He's Back ...It's like the first day of school all over again

 

He's Back ...It's like the first day of school all over again

The last 9 months have given me time to think about a lot of different ideas. How does a person get better playing darts? Sure you can practice 5 hours a day, that will get you so far, but what are you doing to improve the thing throwing the darts? The body and mind are easy to neglect in a sport like darts. After getting home late after drinking and eating bar food, who want s go beyond practice?

What are you going to do with your life? With the passing of Len Dawson at the age of 89 had me thinking. Sure that's 36 years older than me, but lets look at it the other way around. Lets go 36 years back. That's 1986, just 1 year before I graduated high school. That's not that long really. I mean I started throwing dart in 1992. That's all considering I live to the ripe old age of 89. I don't want to look back at my life thinking, I should have really applied myself. Lets see what happens in 2023.

Basically I'm going to explore some ideas and document it here. What do I have to work on. These are from an online doubles tournament last Sunday. If you notice the 501 is way off balance with my cricket. By looking at my cricket numbers, I should be averaging around 40 in 501, not 10 less hovering around 30. 

I don't know what it is with the bullseye of late, but some days, I just don't hit it. I don't know if it's because I practice on a steel tip board, and the larger soft tip bullseye creates the illusion I'm closer to the board. I mean the bullseye is a lot bigger than a triple. I hit more 9 marks than hat tricks. Who does that. ...I don't know, but lets figure it out.

Last Post Of The Year

Last post of the year, until tomorrow, then it will be next year. I intend to look into what it takes to become a better dart player, than took at equipment. Happy New Years!

Laserdarts 23 Gram Mirage

 Laserdarts, 23 Gram Mirage

With Steel-Tip darts gaining popularity again, someone asked me what would be a good dart to transition over from soft-tip to steel-tip.

 I said, "How about the Laserdarts Mirage?" What's the "Mirage"? It's a straight barrel dart with backcut groove and knurling, with a BIG round groove at the front. The material missing at the front is compensated by a long subtle taper. Thus retaining center balance. But looks off balance creating the Mirage.

It's a good dart all around that stands by itself with many grip points. 

...and backcut grooves for good thrust and release.

What can I say about this darts? I can say everything, but I can't really say anything. 

What's this "Shopeism"? 

It means, they lend themselves to Every kind of grip, but not Any kind of grip. All grips welcomed, nothing specific.

OK One distinction is the the BIG groove at the front. 

If you are NOT one of those people, who puts a finger on the point, but on the side of the barrel, this is the dart for you. You can actually get a little big of thrust on it too. 

Here are The Links. Check'em out.

https://www.laserdarts.com/darts/mirage.html

https://www.horizondarts.com/catalog/steel-tip-darts/laserdarts-steel/mirage-steel/

https://www.horizondarts.com/catalog/soft-tip-darts/laserdarts-soft/

White Horse Darts/Sharks Singles Steel Tip League

White Horse Darts/Sharks Singles Steel Tip League

Pat Murphy of White Horse Darts has organized a singles steel-tip league at Sharks Billiards. 

(Special thanks to Jeff Johnson who really busted his but to make this happen)

There were 16 men (8 A-Division, 8 B-Division, and 8 ladies. 

And the Winners

I beat them all, except for Horizon Darts team mate, Paul Schwindamann He beat me both in league and the playoffs. No shame in losing to a national class player. If you remember I reviewed his signature darts, "The Recluse"  a while back. 

Division B Winners

Jay Reeder beat Mike Turner

I didn't have a picture from that night, but lucky for me, they took second out of 44 teams in Caped Doubles at The Triple Bull Dart Tourney in Jefferson, IA last weekend. 

(So if you se there faces on an FBI poster, or Milk Carton, that's what they look like)

On the lady's side. 

The winner "Lady Di" aka Diana Rutherford. and Melinda Dake for second in a field of 8 ladies. 

Allow me to put the cart before the horse. Now that the league is over. Here is the flyer

There is a blind draw Monday (5/17) at Sharks. 

First there was chalk, then dry erase, now digital tablets.

We use a System called "Dart Connect". It does a lot of things for $24/year. One thing is it keeps our league stats. Above is the win percentages. Paul played 7 matches, He won 7 Matches.

