A lot of beginners are often given the advice that they should grip the dart at or close to the balance point.

Well, when I look at some of the players darts that I have and how the players grip is on the barrel, it is often no where near the balance point!

Look at Taylors Phase 5 darts, they are front heavy yet he grips at the back, then look at how Bristow grips his, near the stem (granted he probably balanced it with his other finger).

Anyway my point is, is it valid advice when so many appear not to grip near the balance point, or am I missing something? :scratch:

Hmm, I think it's more relevant with a longer straight barrelled dart to avoid fish tailing and less so with bullet and front loaded darts as they tend to even themselves out. I wouldn't necessarily give that advice unless the player was having problems.

Yep Hazza is spot on with that advice IMO

I think gripping at the balance point is a good suggestion for anyone just starting. Only because Taylor and Bristow's throwing action have been perfected and finely tuned. If you start someone at the balance point and then tell them to grab the dart in a "comfortable fashion" then George's flight school advice takes over from there. "Your throw will naturally form itself into the best throw for you"

Lefty544 wrote:

I think gripping at the balance point is a good suggestion for anyone just starting. Only because Taylor and Bristow's throwing action have been perfected and finely tuned. If you start someone at the balance point and then tell them to grab the dart in a "comfortable fashion" then George's flight school advice takes over from there. "Your throw will naturally form itself into the best throw for you"

Yeah I think the theory behind it is a sound one, but whatever is your natural/comfortable grip is the best in the long run.

I think beginners should try it all and see what works best, then refine from there. Try the front, the middle, the back, two fingers, three, four, just find what gets closest to the target and feels right then work it until you don't think about it anymore.

I like to hold mine in front of the balance point, but I only know that it's the most comfortable and accurate for me because I tried so many things that sucked immediately by comparison.

Hi
Are you talking about the center of gravity (COG).
Bo

Bo-Jangles wrote:

Hi
Are you talking about the center of gravity (COG).
Bo

Yeah the centre of gravity of the barrel, thats right.

Thanks thats what I thought
However you then go on to mention
Look at Taylors Phase 5 darts, they are front heavy yet he grips at the back, then look at how Bristow grips his, near the stem (granted he probably balanced it with his other finger).
The
Players of this ilk do not use a center of gravity, it does not exist for them, they use (or in Erics case) used, a series of pivot points, and as most of these pivot points are activated above the dart it is not the same things at all.
Because their action is so different than nearly all other players, when something goes amiss they have nowhere to turn for help or to study, (it may answere the question of why Eric took a certain player under his wing), maybe, just maybe he saw something in this players action and if he studied him long enough it might dawn on him.
Thank you for your help
Bo

Yeah it would seem those particular players have almost an abnormal grip compared to the majority of players. I guess they just got used to that way.

There we have another bone of contention with the grip, if you use pivot points you cannot grip the dart.
Bo