God. There's something uniquely heartbreaking about watching an athlete consider walking away from their sport. I've covered darts for nearly 7 years now, and I've never heard someone as brutally honest as Nathan Aspinall was after his Premier League win Thursday night.
The 33-year-old Stockport native (who I interviewed back in 2019 when he was just breaking through) stood there clutching his £10,000 winner's check with a look that said both relief and vindication. This wasn't just another victory. This was personal.
When Your Body Betrays You
Let's get real for a second. Dartitis is the yips on steroids. Imagine suddenly not being able to release a dart—the very motion you've performed literally millions of times. Your brain just... freezes. I watched Steve Beaton struggle with it at a exhibition match in Birmingham last summer. Painful doesn't begin to describe it.
For Aspinall, this nightmare has been compounded by physical injuries. "I had a cortisone injection on Tuesday in my elbow," he revealed after beating world champ Luke Humphries 6-4 in the Manchester final.
The man was throwing darts with a freshly injected arm! And somehow still averaging 98+. Ridiculous.
That Breaking Point Moment
"I can't be doing this anymore."
Those were the words Aspinall confessed to telling his wife Kirsty just five weeks ago. Not in some carefully crafted press release, but in teh raw emotional aftermath of his hometown victory. The Asp was ready to walk away from it all—the Premier League schedule, the travel, the pain.
I've sat in enough post-match press rooms to know when an athlete is giving you the real stuff versus the canned responses. This was as authentic as it gets.
Why Do We Keep Punishing Ourselves?
There's something weirdly familiar about Aspinall's struggle that resonates beyond darts. Back in 2018, I nearly quit writing altogether after a particularly brutal stretch of rejections. Spent $4K on a "career transition coach" who basically told me what I already knew—that I was running from something that mattered to me.
The Asp put it perfectly: "You think, 'Is it worth it?' But then nights like this, that's why I keep playing."
Ain't that the truth for all of us?
The Premier League Wobble
Aspinall mentioned something I've noticed but never heard a player admit. "Between week six and week eight, in the five years I've played the Premier League, I have had a wobble," he said.
That mid-season grind is like hitting the wall in a marathon. The initial adrenaline's gone, the finish line isn't yet visible, and you're just... existing. Traveling. Missing birthdays. Living out of suitcases.
"My head goes. I miss my family and being at home."
Listen. Professional darts looks glamorous on TV with the lights and the walk-ons and the crowd singing Sweet Caroline for the 8,000th time. The reality? These guys are on the road constantly, living in Premier Inns, and practicing alone in hotel rooms.
From Drowning to Swimming
What struck me most was Aspinall's decision to incorporate his struggles rather than be defeated by them.
"You either quit and give up and go home or you own it and make it part of your game. That is what I have decided to do."
That's some profound stuff from a guy who throws pointy objects for a living.
And his celebration plans? Classic Asp: "I'm going to go out tonight and getting absolutely steaming with the missus. And, hopefully, we end the night on a high."
My editor just texted me: "Bet he's still hungover." Poor Kirsty probably is too.
For a guy who was ready to walk away from it all just weeks ago, Aspinall now looks like a man who's remembered why he fell in love with the game in the first place. Sometimes you have to nearly lose something to appreciate what you've got.
Wonder if he'll remember any of this when he wakes up tomorrow...
Frequently Asked Questions
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.
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.
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.
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.
I keep hitting 5s and 1s when aiming for 20s. How do I fix this?
This is probably the most common frustration in darts—those dreaded 5s and 1s when you're aiming for the 20 segment! The good news is that this specific problem usually stems from a few identifiable issues.
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.
Statistics
- A perfect leg of 501 can be completed in nine darts, known in the sport as a "nine-darter."
- 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.
- The distance from the throwing line (oche) to the dartboard is precisely 7 feet 9.25 inches (2.37 meters).
- In 2016, Michael van Gerwen set a world record for the highest three-dart average in a major tournament at 123.40.
- The dartboard wire system known as "razor wire" reduced bounce-outs by approximately 60% when introduced.
- Statistical analysis reveals that professional players throw darts at an average speed of 40-60 miles per hour.
- Phil Taylor has hit a record 22 televised nine-dart finishes throughout his professional career.
External Links
How To
Final Thoughts From a Passionate Amateur
As I'm writing this in late 2023, I'm still working on improving my own game. My current challenge is mastering the triple 19 as an alternative to the triple 20 when one gets blocked by previous darts. It's like trying to teach an old dog new tricks—my muscle memory fights me every step of the way!
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