How to throw a dart like Luke Littler – according to science

He is the boy wonder who takes down world champions like pins in a bowling alley.

Only this isn’t bowling, this is darts, and Luke Littler is about to become world champion himself – on his debut.

But while he makes the sport look ridiculously easy (if you look at it that way) by strolling up to the oche and casually firing three arrows at triple 20, be warned.

It really isn’t.

Like old home movies showing Luke as a toddler, mastering this 700-year-old pastime takes a lot of practice.

There are many elements, from physics and psychology to muscle memory and math – and possibly even sex.

But before we go too deep, first the basics.

Darts consist of four parts: the tip, the barrel, the shaft and the flight.

The tip is usually made of steel and, as the name suggests, is the tip at the front that protrudes into the dartboard.

Behind it is the barrel in which the player holds the arrow. These can be made from many materials including plastic, brass and nickel silver, but the highest quality darts usually use a tungsten minx.

Next comes the shaft, which connects the barrel to the flight, and the fins on the back of the arrow, which help keep it stable when thrown.

Flights come in many different shapes and sizes, and the weight of the darts themselves ranges from approximately 16 grams to 30 grams. Heavier darts are generally better for beginners.

But because of the weight of the arrow – and, you know, gravity – it’s very difficult to throw it in a perfectly straight line.

Instead, players aim for a parabolic curve, meaning the arrow flies up before flying back down, hopefully hitting the board in a smooth, symmetrical arc where the player threw it.

This is where skill comes into play. If you throw it too hard, it will land higher than intended. If the force isn’t enough, it will fall further down than you wanted. Or in either case, you could miss the sign completely.

Even beginners are often plagued by a wobbly arrow, which can have many causes. The arrow may not be aimed completely in the direction of the throw. You can flip it over if you let go (probably by accident).

Good foot position is also important: keep about 70% of your weight on your forefoot when throwing.

Then there are the mechanics of the throw itself.

When playing darts, the human arm acts as a ‘multifunctional lever system’, from the shoulder to the hand.

If you look at pros like Luke, you will notice that the shoulder and elbow are almost in line, while the elbow is slightly lower. This remains fairly static, with the forearm doing most of the work as it is pulled back and accelerated forward during the throw.

Releasing – releasing the arrow – ends the throw. The forearm and hand initiate the turn, so it is clearly important that you release at the correct point along the bow to set the arrow on the desired trajectory.

That’s the physics part, but what about the psychology?

When it comes to darts, the mental aspect is just as important as the physical – if not more so. It requires intense focus and trust, both of which can be easily broken.

And in a high-pressure situation like Ally Pally’s, the players also have a loud crowd full of adrenaline and alcohol cheering and shouting as they play.

This means that practicing focusing is just as important as practicing throwing.

Dr. Linda Duffy, former women’s world number one and now sports psychologist, says: ‘The mindset in a given scenario or scenario is the most important aspect of darts performance.’ In fact, I would say that darts among the top players is 95% determined by mentality during one specific game and 5% by skill.”

Speaking to the DartsWeb blog, she added: “All of these players are usually experts at hitting the target regardless of what’s on the board – but it’s still the same handful who usually win an event.”

“These ‘winners’ have higher levels of psychological resilience, a more positive focus on competitive anxiety, and greater perceived situational control.”

To support this claim, a study in the journal Sports Psychologist found that players who used programs to train their mental skills performed better than those who did more physical activity but no mental training.

However, it’s still not as easy as concentrating because overthinking can be just as harmful.

A study in the journal Cognitive Processing found that players who received an internal focus instruction — where they were asked to think about what their body was doing while throwing — performed worse than those who didn’t.

This is where confidence and muscle memory come into play and the reason why successful players focus on the board and not the darts.

Then of course there is the least fun aspect of darts. Math.

This time it’s not about how you roll, but as you try to count down from 501 by hitting certain segments on the board (and eventually doubling down) you’ll have to be strategic with your score.

And then perhaps the most controversial element. Sex.

Dr. Duffy, an exceptional darts player himself, believes that men are naturally better at darts “because of their ability to concentrate”.

Very controversial.

“Among healthy adults, from childhood to mid-adulthood, men and boys are consistently better at throwing than girls,” she said last year.

“It doesn’t matter what task you give them, there’s just something and a reason. And not just with darts, but with balls and beanbags, with throwing at a target in any way, the boys are always better.”

“I’m still not entirely sure why that is. “There are possible reasons in brain structure and other psychological concepts related to field independence and field dependence that could play a role.”

Dr. Duffy wonders whether the concentration aspect and not the physical aspect plays a role in her theory.

“Some may say anecdotally, ‘Women can focus on ten things at a time, while men can only focus on one thing,’ which is a joke because it’s not true for everyone, but I believe there’s a gist of it.” The truth is that if you look at sports that require real focus and concentration, like darts, chess, bocce and archery,” she said.

“I think men can turn off the white noise and focus on what they need to do much more easily than women can.” That makes them better.

“That doesn’t mean a woman can’t beat a man. I hit a lot, but if you look at the top of these sports, the best men will always be better than the best women.

However, there will be no chance to test this in tonight’s final, when Luke takes on world number one Luke Humphries, who opens up about his own battle with anxiety.

There are also few scientific studies on gender and darts skills, although a study by Dr. Duffy found that the amount of practice did not explain the differences in skills between male and female players.

But if you apply the science to your next dart game, hopefully everyone will be a winner.