The Darts Performance Centre

by **neil** » Sun Sep 11, 2011 10:12 pm

The guys from the Darts Perfomance Centre were at the county match today.

Now to be honest I was sceptical about what these people would be able to do for a dart player - but I reckon I should eat my words. They offered to record my throw so I took them up on it. The results were actually fascinating!
I am a fairly decent thrower but it was very interesting seeing my own throw in slow motion from the front and from the side. It doesn't matter how much you analyse your own throw - there is nothing like seeing it played back to you frame by frame to identify aiming point, release point etc etc.
Tiny nuances of body movement become apparent and if you alter your grip you can immeidiately see what effect that has on your release etc.

I found the process completely absorbing and extremely useful.

I fully recommmend that you take these guys up on it if you get the chance. I think that they may come to the Chesterfield Competition at the Phoenix club that we are running on November the 11th - so if you get the chance, give them a try

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It is a real education mate! I dont know about everyone else, but I have put quite a bit of time and effort into my throw - bringing my arm up straight, release and grip etc. But when you see these videos for yourself and you can see front and side on exactly what you are doing in slow motion it is really good.

by **Ken** » Sun Sep 11, 2011 10:38 pm

neil wrote:It is a real education mate! I dont know about everyone else, but I have put quite a bit of time and effort into my throw - bringing my arm up straight, release and grip etc. But when you see these videos for yourself and you can see front and side on exactly what you are doing in slow motion it is really good.

So anything you would or will change after seeing the video ?

by **austin5string** » Sun Sep 11, 2011 10:57 pm

That's really cool! I'm a sucker for that sort of analysis. Only problem, I don't think my throwing area is wide enough to get a very good clip of the side shot. Might have to see what I can come up with though. I'd consider paying a bit to have them analyze my throw.

Part of my problem right now, though, is I'm still trying to find my throw/stance/grip/etc. Still tweaking and changing quite often. So I'm not sure I'm really even at the point that I would benefit from this analysis.

by **neil** » Sun Sep 11, 2011 11:09 pm

Ken wrote:
neil wrote:It is a real education mate! I dont know about everyone else, but I have put quite a bit of time and effort into my throw - bringing my arm up straight, release and grip etc. But when you see these videos for yourself and you can see front and side on exactly what you are doing in slow motion it is really good.

So anything you would or will change after seeing the video ?

My throw is basically sound...... From the front, it looks like I throw direct and straight. From the side there were a couple of small things. Firstly I move back a few mm on release - which is apparently unusual as most people move forward. I stopped it ( I think) as soon as I was made aware of it. Secondly, my release point was a few degrees forward of my aiming point - something that makes me drag teh dart downwards too often. Again minor things but once you are aware of them you can start to work on them.

by **Ken** » Sun Sep 11, 2011 11:18 pm

Interesting point about the release, I have been trying to correct that in my own throw. I find if I release the dart just before I think I should, they are much more accurate

by **adamss** » Mon Sep 12, 2011 7:45 am

Wow the detail here sounds superb! I have recorded my throw before side on and it looked good lol never had it analyised tho.

by **neil** » Mon Sep 12, 2011 4:12 pm

They have sent me a written report of my throw and a video ...

Here's the written report - it makes for interesting reading

With this type of information to hand you can only make progress with your throw in my opinion....

Neil%20Birkin%20complete%20report[1].pdf: (511.55 KiB) Downloaded 124 times

by **Ken** » Mon Sep 12, 2011 4:29 pm

neil wrote:They have sent me a written report of my throw and a video ...

Here's the written report - it makes for interesting reading

With this type of information to hand you can only make progress with your throw in my opinion....

Neil%20Birkin%20complete%20report[1].pdf

That is amazing I did not realize you held the dart so high, it looks much higher from the front than it dose from the side. Another thing for me to try as I hold my dart much lower, and when you think about it I'm throwing up hill. Thanks Neil :wink:

by **neil** » Mon Sep 12, 2011 4:56 pm

I dont hold my darts that high Ken - Its a trick of the photography. Obviously when they set the camera up for the analysis, they have to have it either above or below the dartboard. In this case the camera was just below the dartboard so when you see me in the pictures it looks like I hold my darts up high.
If you have another look at the pictures you can sort of tell that the camera is below my chest height - so its looking up at me

by **aboji** » Mon Sep 12, 2011 5:03 pm

This is great - what an interesting read.

I have heard about these guys and now this is quite an endorsement!

If they can help Neil - imagine what they can do for the mere mortals like the rest of us! Wow!!