How To Hold A Dart

Now, when it comes to the way you hold a dart, there's nothing set in stone as to how you should do it. It's a very personal thing, pretty much a rule of thumb would be the way you pick up or hold the dart, the 1st time your threw it, is probably the best way for you. I've got a Bob Anderson theory on this.

If you use a long slim dart such as mine's, I believe it's better to grip it and hold it at the front so you're actually pulling the dart to the board. Some people disagree and would hold it at the very back end of the dart and push the dart to the board. That, to me, leaves too much motion in the front, too much movement.

Great world champions of the past have their own thoughts on that and one of the greatest was Erick Bristow and he gripped the dart like that, right at the back. I wouldn't be able to hit the wall, let alone the dartboard throwing like that. But I dare say, if Eric tried to throw it as I throw it, we would probably have similar results.

There are literally hundreds of different shapes of dart bow out there to be found. Classic example of the old brass dart which is lighter than my dart here. When I first started playing, I used darts similar to this.

In fact, my first 180 came when I was 7 years of age with big darts like this and I remember having to step to the left, step to the right, put the 2nd 2 darts in around the 1st one and I made the 180. So depending on what style of dart suits you best, you might have to alter your grip of the dart a little bit if you go from a slim dart to a heavy fat dart like this one. You may feel that it's better to grip it in the center or indeed back to the rear but you're pushing a heavy dart.

I would say, as a rule of thumb, if you've got a short fat dart, then push it to the board, a long slim dart, pull it to the board. And that's how to hold a dart. .