How to Choose a Dart Grip When Throwing Darts

Dart grip #1: Four fingers and thumb.

Typically the smallest finger rests on the top or bottom of the dart tip for maximum guidance in acceleration. This option provides maximum touch on the dart which can help with accuracy and placement. However, it does require a lot fingers on the dart barrel which can cause your throw to get away from you. Using all four of your fingers on the dart can cause your throw to "stick" to your fingers or can cause you to over-power, or push your throw.

Dart grip #2: Three fingers and thumb.

This is a basic option that gives you a lot of control over the dart during the acceleration of your throw. You can also have more control over the placement of the dart using this option. However, the third finger on the dart barrel does increase your chances of a misfire, similar to the four finger grip.

Dart grip #3: Two fingers and thumb.

This option allows for fewer fingers to get in the way of a great throw while sacrificing some control of the placement of your dart. If your dart flutters or snaps awkwardly in the middle of your throw try moving your thumb slightly behind the center weight of the dart for more control. The majority of competitive dart throwers use this style of grip in their game.

Dart grip #4: One finger and thumb.

This position is similar to how you would hold a writing pen. Many dart players who use this style also let the dart rest on tip of the second finger for support. This option minimizes your touch points on the dart barrel at the expense of control over the dart. It can be very effective for achieving consistent dart throwing. However, because it minimizes your control it can take some time to get used to before you are successful with this grip.

Article written by Joe Pecheck, an amateur dart thrower and darts enthusiast. Visit http://www.nicedarts.com for more dart articles and advanced dart techniques.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Joe_Pecheck

Throwing Darts Made Simple

When throwing a dart, the main priority should be to strive to keep your elbow in pretty much the same position through your throw. Your elbow should act as a hinge if you like, and the throw should "happen" around the position of the elbow.

When you draw the dart back towards your face to get ready for the forward release, you should always keep your eyes focused on the board and try not to look at your dart. I see too many players trying to check the position and angle of the dart during the drawback but this just ruins concentration on what you are trying to achieve. A good example of what I'm trying to say is when you are hammering a nail into a piece of wood, you never take your eye of the intended target, in this case the back of the nail so don't make throwing darts any different.

The forward movement of the throw should be a single and very fluent or at least as fluent as possible action. For most players, the optimum release point will be when the hand has almost reached the end of the forward motion. If a player were to hold onto the dart to long then the elbow is pulled upwards and the body moves downwards towards the board resulting in a pulled or snatched throw. A pulled or snatched throw usually makes the dart miss low and left of its intended target (for a right handed player) Always try and keep your arm vertical to the target when aiming and keep your elbow tucked in.

Another good tip is to stand up close to the dartboard and make a mental note of your eye level. My eye level is just above the bullseye. When i first start to warm up i aim just above the bullseye as this is my eye level and its much easier to hit a target that is at your own eye level. I hope that helps.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Kristopher_Walker

Basic skills for throwing darts