The Ultra 9s: A new measure for ultimate performance

By dartsdatabase.com 14/09/2020

The Ultra 9s are the quintessential package of performance indicators taken from all PDC matches and all 128 PDC Tour Card holders. Every aspect of the skill is covered: scoring, checkouts, general efficiency, and response to pressure, enabling you to see who the real form players are and who might be going under the radar unnoticed. 
The Ultra 9s will be available to look at over any time period chosen, through Darts Database Premium (available with Darts Prime). We will also publish the top 5 for the previous nine months in each edition of Darts World. Below is an outline of each stat and the top 5 from 2nd January 2020 to the end of the Autumn Series.

1. Scoring Average score left after 9 darts, indicating the likelihood of a player to give himself a shot at a finish in any given leg. Michael van Gerwen 172.71 Peter Wright 174.59 Ian White 175.25 Devon Petersen 177.44 Gerwyn Price 178.02

2. Explosiveness Legs won in 9-12 darts as a percentage of the total number of legs in which the player was permitted to throw 12 darts or won the leg before the fifth visit. A great sign of a player’s explosive potential and the ability to deliver the darts equivalent of an ace in tennis - legs which the opponent can do little about. Peter Wright 11.99% Jose De Sousa 10.98% Gerwyn Price 10.75% Jonny Clayton 10.23% Michael van Gerwen 9.87% 

3. Efficiency Legs won in 9-15 darts as a percentage of the total number of legs in which the player was permitted to throw 15 darts or won the leg before the sixth visit. The ability to constantly restrict opponents to needing to win legs in 12 darts against the throw and 15 darts with. Gerwyn Price 52.84% Peter Wright 52.80% Michael van Gerwen 50.92% Devon Petersen 49.42% Glen Durrant 48.18%

4. Reliability This measures the total number of legs won in 9-18 darts as a percentage of the total number of legs in which the player was permitted to throw 18 darts or won the leg before the seventh visit. A barometer of the frequency of a player’s ‘slack legs’ or how often they gift legs to their opponent. Gerwyn Price 89.12% Peter Wright 88.64% Michael van Gerwen 88.42% Devon Petersen 87.46% Krzystof Ratajski 87.37%

5. Clinical Finishing The combined percentage of checkouts completed in the minimum possible darts, e.g. 2-40 = 1 dart, 3-39 (odd), 41-98 and 100 = 2 darts, 99 and 101+ = 3 darts. Pouncing on any sniff of a chance to hurt the opponent. Peter Wright 23.15% Jason Lowe 22.79% Gerwyn Price 22.56% Devon Petersen 21.63% Maik Kuivenhoven 21.21%

6. Accuracy Accuracy on the primary scoring trebles (17 to 20) taking into account treble attempts from scoring, setup and checkout visits. Michael van Gerwen 44.54% Peter Wright 44% Gerwyn Price 43.81% Ian White 43.56% Devon Petersen 43.01%

7. Checkouts Overall versatility on the 21 different segments (including the bullseye) that can be used to fi nish a leg. Michael van Gerwen 44.54% Peter Wright 44% Gerwyn Price 43.81% Ian White 43.56% Devon Petersen 43.01%

8. Functional Checkouts Counting doubles as missed only when the miss costs the player the leg. This measure more accurately indicates a player’s accuracy on doubles relevant to winning a leg. Nathan Aspinall 53.84 Peter Wright 52.95 Gerwyn Price 52.18 Krzystof Ratajski 52.17 James Wade 52

9. Match Clinching The accuracy on doubles in attempts which, if successful, would result in winning the match. A high percentage indicates a player’s ability under pressure and how clinical they are when smelling victory. Gavin Carlin 59.82% Price 51.69% Steve West 49.56% Simon Stevenson 48.96% Richard North 47.40%