathing.
This will also relax any tension in your upper body. The greater the stability of the set up position, means more power and accuracy will be introduced into the throw. The timing of the muscle releasing process is more important to power than the strength of any single muscle group. This is the reason why trying for power by consciously flexing different muscles to the maximum can in fact impede the velocity of the throw. Power has more to do with coordination of muscle groups; that power is generated by muscles contracting and releasing. The result of a complex and well timed sequence of muscle contractions that build up tempo from one muscle group to the next. It all starts with our “ki center”.
From here a river of energy flows up and out, through the firing of correct muscle groups in our shoulder, our arm and our wrist. Relaxation is the key here.
Set-up is where you merely bring the dart up in front of you. This is your alignment on your target. It should really start by looking at your target as you step up to the throw line; see your line to the target as you do this. This is also the point where most players perform their own individual aiming techniques. This point can also be used as a quiet moment to relax and get a good pin point focus on your target, a point to relax and quiet the mind just prior to throwing the dart. Use this set up point to meet your own personal agenda.
Back swing should be just dropping the forearm back to your own personal anchor point. At this point most players prefer to keep their upper arm horizontal to the floor and they do this by paying attention to their elbow, not letting it drop.
Anchor point is merely where the back swing stops prior to the forward swing. Again, this is a very personal thing, often times being selected for its comfort or maybe being a part of a person’s aiming technique. The key here is consistency because this is where your forward swing begins, and if it begins in a different location each time, your trajectory will be different to the target. This means no consistency in accuracy.
Forward swing should be like a rattlesnake striking out at its target with consistent speed each time so your trajectory will be consistent. Keep it simple, and smooth.
Release point is where the dart comes out of the hand. Ideally this should be just prior to the forearm being perpendicular. Too early of a release and your dart will hit high. Too late of a release and your dart will hit low. Nothing else is needed. The dart should be coming out of relaxed finger, unhindered.
Follow through is extending the arm fully forward. The arm should be outstretched with the fingers pointing in the direction of the target. The thought in your mind is to throw the dart through the target; not just at the target. Throw as if the dart will go through the board, the wall and just keep going. This thought will automatically give you follow through. If you don’t have follow through you will have a tendency to chop your throw and your darts will drift - who knows where.
All of these parts of the throw are closely connected, intertwined so to speak. If one
is off, it affects the others.
Learning to discriminate the feel of the part of the throw in relation to the target can be
developed by aiming for different targets within the wedge. This discrimination of feel when developed through practice will give you the best trajectory to the
target.
For accuracy, a true awareness must be utilized in this exercise. You must surrender trust and control on the unconscious mind. Stay in the awareness mode. This is the learning process for accuracy.
Two other great, game-improving articles also appeared in our
November/December edition exclusively for our print subscribers:
Surprise, Surprise, Surprise by Ralph Chavez
Everyone misses their target every once in a while.
Thoughts On Cricket Strategy by Captain Fred Everson
Change the Karma of the game to sneak in the win.
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