These are the Point Per Round averages.

Then if you ready want to geek out.

LOOKY, LOOKY, LOOKY, 

May 24 is the start of the Double league

My New Darts .... LaserDarts Black Eagles

 My New Darts .... Laserdarts Black Eagles

There comes a time when you wear out your equipment. I've been throwing these dart for the last 4 years.

Old ones Laserdarts, Silver Eagles to the Left; The new ones Laserdarts, Black Eagles to the Right. 

Here's the new ones. I've been experimenting with Robson, molded flights. You find a shape you want, then press it on. How simple is that? Real Simple.

Black oxide is a conversion coating for metals. It is used to add mild corrosion resistance, for appearance and to minimize light reflection. One of its advantages over other coatings is its minimal buildup.It's useful for hobbyists because they can use it safely without toxic chemicals.

In other words, black oxide won't let the oils in your fingers penetrate the darts. So they won;t get slick over time.

Raised Crispier Knurls, and Groovier Grooves to Groove to. 

It's Grippy, not Sticky. 

Now time for my old ones 

The dart (Laserdarts, Eagles) I won 2 Dart Madness tour stops, and then the Championship with.

https://dartmadness.org/2020-dart-madness-championship/

As they say, "They are seasoned", but Still functional. That's four years of wear. Not bad considering how much I throw darts.

Watch it on YouTube

Messenger Steel Tip Dart #2

You didn't miss the review of the Messenger Steel Tip #1. I'm starting with #2 because I like them.  Now the details.

Messenger Steel Tip Dart #2

80% Tungsten

Featuring Shark Cuts and Aggressive Knurl

Even weighted

Weights:  24 & 26 gm

SKU: MES-2

MSRP: $87.80

These really functional dart cases come with the darts. They keep your flights square and from getting beat up. I didn't know how functional they were until I got one. Very Handy.

At 80% tungsten it's a little bigger bigger than the 90% dart. I hit a few 180's with them the first dart. I think they are just as functional as a 90% tungsten dart. Maybe even more functional because the bigger size, depending on how you grip the dart, gives you more control. 

It's a grippy dart with distinctive, repeatable, grip points. What more can I say about it? I throw Laserdarts, "Silver Eagles. I chose to try these first, because of the 3 different styles, this one is the most like the "Silver Eagle". I think one reason people change darts, is because their dart becomes tot familiar, and they stop thinking about how they grip the dart. I had a run in practice with them of 5 ton+ scores in a row and the 6th was an 85. That's pretty good consistency for throwing a dart I've only had 2 days to try out. I might just keep them and change to a new dart.

A Horizon Darts & Monstah Collaboration, "The Remedy"

Horizon Darts & Monstah Collaboration "The Remedy"

Can't find a dart that has enough grip? That's ok, we have the Remedy.

I don't know if the word "Grip" is the right word, because I don't have to grip this dart, it grips me. It's an integration of fingers to darts. 

The darts have 8 grooves going along the length of the darts, as well as around the dart, creating blocks.

 The lengthwise grooves are noticeable and while the dart is round, feels like it has 8 flat sides.

The release is a lot like a rack and pinion. It's the only way to describe it. You don't squeeze this dart at all. It just sets on your hand. 

Where the dart is the rack and the pinion is your fingers. You can defiantly get some thrust on it. It goes forward and doesn't spin. 

A solid groove and some back cuts creates the center.

Monstah's Dart Mulisha Etching

Specifications: 

High-Density 90% Tungsten Barrels

Center Balanced

BARRELS ONLY

Weight 18g

Barrel Length – 50.0 mm

Barrel Diameter – 6.73 mm

Weight 20g

Barrel Length – 51.6 mm

Barrel Diameter – 6.73 mm

Horizon Darts "The Remedy" 

https://www.horizondarts.com/catalog/soft-tip-darts/horizon-soft/collaboration-soft/

Monstah Clothing

https://monstah.net/index.html

Monstah's Remedy Link

https://monstah.net/store/p414/The_Remedy_collaboration_between_Monstah_%26_Horizon_dart.html

Not a lot of Houston Oilers flights going around these days.