Hopefully those of you who have been socially isolated are managing to keep up with routines and things to keep yourself busy. Here is another ‘daily drill’ to add to your list:
Middle for Diddle:
A drill that focuses on the bullseye, first dart, to ensure you need less recalculation needed during match play. Recommended to be played after your warm up and between other drills/games that are more scoring focused.
Game Overview:
There are a number of finishing points, in a leg, where the bullseye (inner or outer), is the best/only option with your first dart. If you become familiar, and automated, when you see these numbers, your success rate will go up and you will react smoothly to any variation (or cock-up!)
Take one turn (3 darts) at these five outshots using the bull:
61, 65, 82, 125 & 132
Award yourself points on the following basis:
- 61,65 & 82
- 2 Dart Checkout –10 Points
- 3 Dart Checkout – 5 Points
- Left a Double – 1 Point
- for 125 & 132
- Checkout – 10 Points
- Double Left – 3 Points
- Single – Double Finish left (not single bull!) – 1 Point
Example:
- Turn 1 – Bull, s3, d4 – 5 Points
- Turn 2 – 25, Tops! – 10 Points
- Turn 3 – 25, s17, 0 – 1 Point
- Turn 4 – 25, t20, Tops – 10 Points
- Turn 5 – 25, 19, t20 – (28 Left) – 3 Points
- Total Score = 29
N.B. A single point is scored when going for the 100+ finishes by leaving the double e.g. for 132 – Bull, 25, s17 would leave tops and score a consolation 1 point. The same applies if you miss the double after setting it up with darts 1 & 2.
Variations:
There are shots that can be swapped in and out depending on your personal preferences and in order to ensure that you cover the possibilities that can crop up in a game situation.
63 and 135 are the most likely where you may use the middle ring as an option in certain circumstances or even as your default.
Levels:
In this drill it’s more overall aims than levels. The first order of business is to get shots at doubles. So a good aim is to get shots at all three lower numbers. Then set up the bigger ones.
- An amateur or pub player type should aim to get shots at the lower finishes, and hit one. Score guide – (circa) 10
- A league player should be looking to take one of the lower ones in two darts & scoring points on the bigger shots. Score guide – 15+
- A higher level player should be looking to take two of the lower ones in two/three darts and gaining points on the others. Score guide – 25+
- Elite level players should be regularly hitting 33 or more. (Importantly this should be spread across all 5 finishes and be repeatable if the numbers are swapped)
Records:
This is a tough drill at the higher end. It sucks the mind into being too deliberate so dont play it two many times. Use it as a break drill between others and do no more than two goes in a row.
The record for this drill was set a few years ago, a duel code World Championship player hit 61 in 2, 65 in 2 and 82 in three then left 40, after three, going for 125 and checked out 132 – totalling 38.
Middle for Diddle is a harder drill that requires a switch in focus and then another half way through. It puts the Bull at the heart of your efforts for a section of every practice.
Enjoy and lets us know if you can beat 38 or if it helps improve your ‘Bulling’!
Originally published (with variations) at dartsworld.com
Pics: PDC / L Lustig
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