I had a lot of words to explain the question but I'll keep it simple.

My best throw is a draw back and push the dart at the target (a bit like a free throw, or better, a forward pass in basketball).

How does your best throw feel? Do you hurl the spear at a fleeing gazelle or push it forward at a gnat's eye?



And slightly related:

What do you adjust to aim at the top and bottom of the board?

Throw harder/softer? Change the angle of attack so that the flight path hits the target but the throw is the same?

Just curious...

Must admit I've never really thought about it before - probably more of a hurl than a push lol.

As for going downstairs (or at the sides or wherever), the throw is the same but the arm adjusts to follow where I'm aiming at.

I like the analogy there chalk (basketball type throw ), as I suppose it is a bit like that and the same finishing position for the follow through.

Mine's more of a push as well, I draw back, slight pause then push. Some of my team mates say I look like a catapult from the side on view as I draw back slowly and then it's like I'm coiled ready to strike, then someone cuts the rope holding me in place and away the arm goes.

For above and below I tend to raise or lower the elbow slightly, but the actions the same.

I've got a mate who's a hurler and he's all over the place with his darts.

I am not 100% sure but I think Gary Anderson's throw looks more like a push than a throw if thats what you mean.

Not sure I have completely settled on a style at all really, yesterday I was doing my A2 routine with my normal (as normal as can be) throw and was doing well. But I got stuck on the last 4 marks, then I just threw the darts in a kind of nonchalant relaxed manner and hit the rest of my marks in quick succession?

I think my style is more of a throw than a push though and like Mike I just tend to move my arm when aiming elsewhere.

Neither ,because if I think about it I cant release

since my draw back is short I would call my action a push. I don't really think about it because you shouldn't in my opinion.

same with larry, my drawback is only a couple inches and I guess I push it forward

SilverSaber wrote:

since my draw back is short I would call my action a push. I don't really think about it because you shouldn't in my opinion.

Excellent post- Once you go down the road of thinking what your doing (like me) your doomed forever.

USMC80 wrote:

same with larry, my drawback is only a couple inches and I guess I push it forward

As I read this and Silver saber input, I assume that you both pull your arm back from a semi cocked arm, or in other words you don't extend your arm towards the dartboard and pull back from the offer position as say Leighton Reese and Eric Bristow did. But you do both break the perpendicular with some part of your hand fingers or dart. If so you are compelled to pull the dart, you have no say in it because you are human! I hope this snippet helps.
Bo

Bo-Jangles wrote:

USMC80 wrote:

same with larry, my drawback is only a couple inches and I guess I push it forward

As I read this and Silver saber input, I assume that you both pull your arm back from a semi cocked arm, or in other words you don't extend your arm towards the dartboard and pull back from the offer position as say Leighton Reese and Eric Bristow did. But you do both break the perpendicular with some part of your hand fingers or dart. If so you are compelled to pull the dart, you have no say in it because you are human! I hope this snippet helps.
Bo

Ya, start semi cocked and def break perpendicular. Just not by much.

USMC80 wrote:

Bo-Jangles wrote:

USMC80 wrote:

same with larry, my drawback is only a couple inches and I guess I push it forward

As I read this and Silver saber input, I assume that you both pull your arm back from a semi cocked arm, or in other words you don't extend your arm towards the dartboard and pull back from the offer position as say Leighton Reese and Eric Bristow did. But you do both break the perpendicular with some part of your hand fingers or dart. If so you are compelled to pull the dart, you have no say in it because you are human! I hope this snippet helps.
Bo

Ya, start semi cocked and def break perpendicular. Just not by much.

Thank you for that, so you pull! not a full pull yet, but you will get there!

I think a video of your throw would help a lot Bo?

getagrip wrote:

I think a video of your throw would help a lot Bo?

I concur

getagrip wrote:

I think a video of your throw would help a lot Bo?

Only if he is as good as

Interesting video. surprisingly both throws are similar, the only difference is Havenga is a backhander, or to put it another way he believes he is left eye dominant. Another point is that if anyone regards that either of these players push the dart, there is something seriously wrong.
Edited this note because I did Havenga the disservice of misspelling his name.
Bo

getagrip wrote:

I think a video of your throw would help a lot Bo?

