Darts: a game where participants compete with one another by throwing small arrow like devices at a target that is round and has numbers and sections and an inner bull with an outer bull and so on. Darts now refer to the standard game with a specific bristle board design and a set of rules. Rules that are general to the game and rules that govern games like, “501,” “301,” and “Cricket.”


Darts is a traditional pub game that was and is commonly played in the United Kingdom as well as other places in Europe and across the pond here in the America’s.


Wikipedia tells hits history in a terse form, i.e., “The dartboard may have its origins in the cross-section of a tree. An old name for a dartboard is "butt"; the word comes from the French word but, meaning "target". In particular, the Yorkshire and Manchester Log End boards differ from the standard board in that they have no treble, only double and bullseye, the Manchester board being of a smaller diameter, with a playing area of only 25 cm across with double and bull areas measuring just 4 mm. The London Fives board is another variation. This has only 12 equal segments numbered 20, 5, 15, 10, 20, 5, 15, 10, 20, 5, 15, 10 with the doubles and triples being a quarter of an inch wide.”


There have been a variety of darts created over the years but the most common today is the tungsten dart. There are electronic darts but for this blog and for my efforts in tossing darts I remain a steel dart fan and enthusiast. I am recommending a book for novice darters but only because it appealed to me and my studies and rest assured most of the dart books out there are outstanding. In short, find one if this one does not fit your needs and get it. I can tell you when I started to play over twenty years ago, before I laid down my darts in 96, I tossed darts for several years without knowing some very important and critical mechanics, etc., of the dart game. As I take up once again my steel darts I have found a fountain of information to help make the game both enjoyable and competitive. Enjoy, diddle for the middle and let the darts fly!

Monday, June 5, 2017

Awareness in the Dart Arts

Dart Arts Article/Post Caveat (Read First Please: Click the Link)

Awareness in self; awareness in others; environmental awareness, i.e., awareness in competitive environments as to how others toss their arrows and compete in the various games and so on is - Dart Arts Awareness. 

You really do have to pay attention to your self in mind, body and spirit. 
  • What is your mind doing when you toss arrows?
  • What and where is your minds focus with tossing arrows?
  • Is your mind-state a calm and clear one?
  • Are you experiencing any of the adrenal stress effects such as loss of fine motor skills that can be devastating to your throw?
  • etc. etc. etc.
AND
  • What is your body doing when you approach the oche line?
  • What does your body feel like when you approach, set at and assume your stance at the oche line?
  • What effects are your body feeling from any adrenal stress effects?
  • Is your body still?
  • Is your body stable?
  • Is your arm the only part moving when you toss the arrows?
  • etc. etc. and etc.
AND
  • How do you feel at the different locations in the dart art environment, i.e., 
    • while waiting your turn;
    • while walking up to the oche line;
    • while setting your body and mind at the oche line;
    • when preparing to toss the arrow(s), etc.
  • How are you feeling and what can you feel in your mind and body in preparation for and tossing the arrow(s)?
  • Are you committed to tossing well?
  • Are you committed to your objectives in the dart arts?
  • etc. etc. etc.
All those things that set up your mind, body and spirit to toss the perfect darts and to be successful in tossing perfect games be they “01” or “Cricket.” 

In addition, once you enter the arena take note and become aware of that environments conditions, i.e.,
  • Is the environment crowded?
  • Is the environment noisy?
  • Is the environment hot, cold or some other less optimal condition?
  • Is the board/competitive area set up with adequate space, etc., for the comfort of competition?
  • Is the score keeper following proper scoring etiquette and if not, are you preparing your mind to deal with those obstacles.
  • Are you getting into a mind-set and mind-state to compensate for any environmental conditions that may effect how you toss your arrows?
  • etc. etc. etc.
As you can readily perceive in this article, although not comprehensive to awareness as a whole, that your awareness is something that will support and effect your participation in the dart arts both positive and negative depending on how well you remain and deal with such things. 
  • Are you aware of your health? 
  • Are you aware of how you fueled your body before the contest?
  • Are you aware of and prepared to deal with fuel for the body during the event?
  • Are you hydrated and do you have proper hydration for the entire event? 
  • Are you well-rested?
  • Did you practice and train adequately in preparation?
More on how awareness of your discipline and dart arts make the difference in the outcome of tossing arrows in a competitive environment. 




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