From Hammering Nails to Hitting Doubles: Why This Ex-Roofer Laughs at Darts "Burnout"

By Lewis Barnett 30 June, 2025 5 mins read 39 Views

Damon Heta thinks players complaining about Premier League burnout need a reality check.

The guy spent years dragging his body up ladders at 6 AM, working 12-hour shifts under the brutal Australian sun, fixing roofs that probably should've been condemned years ago. Now he's supposed to feel sorry for himself because he has to throw some darts for a living? Yeah, right.

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The Grind That Actually Matters

Listen, I get it. The PDC schedule is relentless. But Heta's perspective hits different when you know where he came from. Six days a week, twelve hours a day, hauling materials up steep inclines while your back screams at you. That's the kind of work that ages you in dog years.

"I always look back and think, you know what I did? I did 12-hour days, six days a week, roofing," Heta told the Tops and Tales podcast recently. "If I can't chuck darts for 12 hours a day, you know what I mean?"

The man's got a point. Hard to complain about air-conditioned venues and prize money when you've spent years sweating through your shirt before most people have had their morning coffee.

What Burnout Actually Looks Like

World No. 10 Heta reached the semi-final of the US Masters last weekend but got knocked out by Nathan Aspinall despite averaging 104. Still threw some absolute rockets though.

'The Heat' has been on fire this year - won Players Championship 13 and made the final of European Darts Open. Guy's clearly doing something right with his approach to the game.

But here's what gets me about his story. He practices four hours minimum every day, sometimes more. Two sessions, split up to keep his focus sharp. That's the kind of dedication that separates the weekend warriors from the professionals.

The Premier League Dream (And Why He Won't Crack)

Breaking into the PDC's top four Order of Merit? That's Heta's big target right now. Getting that Premier League call-up would be massive for any player, but especially for someone who remembers what real work feels like.

"I find myself pretty conditioned where I don't think I would be one to be burnt out," he said. And honestly, after hearing his background, I believe him.

Players talk about burnout like it's some inevitable curse of success. Maybe it is for some. But when your reference point is manual labor that literally breaks your body down, suddenly traveling the world to play darts seems pretty manageable.

Perspective Changes Everything

Here's the part that really got to me: "If I'm ever down about where I am or what I'm doing, I just think, you know what? I've come this far."

That's not some motivational poster nonsense. That's genuine gratitude from someone who knows what the alternative looks like. He could still be up on roofs, dealing with weather delays and difficult customers and the constant physical toll.

Instead? He's getting paid decent money to do exhibitions where people actually want to watch him throw darts for four or five hours. "Man, that's insane," he said, and you can hear the amazement in his voice.

The Numbers Don't Lie

Former World Cup winner Heta boasts the fourth-highest checkout rate on tour at 43.13% in 2025. Not bad for a guy who used to work with his hands in a completely different way.

He'll be back in action next week on the ProTour at teh Mattioli Arena, probably still shaking his head at players who think they have it tough.

Sometimes you need someone like Heta to remind everyone what real work actually looks like.

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'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's the difference between steel tip and soft tip darts?

Steel tip and soft tip darts represent two distinct branches of the sport, each with their own equipment, venues, and sometimes even scoring systems. The most obvious difference is in the point: steel tips have metal points for traditional bristle boards, while soft tips use flexible plastic points for electronic boards.

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.

My darts keep bouncing out of the board. What am I doing wrong?

Bounce-outs are incredibly frustrating, but they're usually caused by one of a few common issues. First, check your dartboard—if it's old and dried out, even the best throws will struggle to stick. Quality sisal boards should last years, but cheaper paper-wound boards harden quickly. If you can press your thumbnail into the board and it doesn't leave a small indent, it's too hard.

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.

Statistics

In 2016, Michael van Gerwen set a world record for the highest three-dart average in a major tournament at 123.40.
Statistical analysis reveals that professional players throw darts at an average speed of 40-60 miles per hour.
A perfect leg of 501 can be completed in nine darts, known in the sport as a "nine-darter."
A professional dart weighs between 18-50 grams, with most players preferring 21-24 gram darts.
The Professional Darts Corporation (PDC) World Championship has been held since 1994, with Phil Taylor winning a record 14 titles.
Research shows that top professional dart players achieve accuracy rates of over 80% when aiming at treble 20.
The standard height from the floor to the bullseye on a dartboard is 5 feet 8 inches (1.73 meters).
The World Darts Championship prize fund exceeded £2.5 million in 2023, with the champion receiving £500,000.

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Common Problems & How I Fixed Them

Inconsistent grouping was my biggest issue for years. The solution? I recorded my throw in slow motion and noticed I was dropping my elbow at different heights. Once I fixed that, my grouping tightened up immediately.