Dartitis—unfortunately, it’s not a pizza topping—is a perplexing and deeply frustrating affliction that haunts darts players at all levels. It’s that moment when your hand freezes on the oche, the dart stuck in limbo, and your focus becomes a battleground. Though subtle, this condition can derail careers, shake confidence, and turn a beloved pastime into a personal crucible.
In the following sections, we’ll walk through what dartitis is, how it feels to players, why it happens, and the diverse strategies some have used to reclaim their throw—attempting to humanize a stubbornly enigmatic condition.
What Is Dartitis? Definition, Background, and Real-World Examples
Dartitis refers to a mental or neurological block that disrupts the seamless motion of releasing a dart. Comparable to the “yips” in golf or “target panic” in archery, it’s a breakdown in motor control under pressure, rather than a purely physical injury. It’s believed to stem from focal dystonia, where repetitive neural patterns stumble and overthink the simplest actions.
Famed players like Eric Bristow—who was at the top of his game in the mid-1980s—saw his performance falter after the onset of dartitis during the 1986 Swedish Open. He briefly resurged around 1989–1990 but never fully recaptured his former dominance. Others like Berry van Peer visibly struggled during key matches; for instance, at the 2017 Grand Slam of Darts, his three-dart average dropped dramatically amid attempts to release the dart. More recently, Nathan Aspinall has been open about his battle during the 2023 Premier League, where he literally couldn’t let go—a moment so intense he reportedly “smashed ten lumps of s*** out of the hand dryer” in frustration afterward.
A more recent, uplifting narrative involves Gian van Veen, who nearly quit darts as a teenager due to dartitis but later rose from adversity to win his first major at the European Championship—demonstrating that the journey through dartitis can, surprisingly, become a comeback story.
Why It Happens: Psychological Pressure, Motor Blocks, and Neural Jams
Dartitis doesn’t emerge from thin air. It’s often born in the crucible of high-pressure scenarios, obsessive self-analysis, or a sudden dip in confidence. The brain, tense with anticipation, gets trapped in a loop—overthinking what should be automatic. The motor cortex misfires, causing hesitation or outright refusal to complete the throwing motion—a neurological glitch masquerading as psychological anxiety, or vice versa.
What’s particularly cruel is that the underlying muscle memory is intact. It’s just that the conscious mind hovers where it shouldn’t—over the act of release. That lens of self-monitoring turns a graceful ritual into a frantic freeze.
Symptoms and Early Warning Signs
Before a full-blown case, players often sense subtle warning signs—like an odd tension in the wrist or shoulder, a twitch that wasn’t there before, or intrusive thoughts swirling around release mechanics. One misses a dart release by a fraction; then another; and suddenly anxiety spikes, feeding a downward spiral.
Even the hesitation to throw—taking too long, adjusting grip obsessively, weird pauses, or flinches before letting go—can signal the onset. It’s not merely missing T20s; it’s feeling physically unable to let go.
Approaches to Treating Dartitis: Human, Varied, Pragmatic
There’s no one-size-fits-all cure for dartitis. Rather, players adopt a mixture of therapies—psychological, physical, mental, and downright quirky.
1. Psychological Interventions: CBT, Hypnotherapy, Mental Reframe
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Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT): Redirecting negative self-talk—for example, shifting “I’ll mess this up” to “I’ve practiced this countless times”—calms the internal critic.
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Hypnotherapy: Practitioners like Chris O’Connor help players rewire confidence through trance-based visualization. Nathan Aspinall, among others, has embarked on such therapy to reclaim his throw.
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Mental-Sports Guidance: Sporting psychologists, or insiders who’ve struggled with dartitis themselves, guide players through incremental exposure, positive reinforcement, and narrative shifts—from threat orientation to exploration.
2. Visualization & Mindfulness Techniques
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Visualization Exercises: Rehearsing a perfect throw in relaxation—imagining the release, trajectory, and follow-through—helps rebuild neural pathways.
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Mindfulness and Breathwork: Simple breathing routines before practice or matches serve as a reset. Even a few minutes of attention to the breath can clear a cluttered mind.
