Ok how do you all relax when you are at a crucial point in a match. Anyone use visual imagery? Where you imagine a picture of something relaxing or away from the situation? I tend to imagine a favourite walk with my dog...a happy memory etc........ It can be very effective..try it!!!

Its something I need to learn I think, I'm sure I tense my arm far too much!

I stand behind the other player staring at the floor, normally focus on a certain bit of carpet or a mark on the floor etc....... it works for me

as above , couple of deep breaths then throw

I haven't figured out a way yet lol. But when I do it's on.

I focus on the board and any tiny spot that I can.

I focus on the target ive to hit and think to myself in practice i put 3 darts in that Double

often without any hassle.. its so easyyy so lets hit the Bugger with one dart LOL

I imagine I'm under water and everything just moves in slow motion. Last night at league for instance I was running a mile a minute, throwing without thinking and couldn't hit #$%^. Captain says, "Slow down. Think about where you're aligning your feet."

Stepped up doing my underwater routine and put two on the wire to D16 and one in D8 on the wire to D16. Didn't make the 32 but all three darts were within 5mm of where I was aiming which for me is pretty amazing under pressure (or NOT under pressure lol).

Im kinda like Chalk in that manner. Not the nerves but i catch myself rushing every once in a while. Slow down, take a breath and concentrate

OK new technique...next league match you play imagine grips avatar picture.......it will take your mind out of the stress you are in...plus it will make you smile.

Bovrilheid wrote:

OK new technique...next league match you play imagine grips avatar picture.......it will take your mind out of the stress you are in...plus it will make you smile.

Unfortunately the rush of blood from my brain might make me dizzy. And where it ends up might throw my balance off. ;)

Chalk Is Cheap wrote:

Bovrilheid wrote:

OK new technique...next league match you play imagine grips avatar picture.......it will take your mind out of the stress you are in...plus it will make you smile.

Unfortunately the rush of blood from my brain might make me dizzy. And where it ends up might throw my balance off. ;)

fair point and you might get so excited you cannae reach the board to get yer dart oot!!!!!!!!

Goofy wrote:

I stand behind the other player staring at the floor, normally focus on a certain bit of carpet or a mark on the floor etc....... it works for me

I'm the same but tend to focus on one of my flights and try to shut off from what's going on around me. It seems to work for me!

Bovrilheid wrote:

Chalk Is Cheap wrote:

Bovrilheid wrote:

OK new technique...next league match you play imagine grips avatar picture.......it will take your mind out of the stress you are in...plus it will make you smile.

Unfortunately the rush of blood from my brain might make me dizzy. And where it ends up might throw my balance off. ;)

fair point and you might get so excited you cannae reach the board to get yer dart oot!!!!!!!!

stevec180 wrote:

Goofy wrote:

I stand behind the other player staring at the floor, normally focus on a certain bit of carpet or a mark on the floor etc....... it works for me

I'm the same but tend to focus on one of my flights and try to shut off from what's going on around me. It seems to work for me!

Good point Steve. I think that is quite common....I find it quite difficult at times to ignore matches going on on close boards

some good stuff here, I have been over thinking which has hurt me lately. Thinking gotta extend me arm, extend me arm and follow through. I need to just chuck the dam things and leave it alone .

yes Larry, in the words of the great master Bruce Lee "Don't Think! Feeeeel!!"

Or as I usually say, let the darts lead you on the right path, dont think, just feel the dart, just feel the flow and it will be great =)

ive been trying a more relaxed stance which seemed to work well the other week then i noticed weds night that my usual stance had crept back in! As for when standing behind my opponent i tend to check my flights for splits even if i'm sure there aren't any. I know ppl say u shouldnt watch ya opponent throw and to play the board etc but i like to watch....if they hit a good score it tends to fire me up sometimes and same if they wire a double i think right i'm gonna get this and its gonna hurt cos you shouldve had it things like that to help my focus. Doesn't always work like as can sometimes make me try too hard but i'd say it helps me more often than hinders.

I was speaking to scotty waites about this on Friday night and he said everyone plays well in their bedroom so just imagine its just you in your bedroom throwing at the board. Just imagine the 2 walls either side of you and concentrate on the board and only the board.

I try and pump myself up and say to myself " self you got this, think of being at home shooting on your own board".....lot of the time it works and some times I'm real close to where I'm aiming for!!! Thinking of Avatar's doesn't work....makes me drink more...lol