Getagrip &USMC80

You would honestly believe so and so did I for a long time,
I was trying to teach one of my proteges via webcam. Nearly every Saturday and Sunday for various lengths of time, for three years he watched me throw and I would explain what I was doing and the feelings I was sensing. Now and again he would do it and i would scream at him "Thats it, you just did it" but he never clicked he remarked on the immense amount of velocity he'd just delivered the dart with but he could not retain the thought. This is the guy I traveled all the way to the UK to apply a hands on approach, but , well that's history.
You see there are two areas that have never been mentioned in darts before also they are also beneath the skin, so to speak. Also the main action is performed in such a way that most would not actually consider possible however most good players do it but are oblivious. This action brings into the equation the use of a Biaxial joint. The actions open the mind and allow you to accomplish other types of delivery. For instance it makes you realise that your fingers do not end at the Knuckle but extend to the wrist, I wonder how many dart players realised that before.
Bo

Now this just my opinion, If ya start with your arm extended on the draw back you have lots of time to make error before the launch. A shorter draw back to me (my opinion now) doesn't totally eliminate this but it sure eliminates 90% of that particular problem. So for me I bring the dart close to me eye slowly then launch with speed much like a jet being catapulted off the deck of a air craft carrier. That's me throw ie push or what ever because I don't think about it just do it. Its my natural stroke.

Hi Silversaber
Just your opinion, but good and valid! Your appreciation of what you do is of the highest priority. It is your honest appraisal and I will not try to dissuade you in any way. That would be counterproductive. As this is what you are certain of and you accomplish the task in hand!
That's me throw ie push or what ever because I don't think about it just do it. Its my natural stroke.
It is a good train of thought.
Regards
Bo

Bo-Jangles wrote:

Hi Silversaber
Just your opinion, but good and valid! Your appreciation of what you do is of the highest priority. It is your honest appraisal and I will not try to dissuade you in any way. That would be counterproductive. As this is what you are certain of and you accomplish the task in hand!
That's me throw ie push or what ever because I don't think about it just do it. Its my natural stroke.
It is a good train of thought.
Regards
Bo

Well thank you Bo.

You should thank yourself, you see your appraisal is honest and honesty is the dart throwers biggest attribute and weapon. Darts without honesty=No Sport!

I would say that I push the dart, I have a very short drawback. I start with my arm a little cocked then I launch the dart to the board

But hey, It works quite good for me :P

I recently realized that I push the dart than pull. My darts land parallel to the floor that way and are more consistent. If only I get more consistently landing on the treble 20, now that's another concern.

the_cutter wrote:

I recently realized that I push the dart than pull. My darts land parallel to the floor that way and are more consistent. If only I get more consistently landing on the treble 20, now that's another concern.

It will improve mate, just takes time and practice

pusher man here

great question,i do both depends on how tired my shoulder gets and some days pushing just seems to work better but some days not at all..best place to find this out is during warm ups ..both can be effective

Just had a toss to give this some thought and developed the yips for a bit. Had to just toss at bull for a few minutes to get any rhythm at all so more proof to the adage, don't think, throw.

As I've said in other posts I've got shoulder issues. The short version is the higher my hand the arm tends to wander. In my discovery to develop my best accuracy and a consistent confident toss I utilized George's grouping drills and have definitely become a thrower. Except at the top, 5, 20, & 1. My follow thru being higher I encountered that issue with my shoulder and pushing held for more accuracy on those numbers.

As this messed up my rhythm for the rest of the board I've worked hard to develop muscle memory by throwing at these numbers in practise and become more capable, but I have to accept that my percentage for them will likely remain unstable. Hence I usually work for set ups that don't require tops to finish but if left there I'm going to give it a go before setting up a finish lower down when the shoulder is especially wonky on that day.

As to chalk's aiming aspect, I angle the point and follow thru it at the target. 12-8 & 18-15 I make the slightest of foot adjustment, no more than an inch. If slightly blocked I will move on the oche for a better angle.

bump

I play darts........ and i will never ever think about the mechanics of my throw Push, pull, place, i have no idea....... they mostly go where i want them to so i'm happy enough

Amen Goofy

I must be a thrower. Point buried to the barrel when I retrieve from the board.