Darts Technique and Zen

I’m not a believer in systems. I feel whenever you give something a name, it becomes rigid and unrealistic. Which is why I don’t call myself a capitalist or a socialist, or even a Humanist. I’m deeply suspicious of “isms” and “ists.”

But I’ve learned a lot about myself playing darts. And some of what I’ve realized sounds eerily like what the Zen masters have taught. So here are my lessons…

Get rid of fear

When I don’t care about missing, that is when I throw my darts the best. Which is why I play my worst at critical moments! My hand shakes, I think about the importance of the point, I imagine myself in a tennis stadium at match point with the entire crowd holding its collective breath…and I miss. Badly. More like “Humiliatingly.”

Sometimes I have to hit a point on the dart board which is at the edge – a “double for example.” Then my fear is that the dart will go outside the board and hit the wall. And when I make the throw, my hand and mind conspire against me to overcompensate and throw the dart well inside :(

So my first lesson in the world of darts is let go of fear. Go for your shots. Don’t be afraid of missing. Don’t be scared of what a fool you’ll look like. Just do it.

“See” the target. Become one with it.

I’m reminded of the story of Drona asking his students what they saw when pulling the bow. Only Arjuna said “Just the eye.” But it goes beyond that. Looking at the target isn’t enough. You have to really “see” it. It has nothing to do with your eyes. It’s a kind of sensation where the world doesn’t exist. There’s nothing in the universe except for that spot and you. For that moment, your barriers drop and the target and you are the same thing. The dart is part of you like your hand and you can almost reach out and…touch the spot with it.

I know this can sound like some spiritual mumbo jumbo, but it’s not! I’m as big a skeptic as it gets, but this really happens. And when everything “clicks” – when your mind is still and the world drops away and the sweet spot is all that matters – then the dart flies true and sinks in with a “oh so satisfying” thud.

It can get frustrating trying to reach that state of mind. And the worst part is when you do reach it and you think “I’ve reached it! Now I can throw,” that very thought shatters it and I’m suddenly conscious of my arm, the draw back, the acceleration, the wrist flick, the extension and the release.

But of course, one can’t ignore the technique. Without that, no state of mind is going to get you results. But even the best technique isn’t enough. You need learn everything, and then forget it…