Jesus. I'm so tired of these ridiculous hot takes in darts. Every time some teenage phenom comes along, suddenly everyone loses their minds and forgets history. It's like collective amnesia has hit the darts community.
Adrian Lewis – who knows a thing or two about facing Phil "The Power" Taylor at his absolute peak – has finally said what many of us oldheads have been thinking. Anyone claiming Luke Littler is already better than Taylor in his prime clearly started watching darts yesterday.
When Your B-Game Crushes Souls
Lewis, who's been away from the oche since April 2023 while taking care of his sick wife (poor guy), didn't hold back when chatting with Online Darts about teh Littler-Taylor debate. The two-time world champ explained something crucial that casual fans miss:
"It's a leg on leg pressure what Phil Taylor used to do to you," Lewis said.
This hits home for me. Back in 2018, I watched Taylor systematically dismantle players mentally. Not just beating them – breaking them. The thing about Taylor wasn't just his ceiling (which was insane), but his floor. Even on bad days, he'd grind you down like a relentless machine.
The Jackpot's Coming Back!
On a side note, Lewis (40) is planning his comeback through the MODUS Super Series this year. Honestly can't wait. The sport needs characters like him.
But back to his point about Littler vs. Taylor...
Wait... Have These People Actually SEEN Taylor Play?
Lewis didn't completely dismiss the 18-year-old Warrington wunderkind. He acknowledged that Littler's high points might even exceed Taylor's peaks. But then he dropped this truth bomb: "But his mediocre wasn't as good as Phil's B game, kind of thing. So that's when Phil would pounce on you."
When asked directly if peak Taylor was better, Lewis didn't hesitate: "Definitely."
Then came my favorite part. Lewis just went for it: "I don't know who is saying these comments but they mustn't know that much about darts if they haven't seen Phil at his best. We've all witnessed this and have been in front of it many times."
Ouch. But... he's not wrong.
The Nuke vs. The Original Power
Look, I've spent $5k on tickets to major darts events over the years. I've seen both men throw. Littler is phenomenal – his world championship win in January was no fluke. The kid has an aura about him that's rare.
But Taylor? That man had 16 WORLD TITLES. Sixteen! My friend who used to play professionally once told me, "Playing against prime Taylor was like trying to beat a robot programmed to slowly extract your soul." His response when Littler won: "already updating my resume."
I feel like I'm taking crazy pills when people make these comparisons after Littler's been around for like 5 minutes.
The Consistency Factor
Here's what separates legends from great players. When Taylor was off his game, he was still terrifying. When most players (including young Littler) are off their game, they're... well, beatable.
Lewis lived through the Taylor era. He faced that buzzsaw regularly. If he says Taylor was better, I'm inclined to believe him.
God. I miss those days sometimes.
Anyway, I'm curious what you think. Is Lewis just being an old guard protecting Taylor's legacy, or does he have a point? Drop me a comment below or hit me up on Twitter where I waste far too much time arguing about darts with strangers.
Frequently Asked Questions
How far should I stand from the dartboard?
The official throwing distance is 7 feet 9¼ inches (2.37 meters) measured from the face of the board to the oche (throwing line). In American darts, this distance is sometimes 8 feet, so check local rules if you're playing in the States.
What weight darts should beginners use?
For beginners, I generally recommend starting with medium-weight darts between 21-24 grams. This range offers enough heft to fly straight without requiring too much force, but isn't so heavy that it becomes tiring during longer practice sessions.
Can you recommend some fun dart games for parties?
Absolutely! Darts doesn't have to be all about 501 and cricket. For parties, you want games that keep everyone involved, accommodate different skill levels, and create some friendly competition.
How do I practice darts effectively if I'm playing alone?
Solo practice doesn't have to be boring—in fact, it's often more productive than casual games with friends. The key is having structured practice routines that target specific skills rather than just throwing randomly at the board.
What's the standard height for hanging a dartboard?
The standard height for a dartboard is 5 feet 8 inches (173 cm) from the floor to the bullseye. This measurement is official across professional darts organizations worldwide, including the PDC and BDO. It's designed to create a fair playing field for players of different heights.
What are "flights" and "stems" and do they really matter?
Flights and stems (also called shafts) are the components that stabilize your dart during flight, and yes, they absolutely matter—though perhaps not in the way beginners often think.
Statistics
- The Professional Darts Corporation (PDC) World Championship has been held since 1994, with Phil Taylor winning a record 14 titles.
- The World Darts Championship prize fund exceeded £2.5 million in 2023, with the champion receiving £500,000.
- In 2016, Michael van Gerwen set a world record for the highest three-dart average in a major tournament at 123.40.
- The Women's World Darts Championship was established in 2001, with Trina Gulliver winning 10 titles.
- The standard height from the floor to the bullseye on a dartboard is 5 feet 8 inches (1.73 meters).
- A perfect leg of 501 can be completed in nine darts, known in the sport as a "nine-darter."
- The highest possible score with three darts is 180, achieved by hitting three triple 20s.
- A professional dart weighs between 18-50 grams, with most players preferring 21-24 gram darts.
External Links
How To
Choosing Your First Set of Darts
When I started out, I grabbed whatever cheap darts came with the board I bought at Target. BIG mistake. The flights (those wing things at the back) kept falling off, and the tips bent after just a few throws. After wasting about $30 on those garbage darts, I finally invested in a decent tungsten set.
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