Release is simply letting go of the dart, but for some players it is easier said than done. A dart that spins on its way to the board is the product of a less than perfect release. A little snap of the wrist at the end of the stroke makes for a clean release of the dart, as it causes the fingers to spread apart, letting the dart go on its way to the board with minimal interference.

Some very good dart players have developed the serious problem of not letting the dart go at the end of the stroke. Archers have a similar experience when they can't let go of the bowstring. They call it target panic, and it can be a very difficult hump to get over.

I have yet to experience that problem, but I have had trouble throwing what I call floaters. When this happens I am lobbing my darts instead of throwing them. It is caused by not using enough wrist snap, and it tends to creep up on me. Accuracy doesn't diminish at first, and that's what makes it so sneaky. Suddenly I find myself throwing a slower dart, and then my rhythm starts to fall apart. When I am in a slump, this is typically the cause. It took me a while to figure out why my darts were missing, but after thinking about it for a long time and analyzing all of the elements in my dart throw, I finally caught the culprit and I was able to make a correction.

Think about the way you throw your dart when you are doing something else, like driving or listening to music. This may reveal flaws in your form and allow you to make the necessary corrections. A thoughtful approach to playing darts separates the winners from the wannabes.

Until Next Time!
Tony