3. Technique Tweaks and Physical Relearning
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Gradual Exposure & Logs: Reintroducing pressure gradually—maybe practicing unobserved, or recording small wins like smoother releases—resets confidence.
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Physical Routines or Counting Rituals: Some players count “1-2-3” in rhythm to trigger consistent release; others reset their mechanics by leaning the dart against their temple or anchoring the elbow to eliminate the backswing.
4. Peer Support and Creative Adjustments
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Community Tactics: Reddit threads are surprisingly rich with practical hacks—throwing ping-pong balls blindfolded to retrain release, holding a fourth dart in the non-throwing hand to cue abandon; some even switch to left-hand throws.
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Material Adjustments: Some players try heavier or differently weighted darts to simplify flight and retreat from obsessive mechanics.
5. Time Off and Mindset Realignment
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Taking a Break: Stepping away for a week or two, then returning casually, has helped many rediscover the joy rather than the mechanics of the game.
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Self-Compassion: Treating yourself as kindly as you’d treat a friend—embracing errors as part of the process—can reduce self-induced pressure.
Mini Case Study: Gian van Veen’s Resilience in Context
Once one of the Netherlands’ brightest prospects, Gian van Veen saw his trajectory derail when dartitis set in during his teenage years. At times he played through tears, fearing he’d never recapture his rhythm.
Yet he rose—by reframing the game away from external validation and toward personal growth, by leaning into introspection rather than dramatic flair. He went from struggling challenger to European Champion, now a top-10 ranked player. It’s a humbling reminder that dartitis, while devastating, can trigger deeper mental evolution.
A Brief Quote on Dartitis’ Psychological Sting
“It was ruining his life… No one was more surprised than him. ‘You can reprogram your brain,’ he told Aspinall.”
This quote—shifting a wildly personal struggle into a message about neuroplasticity—captures much of the battle and hope wrapped up in dartitis.
Concluding Summary
Dartitis, despite its small name, casts a long shadow in darts communities—from youth leagues to professional arenas. It’s a blend of neurological misfire and mental sabotage—triggered often by pressure, overthinking, or a sudden lapse in confidence.
Treating it demands as many approaches as people suffer from it. Therapy (CBT, hypnotherapy), visualization, ritualized routines, supportive communities, and strategic breaks all offer paths forward. Success stories like Eric Bristow’s tenuous comeback and Gian van Veen’s inspiring resurgence remind us that even corrupted confidence can be rebuilt.
Ultimately, dartitis teaches that mastery of darts extends beyond physical technique; it lies in composing the mind. For those battling, the advice is clear: experiment, stay kind to yourself, cultivate mental resilience, and keep trying—one release at a time.
FAQs
What is dartitis?
Dartitis is a psychological or neurological block that disrupts a player’s ability to release a dart smoothly. It resembles the “yips” in golf or “target panic” in archery, where overthinking or pressure impairs motor actions.
Who is most famously affected by dartitis?
Eric Bristow, a five-time world champion, saw his performance decline after experiencing dartitis in 1986. More recent players include Nathan Aspinall, Berry van Peer, and Gian van Veen, all of whom have publicly shared their struggles.
Can dartitis be treated or reversed?
Yes, many players reclaim their throw using a mix of strategies—mental therapies like CBT or hypnotherapy, mindfulness, visualization, ritual routines, and community support. Time off and a gentler mindset are also commonly helpful.
Are there quick-fix techniques that help in practice?
Some players use creative hacks: rhythmic counting (“1-2-3 release”), using ping-pong balls to rehearse release, focusing only on the target—not the dart—or switching equipment temporarily to break mental loops.
Why does dartitis seem so common in darts compared to other sports?
Darts relies heavily on repetitive, fine motor movements under intense pressure. The brain’s over-monitoring of that release under stress makes the activity highly vulnerable to interruption through anxiety or self-consciousness.
What role does mindset play in preventing dartitis?
A lot. Maintaining a positive, trusting attitude, reframing mistakes as learning, minimizing self-criticism, and focusing on process rather than outcome build mental ease—helping the brain return to automated, fluid motion.
