When Your Hand Looks Like a Balloon and Your Darts Dreams Go Pop

By Lewis Barnett 29 August, 2025 5 mins read 220 Views

Well, this is awkward.

Gerwyn Price - you know, the Iceman who usually melts opponents on the oche - just pulled out of the Flanders Darts Trophy because his throwing hand decided to stage a rebellion. And by rebellion, I mean it swelled up like he'd been stung by an entire hive of very angry Belgian bees.

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The PDC's Polite Way of Saying "His Hand Looks Terrifying"

The PDC put out one of those carefully worded statements that makes everything sound so clinical: "Gerwyn Price has withdrawn from the Blåkläder Flanders Darts Trophy this weekend due to an infected hand." Right. An "infected hand" is putting it mildly when you see the photos Price posted on social media. That thing looked like it belonged in a medical textbook, not gripping a dart.

Since Price bailed after the tournament had already kicked off, whoever wins tonight's match between Ryan Joyce and Ricardo Pietreczko gets a free pass straight to Round Three. Lucky them, I guess? Though I bet they'd rather earn it the hard way than watch a fellow player suffer through what looks like medieval torture.

Hospital Selfies Are Never a Good Sign

Price had already spooked everyone earlier this week when he vanished from the Players' Championship. Then came the Instagram update that made us all wince - pictures of his hand that looked like he'd been in a fight with a hornet's nest and lost spectacularly. The man was sitting in a hospital chair with an IV drip, trying to joke about his situation while his hand resembled something from a horror movie.

I've seen some gnarly sports injuries, but this was different. This wasn't a torn muscle or a twisted ankle - this was his body basically saying "nope, we're done here" in the most dramatic way possible.

The Domino Effect (Or: When Everyone Decides Belgium Isn't Worth It)

Price isn't the only big name giving Antwerp a miss this weekend. World No. 1 Luke Humphries? Nope. Gary Anderson? Pass. Nathan Aspinall? Also out. At this point, you've got to wonder if there's something in the Belgian water or if these guys just collectively decided they'd rather stay home and watch Netflix.

The tournament's offering £30,000 to the winner - not exactly pocket change in the darts world. Dave Chisnall took home that prize when the event launched last year, so it's not like we're talking about some backwater competition. But when your throwing hand looks like it belongs in a medical emergency, even thirty grand isn't worth the risk.

Meanwhile, Luke Littler's Having His Own Medical Drama

Just to add to the medical chaos, teenage sensation Luke Littler had to get emergency dental surgery before flying out for the tournament. The kid said he was "shocked and shaken" after having a tooth yanked out, but he's still planning to play. That's either admirable determination or teenage stupidity - probably both.

It's wild how these elite athletes push through stuff that would have the rest of us calling in sick for a week. Tooth extraction? No problem, I'll still throw darts in front of thousands of people. Meanwhile, I stub my toe and consider it a valid reason to work from bed.

The Flanders Darts Trophy continues this weekend, though it's starting to feel more like a medical drama than a sporting event. Here's hoping Price's hand deflates back to normal size soon - and that nobody else needs emergency medical intervention before Sunday's final.

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 do I improve my dart throwing technique?

Improving your dart technique comes down to consistency and deliberate practice. First, establish a comfortable stance—feet shoulder-width apart, with your dominant foot slightly forward. Your weight should be balanced and stable, not leaning forward or back.

Wait, so how exactly do you score in darts? I always get confused.

Dart scoring is straightforward once you get the hang of it! The standard game (501 or 301) starts with that number, and you subtract whatever you hit with each throw. The goal is to reach exactly zero, with your final dart landing in a double.

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.

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 Professional Darts Corporation (PDC) World Championship has been held since 1994, with Phil Taylor winning a record 14 titles.
The highest possible score with three darts is 180, achieved by hitting three triple 20s.
Statistical analysis reveals that professional players throw darts at an average speed of 40-60 miles per hour.
The dartboard wire system known as "razor wire" reduced bounce-outs by approximately 60% when introduced.
A professional dart weighs between 18-50 grams, with most players preferring 21-24 gram darts.
The first televised nine-dart finish was thrown by John Lowe in 1984, earning him £102,000.
The World Darts Championship prize fund exceeded £2.5 million in 2023, with the champion receiving £500,000.
A perfect leg of 501 can be completed in nine darts, known in the sport as a "nine-darter."

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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.