Dart Player and Sport Scientist Seek the Winning Formula 

Dart players do not, in general, always conform to the expected profile of professional sportsmen, most notably in areas such as practice, sport science and fitness. However, the world of professional darts is changing.

 
Young Manchester based professional Anthony Urmston-Toft, on the professional darts playing circuit, whose wife paid for his PDC tour card as a birthday present, is taking a different route to the majority of other pro`s. He has recruited Paul Gillings, a graduate from the University of Wales Institute in Cardiff where he studied a Master’s degree in the Performance Analysis of Sport.

Gillings commented, “For the past 12 months I have been studying the potential impact sport science methods used in other sports, such as football and tennis could have in darts. I have completed an extensive thesis on the subject; the plan now is to see if the ideas work in the real world."

Urmston-Toft, whose favourite pre-match tipple is a cup of tea, confesses to having always had an interest in the appliance of science in darts. He says “Paul and I chatted at a tournament in Derby and he gave me an idea of some of the areas he had looked into. He had a fixed idea of the type of player he wanted to work with, and I am totally focused on going as far as I can on the PDC professional circuit, we will make a great team.”

 
Dr. Patrick Chaplin, Darts Researcher and Research Fellow, Anglia Ruskin University, Cambridge, better known in the darts world as “Dr Darts” commented, "With an ever-increasing number of darts players joining the professional darts circuit in search of fame and fortune, individuals are always looking to gain that extra edge over their opponents. I believe this is the first time sports science has been directly employed to improve performance on the oche and I eagerly await the outcomes of this fascinating union of darts and academia."

 
Anthony Urmston-Toft is indeed hoping that the scientific methods employed will give him a psychological edge over his opponents and that he will soon become a big name in darts, in more ways than one!

 

Appendix:

 
Anthony Urmston-Toft is a professional dart player on the PDC circuit. He also works at a catering outlet at Manchester University. He has had success at junior level winning the Northern Youth league title with both Lancashire and Merseyside, the only person to do this. Playing for Lancashire, he also got to the last eight of the British teenage classic and won the British team championships. He has played five professional matches in the two most recent UK PDC tournaments and on Sunday 28 February recorded his first win against Tony Martin, the husband of top female dart player Anastasia Dobromyslova. He will be playing at the PDC event in Wigan this weekend, 13 - 14 March 2010.

Paul Gillings runs a darts sports science consultancy business – www.inthemadhouse.co.uk. He is a FA qualified football coach, has a BA Hons in Football Studies and has completed a MSc in The Performance Analysis of Sport. He will be working with Anthony at the PDC event in Wigan this weekend, 13 - 14 March 2010.

DATABASE WORK

We are trying to build a comprehensive database with the statistics that are important to us. We are also writing an article for publication that addresses the results of the dissertation project. First of all though we have to input all the statistics!

If anybody out there is interested in helping we would love some assistance in putting data we already have into excel as well as watching games (on DVD) and taking the statistics down in-play. We will give you all the details and examples of what we are after.

If you have some free time, are excel literate and reliable then please get in touch.

2009 DARTS SURVEY

Survey Analysis

A total of 532 people took the survey including two professional players. The results published are the general findings. Over 96% of the respondents played some sort of competitive darts and over 60% had some knowledge of sports science.76 % of players admitted to being nervous before a match. To `help` the nerves 84 % had an alcoholic drink before a game and 75% during. The nerves were mainly due to performance anxiety (52%)

From a sports science viewpoint 97% players encouraged themselves during a game (positive self talk) and 75% had negative thoughts during a match (negative self talk).75% of players admitted to losing concentration during a match. This could be because they have no set routine when they are playing, only 34% of players when through the identical pre-throw routine. This pattern continued when players answered the question on the benefits of setting a strategy before a match. Only 3.79% studied their opponent and set a plan accordingly. However, 37% did opt for the tongue in cheek answer of simply winning the most legs. 60% of players set themselves targets and goals. Over 80% of players did reflect on their performance although only 10% then put their perceived weaknesses into a practice session. 60% of players practiced for between 2 and 6 hours with just 7% having no time for any practice at all.

Finally only 2% of respondents thought that sports science was a load of old nonsense and just fewer than 85% were interested in knowing more about it. Great! The website will be updated more regularly with information on sports science and performance analysis in darts. If you have any specific questions about your own game or feedback from the survey we would love to hear from you.


Are You Male or Female?

