You've probably already noticed that every player has their own individual darts stand at the oche. This is not without reason, because there is no one perfect position to be successful at darts. Every throwing style is different and the stance before throwing must be adjusted accordingly. In this article we would like to give you a few tips on how you can find the correct position before dropping. We will also look at some special players who stand at the oche in a different way than the norm.
The exotics on the Oche – Whitlock, Bunting & Co.
Certain top players had to optimize their throwing style and especially the release point over a long period of time in order to be able to play darts at their best. This also includes Simon Whitlock. The Australian, like very few of his guild, stands with his toe first on the oche. However, most players place their foot to the side of the oche , i.e. the throwing line.
Stephen Bunting doesn't usually stand at the oche either. He positions himself extremely far to the right of the oche to fire his light darts towards triple 20. These players still have great success on the PDC tour , which shows that there is no secret recipe for the perfect position. Every player is different and has to find out for themselves how they feel best.
Tips for the right darts stand at the oche
First of all, the basic rule for the correct stance when playing darts: You always use the supporting leg that is on the same side as your throwing arm. If you throw with your right, use your right supporting leg and do the same the other way around. We can also recommend that you try out all possible positions on the oche. Place your foot sideways to the oche and then straight. Stand on the right, left or middle of the oche. Relatively quickly you will get a feeling for how best to get the arrows into the desired field. We have provided you with a little exercise (see picture) with which you can find your correct stance on the oche. You can find out more about this exercise here.
Even with a small lateral shift, the distance to the board increases slightly. This in turn requires a firmer throw. So if you're fine with your arrows, but the darts regularly land millimeters above the triple 20, then just try positioning yourself a few centimeters further to the right or left. This increases the distance slightly, so the arrows tend to land further down the board. Maybe next time you'll be able to hit the triple 20 and not just below.
How you realize that your darts position is wrong
I had a problem myself for years. I always tried to stand straight towards the board so that I could make the throw in a straight line. It felt like I mastered the 5 segment as much as I wanted, but the 20 not so much. Over time I consciously tried to position myself further to the right. At the beginning this was a very unusual feeling, which led me to change my throw. As time went on, I became more and more able to maintain my old throwing style as normal - and lo and behold, the arrows were now hitting the 20 range much more often.
Control over the darts is also an important issue. If you feel like your stand is not secure or firm, change the position of the stand. Whether sideways or with the tip towards the oche – you have to find out for yourself. As a rule, this is an automatic process that you subconsciously complete at the very beginning of your darts career in order to feel as comfortable as possible.
How are your darts on the board?
Also important for your standing at the oche is the way your darts are stuck in the board. Here's a quick example: If your darts are completely straight in the board, whether up or down, you should also stand up straight towards the board. However, it is not uncommon for the darts to get stuck a little “across the board” despite being upright. You can also counteract this with a minimal change from the stand.
Never neglect your back foot!
One of the most common mistakes made by many dart players is that the back foot, i.e. not the base foot, is completely neglected for the launch. After all, darts is about repeating a movement over and over again as best as possible. Some players find this quite difficult because they have developed certain quirks. One of these, for example, is rocking or taking off with the back foot. This movement makes it extremely difficult to repeat the throw exactly.
Here too, of course, exceptions prove the rule. An exception to this is the Scot John Henderson, whose entire upper body moves a lot with every single throw. In the long run, however, this only works well for very few players. Try to train yourself to stand securely and firmly to avoid any movement. The point is that you just move your arm. Otherwise, every part of the body should be under such tension that unnecessary movement is avoided.
Note: Tensing too much can also be harmful if it leads to a tense posture . A healthy mediocrity is the solution.
Train, train, train
Especially if you want to change your stance, it will take some time for your throwing behavior to get used to it. In the beginning it is quite possible that the hoped-for successes will not be achieved. That's exactly when it's time to stay tuned! With time and training you will notice that a minimal change from the standing position can lead to a significant increase in performance. But this also requires belief in your own abilities. Giving up doesn't count!
At the end, it is important to us to note once again that there is no general foot position on the oche that guarantees success. We have now explained to you how you can optimize this status. Now it's up to you to find the best throwing position.
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