Have you ever watched a professional darts competition? Then, you must have been impressed by the accuracy these players have with every throw they make and if you’ve paid good attention to their posture, you've certainly noticed that they have a particular type of stance they stick to. There is a reason behind this as using a certain stance can help you improve your balance and consistency and increase your scores.
Read on and discover the three main types of stance professional darters use and get the inspiration you need to improve your throwing style! Before you start practicing any of these darts stances, one thing to keep in mind is that, in darts, you always have to stand behind the oche line (also known as throwing line) and avoid crossing it!
1. The Forward Stance
For many players, the forward stance is the best stance. When you are using the forward stance, your dominant foot, the one that helps you maintain your balance, is placed forward and its toe touches the throwing line. Moreover, the toe that touches the oche is pointed directly toward the dartboard.
In this type of stance, you put great emphasis on your dominant foot and you rely on it to support your body while making your throw. Players who adopts the forward stance are very confident in their dominant foot that has to bear more than 70% of their body weight and ensure perfect balance. All the while, the other foot is positioned behind the leading one and helps maintain the balance.
If you try the forward stance, you need to experiment a little bit so that you can find the perfect position for the non-dominant foot and feel comfortable and confident while launching your darts. This stance can be very effective if you practice a lot and you get to master it. However, the secret to be able to take advantage of it is to use it often.
2 The Side Stance
The name of this position is more than enough to understand what it involves. When you adopt the side stance, your feet are not longer facing the dartboard, but you are standing sideways to the target. This stance implies putting the edge of your dominant foot right on the throwing line. The other foot will be placed behind it, at an angle.
When you adopt this stance, you should make sure you’re not putting too much weight on your dominant foot as this will force the second foot to move its position, which will affect your balance and your throw. Also, when using the side stance, you should mind your arm and always make sure it is aligned with your eyes.
3 The Angled Stance
Finally, this position, which is another one of the most popular stances used by darters worldwide, brings together the two previous ones in a new and practical alternative. In this stance, the leading foot touches the oche line and is pointed at an angle. You get to choose the angle based on how comfortable you feel, there is no right or wrong measures. All the while, the other foot is also positioned at an angle and off center.
This is one of the best stances for beginners and casual players as it provides great stability. The angled stance allows you to easily lean forward and get closer to the dartboard without compromising your balance.
The ideal stance is different from player to player, however, one thing you’ll realize when you’ll find the best stance for your throwing style is that your preferred stance is one that allows you to gain sufficient balance without compromising your comfort. Enjoy experimenting with these three types of popular stances and don’t forget that we’re also here to support you with quality darts gear, at any time!
*updated September 2022
Comments (0)