Male 81.20%
Female 18.80%


Where are you from?

UK 93.28%
USA OR Canada 1.49%
Holland 1.49%
Somewhere Else 3.73%


What age group are you in?

Under 18 5.97%
18 -30 25.37%
31-45 38.06%
46 - 55 20.90%
Over 55 9.70%


What standard of darts do you play?

Professional 1.51%
County 35.82%
Pub Team 36.57%
Recreational 5.20%
Super League 20.90%


What do you know about sport science?

Nothing really 37.12%
heard about it on TV/Papers 23.48%
Yes I have read some articles/books 25.00%
Not really interested 1.52%
A lot it interests me 12.88%


Which of these apply to sport science?

It can help with confidence 31.97%
It can cure dartitis 4.51%
Sid talks about it - understackers 4.10%
It can help motivate a player 22.13%
It can turn a duffer into a Champ 6.15%
It`s a load of nonsense 2.05%
It can help you concentrate 29.10%


Do you feel nervous before a match?

Yes 35.07%
Sometimes 41.04%
Rarely 20.15%
No never 3.73%


What is it that makes you feel nervous?

worried about opponent 6.67%

concerned about performing poorly 52.12%
Concerned what others think 18.79%
Other 12.12%
Not Applicable 10.30%


Which best describes your throw?

Go up to the oche and just throw 8.96%
Get myself set then throw 33.58%
Get set, take aim then throw 54.48%
Other method 2.99%


Do you drink alcohol before a match?

Yes 42.11%
Sometimes 32.33%
Rarely 12.78%
Never 12.78%


Do you drink alcohol during a game?

Yes 21.80%
Sometimes 32.33%
Rarely 19.55%
Never 26.32%


Why do you drink? Tick all that apply

Calm my nerves 31.55%
Helps me play better 11.76%
Gives me confidence 14.44%
Playing is a social event for me 27.81%
Other reason 5.35%
Not applicable 9.09%


Do you encourage yourself during the game? 

Yes e.g.: I say 'come on' to myself 33.33%
I don`t speak I do it in my head 30.30%
I do both 33.33%
No 3.03%


Does it help?

It helps me concentrate 28.31%
I do it but it makes no difference 7.83%
It motivates me 46.39%
Not applicable 3.01%
It shows I care about winning 14.46%


What about negative thoughts?

Yes e.g.: I call myself 'rubbish' 23.31%
I don`t speak I do it in my head 27.07%
I do both 24.06%
No 25.56%


What effect do they have on your game?

They motivate me to play better 36.81%
They just make me feel worse 13.89%
They have no effect on my play 11.11%
Not Applicable 15.97%
It shows I care about winning 22.22%


Does your mind wander during a match?

Yes if I’m winning easily 21.83%
Yes it happens at different stages 47.18%
No but it has with team mates 6.34%
No but it has with the opposition 0.70%
No I focus all the time 23.94%


Do you do the same thing before throwing ?

Yes Identically, every throw 34.85%
I try but sometimes forget 22.73%
Depends on how well I'm playing 31.06%
No 11.36%


You keep missing the double. Do you...?

Get anxious 27.07%
Lose confidence 29.32%
Forget it and focus on hitting it 42.11%
Other 1.50%


What mood are you in when you play well?

Totally relaxed 15.67%

Nervous 5.97%
Highly motivated and 'pumped up' 20.90%
Calm and focused 25.37%
It varies 25.37%
Not sure, haven`t thought about it 6.72%


Do you have a strategy before a match?

Yes, win the most legs! 37.12%
I change the speed I play at 5.30%
No, it makes no difference 53.79%
I study my opponent and set a plan 3.79%


Do you set yourself any targets/goals?

Yes for my averages 24.70%
yes for points won 9.04%
Yes for games won 16.27%
Yes, other targets 10.84%
No, I just try and do my best 39.16%


How many hours a week do you practice?

I don`t get time for any 7.09%
A bit but no more than 2 hours 30.71%
2-6 hours 29.92%
6 -10 hours 18.90%
10 -16 hours 8.66%
16-22 hours 3.15%
Over 22 hours 1.57%


Do you look back on your performance?

No not really 21.64%
Yes I consider what was good/bad 54.48%
As above but also work out why 14.18%
It helps me decide what to practice 9.70%


Would you like to know more?
No 16.79%
Maybe 29.01%
Yes but worried what others think 4.58%
Yes 49.62%