To become even more successful in darts, dart mental training is essential.
Professional players in particular now almost all use a mental trainer in order to be able to withstand the ever-increasing pressure situations at the right moment.
Darts mental training can also be beneficial for you as a recreational player, especially if you play on a darts team and are regularly confronted with these pressure situations yourself.
It is also possible to become your own mental coach in darts.
The role of the psyche in darts
A strong mentality is worth more in darts than just a few points. Darts is a mental sport, as even professional players experience time and again – no matter how talented they are.
Overall, it's not uncommon to say that more than 50 percent of darts is played mentally . This is an incredible figure, and it impressively illustrates how important it truly is to have mental strength and engage in darts mental training.
But why is that so and how can you get your psyche under control so that it doesn't play tricks on you at the wrong moment?
To understand dart psychology, you'll also have to work on yourself. That's why here are a few dart training tips for you.
The mechanisms in the head
During a darts match, we are under pressure. This pressure causes our brain to put us in a situation where we perceive a feeling of stress .
Stress, in turn, signals to the mind that a dangerous situation exists . This is a completely normal and human reaction that we cannot prevent and that is part of our nature.
But we can get this mechanism under control. Because if there's one thing we can't handle in darts, it's stress and pressure.
For example, too much stress and pressure at the board can create a vicious cycle that often results in so-called dartitis . And dart psychology has struck.
Stress automatically causes us to tense up . Blood is drained from our hands, increasing muscle tension. As a result, we no longer stand as loosely and are often unable to execute the throwing motion as usual.
There's another problem, too. This is what's known as the self-fulfilling prophecy . This means that we imagine a scenario before we roll the dice, which will then come to pass.
Of course, that doesn't mean that imagining throwing a 180 will actually result in that. The opposite is certainly true . For example, if we have three match darts against a strong player, the pressure in our minds can increase enormously. This happens when we mentally imagine that our opponent will be there at any moment.
In such moments, the following often happens: We think to ourselves that we're definitely not going to hit the double. But of course, it would be great if we did. These doubts make it almost impossible for us to get the double.
These thoughts need to be put a stop to in order to get the thoughts and stress under control. You have several options to switch off the dart head.
Dart mental training – what options are there?
To become even more successful in darts, darts mental training is essential. You should also take darts target practice to perfectly prepare yourself and become your own darts mental coach .
Now that we've briefly explained to you how mental toughness affects your darts game, or not. Next, we'd like to show you how you can get some control over all of these problems.
Without dart mental training, you'll always fall back into these old patterns . Whether that happens sooner or later is only a matter of time.
When things are going well, these things don't bother you. But when you're struggling to keep your game going and dart psychology hits you hard, it can really drag you down.
Tips for dart mental training before, during and after the game
Before the game, it's especially important to stay calm and collected . So become your own mental coach in darts and, above all, reduce stress.
- Go play a game of squash,
- jog,
- get some sleep,
- do autogenic training
- or meditate.
This is how you can keep your stress level under control .
During the game , chewing gum or sucking on candy can have a relaxing effect and also help you relax.
Just try out what the best option is for you.
Before the game
Many people use the time before a game to work out and do something to relieve stress. As already mentioned, this can be exercise or meditation. This can also reduce stress and help you relax.
1. Simulation of stressful situations
The easiest way to do this is through simulation. During your darts mental training, you imagine yourself in a pressure situation . For example, you have 60 points remaining and try to simulate a real game as best you can, aiming for a triple dart .
While you won't succeed 100 percent, you'll still feel a certain amount of pressure and learn to deal with it. Practicing without pressure will never prepare you for the situation in a real game, and you won't be able to turn off the dart head .
After a period of stressful situations, a wear-and-tear effect sets in, so that you learn to deal with a pressure situation .
The rule here is: practice, practice, practice. Repeat these situations as often as possible, and you'll soon become more relaxed in the game. A suitable solution for this is the myDartCoach app, which lets you play against a bot and put yourself under pressure.
