This Darts Champion Can Barely See the Board - And He's Fighting for His Daughter's Future

By Lewis Barnett 8 July, 2025 5 mins read 222 Views

God, where do I even start with this one.

Ryan Searle - you know, "Heavy Metal," the guy with the rockstar hair and those chunky 34g arrows - just dropped something that honestly made me put down my coffee and stare at the screen for a solid minute. The man's been throwing darts professionally while dealing with a genetic eye condition that's slowly stealing his vision. And his daughter's got it worse.

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When Your Superpower is Actually Your Kryptonite

Dominant Optic Atrophy. Even the name sounds like something out of a medical textbook nightmare. Searle's been living with this thing that basically cuts off blood flow to his optic nerve, making everything blurry as hell. The 37-year-old world No19 has made it to the last-16 at the World Championship three times. Three times! While squinting at the dartboard like he's trying to read fine print in a dark restaurant.

"I can't always see where my dart lands," he told Darts News recently. That's why you'll catch him asking the referee what he's thrown - not because he's showing off, but because he literally cannot see.

Contact lenses help now, thank God. Before that? Poor guy was stopping mid-game to ask his score. Can you imagine the mental gymnastics required to compete at that level when you're basically playing darts in fog?

The Daughter Factor Changes Everything

Here's where it gets really heavy.

Searle only found out about his condition a couple years back - after his daughter Amelia got diagnosed first. The genetic lottery can be cruel like that. "It comes in different severities," he explained. "Mine's fairly bad, but hers is really bad."

She's registered as visually impaired. She'll probably never drive. I'm sitting here thinking about all the things we take for granted - reading street signs, recognizing faces across a room, hell, even playing catch in the backyard. This kid's dealing with stuff that would break most adults, and she's just... a kid.

When Searle jokes about being "pretty close" to legally blind but "not quite," you can hear that dad-worry underneath. The guy who can still "just about" legally drive is watching his daughter face a much tougher road.

No Cure? Then We'll Find One

This is where Heavy Metal becomes more than just a darts player with a cool nickname. He's partnering with a charity to raise money for research because - and this is the kicker - there's no cure. None. "Whatever vision you're born with, that's what you're stuck with," he said.

But Searle's not accepting that. He's putting a charity patch on his shirt during matches, using his platform to raise awareness. Smart move, actually. Darts has this massive, passionate fanbase that rallies around their players. If anyone can turn a sporting event into a fundraising machine, it's the darts community.

The man's literally turning his disability into advocacy. That takes guts.

Still Chasing That First Major

Despite everything - the blurred vision, the genetic condition, watching his daughter struggle with something even worse - Searle's still climbing the rankings. Still hasn't won a major TV tournament, though he came damn close in 2021 when Peter Wright beat him in the Players Championship Finals.

Imagine losing a major final when you can barely see the board clearly. That's either the most frustrating thing ever or the ultimate motivation fuel.

He's married to Sophie Cosh, they've got a son too. Family man dealing with family health issues while trying to compete at the highest level of professional darts. The pressure must be insane.

But here's what gets me - Searle's "learned to live with it." Not accepted it, not given up, just... adapted. Found ways to work around something that should theoretically end a darts career before it starts.

Sometimes the best stories aren't about perfect athletes doing perfect things. Sometimes they're about people who refuse to let their limitations define their limits.

Frequently Asked Questions

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.

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.

Is it worth spending more money on expensive darts?

The question of dart investment really depends on your commitment level and budget. You don't need to spend a fortune, but there's definitely a quality threshold worth crossing.

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.

How often should I replace my dartboard?

A quality sisal dartboard should last anywhere from 1-3 years with regular play, though this varies dramatically based on usage and care. Professional-grade boards like Winmau Blade 5 or Target Unicorn typically outlast budget options by a significant margin.

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

The first televised nine-dart finish was thrown by John Lowe in 1984, earning him £102,000.
The dartboard wire system known as "razor wire" reduced bounce-outs by approximately 60% when introduced.
Research shows that top professional dart players achieve accuracy rates of over 80% when aiming at treble 20.
A perfect leg of 501 can be completed in nine darts, known in the sport as a "nine-darter."
The Women's World Darts Championship was established in 2001, with Trina Gulliver winning 10 titles.
The distance from the throwing line (oche) to the dartboard is precisely 7 feet 9.25 inches (2.37 meters).
A standard dartboard is divided into 20 numbered sections, with the bullseye at the center worth 50 points.
The World Darts Championship prize fund exceeded £2.5 million in 2023, with the champion receiving £500,000.

External Links

How To

Mastering Your Grip & Stance

There's no single "correct" way to hold a dart, but there are definitely wrong ways. Most players use 3 fingers (thumb, index, middle) with the dart resting primarily on the middle finger. Some pros use 4 or even 5 fingers, but I'd suggest starting with 3.

Did you miss our previous article...
https://sportingexcitement.com/darts/the-bronzed-adonis-might-be-back-and-im-here-for-it