2. Visualize
You can think through the game beforehand, making the "threatening" situation less important. This is an excellent way to switch off your dart head and thus withstand the stress.
Also, ask yourself if it's really that bad to miss the double and what will happen next. Thinking about it like this often leads to you feeling much more relaxed and being able to laugh about the stress .
3. Stay relaxed
The second option is to realize that it's really just about throwing darts. That's dart psychology, too. So, you should be aware of the consequences if you miss a target. Basically, nothing.
Losing is the worst-case scenario, and it's manageable. This way, you can gradually develop a "I don't care" attitude. This, in turn, will lead to a much more relaxed approach to the board and a more relaxed casting experience .
Finally, stress should be reduced before a game to prevent it from building up. This is best achieved through physical exercise .
So even going for a run can help. This allows you to find out for yourself which physical activity works best. You're essentially your own mental coach when playing darts and know best what's good for you and what's not.
4. Reduce stress
The most important thing, of course, is to reduce stress . There are several ways to do this, which we've already listed above.
Of course, you have to find out for yourself which option is right for you.
From chewing gum to jogging, swimming, sleeping in or meditating, you have numerous alternatives to relax and reduce stress.
Dart mental training during the game
But what if all the preparation is useless and you just don't want to hit anything in the game itself?
1. The correct breathing technique
Proper breathing technique can help you calm down and focus better . Every breathing exercise begins with a deep exhalation .
Inhalation, on the other hand, happens automatically. There is no pause after inhaling, and exhalation should last twice as long as the inhalation.
Tip: Count to 4 as you inhale and to 8 or even 10 as you exhale . It's especially important to exhale slowly to simply breathe away stress.
2. Chewing gum or candy
Relaxing your muscles is one of the most important darts mental training tips. Of course, this doesn't happen easily. However, it's actually not that difficult to counteract them. Chewing gum can provide the necessary relief.
The explanation: When you chew gum, your body is tricked into thinking it's getting food. This signal alone induces a feeling of relaxation . Breathing can also help you relax. So, make sure you breathe calmly and evenly.
3. Playing tricks on your own mind
It is also possible to play a trick on your mind and block out the stressful situation for a fraction of a second.
This is especially helpful when throwing on the double field and is done as follows:
- Imagine a sentence or word that you say quietly to yourself as you prepare to throw.
- In this moment, you concentrate on saying the words quietly instead of on the pressure situation.
- This prevents you from getting too caught up in the situation in front of the dartboard. What you say to yourself doesn't matter. However, it's a good idea to repeat the same words over and over again . Try the word "myDartpfeil" 😉
After the game
After the game is before the game. Therefore, you should also deal with the game and your stress afterward . This is the only way you can improve and switch off your darts mind. Become your own mental coach in darts.
1. Create a dart diary
A journal can help you discover your mistakes and improve them. A professional darts mental coach will also recommend this.
This gives you an overview and you can see exactly where you did well and where there is still room for improvement .
2. Relax
Of course, you should also relax after the game. You can even incorporate this relaxation into your pre-game stress relief routine.
Here you'll see exactly what works best for you to relax and unwind. Adopt this method before the game, and almost nothing can go wrong.
Conclusion
As you can see, it's not that difficult to prepare well for a game, reduce stress, and stay relaxed during the game. The most important thing, however, is that you stick with it and don't give up after a short time .
To be able to switch off your darts mind, it's not enough to just do a few weeks of mental training. You should definitely do it all the time : before, during , and after the game .
This is the only way to keep stress to a minimum in the long run and to throw your arrows in competitions in a relaxed manner.
Ready to take your skills to the next level? Discover our exclusive secrets and proven methods to optimize your game:
- Find out tips on Darts training and our darts training tips. We explain training games on the dartboard and dart throwing techniques.
- The desire for a game of darts is growing not only in the PDC professional circuit, but also among amateurs. In the long run, it's less fun to throw darts at the board alone. For this reason, so-called webcam darts is currently enjoying increasing popularity.
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