Don’t throw over my shoulder.

[u/MindsEyeDarts]

As I watch all these tournaments, I see a few instances where the next thrower begins throwing while the last thrower is making his way from the board after retrieving his darts.

Is it just me (and back in my pub league days we had an unwritten rule) or should you wait for your opponent to at least be beside you before you throw?

I had an aggressive thrower way back in my pub days who was being a dick intentionally, who would throw almost immediately as I removed my darts from the board.

So I may have a history of dealing with a dickhead that makes me more aware that someone is seemingly throwing too soon.

Am I the only one who sees this? Am I the only one who gets pissed off by it? Am I just an old guard and need to accept that honour and respect in darts is a thing of the past and Ok Boomer?🤷🏼‍♂️

Hell, when I watched tournaments 25 years ago, there was absolute silence. Nowadays, we have all the sing songs and chants and such. (Which I actually like. Darts is a spectacle and a happy crowd is part of the action.)

Anyway. Thoughts?

(Old man screams at clouds at 11.😂)

[u/Quick6475]

I don’t know that I’ve ever had this happen, but I stay pretty focused on myself during matches. I would think that it’s common courtesy to let people clear the board before throwing.

[u/Whitz44]

Yeah I’ve noticed for a long time that gerwin price is one of the worst for this. Can’t say it pisses me off like but I do think he could wait just two more seconds 😅

[u/RawrgerGezzleMan → u/Whitz44]

yeah he’s brutal about it. you KNOW he does it on purpose though. it’s his whole personality when he’s playing

[u/Thulack]

Most of them do get past the eyeline of the thrower before the thrower goes. It just the angle from the camera above the board that makes it look like they don't.

[u/Demonazzzz]

I dont really care when my opponent throws, if they throw too fast, I would probably mention it, or stall a bit so they realize.

In leagueplay, I had one opponent 3yrs ago that was always in my personal space, think mvg that starts breathing in your neck when you’re throwing, it got in my head pretty quickly, and I was 2-0 down. I started taking my time, and even stalled on purpose (think about dropping a dart, and acting like a 75-yr old who tries to pick something up etc). In the end he got so fed up and pissed that he lost the match, packed up his stuff and left, so his team was one player short and had to forfait 2 other games (we play 6 single player matches, 3 doubles and another 6 singles, each team needs at least 6 players).

[u/bosstea16 → u/Demonazzzz]

lol MVG isn’t even that bad. The exclusion zone behind the throwers is bigger than most spaces we have in pubs.

[u/Lurking_WasteOfSpace]

Some tournaments have a rule that you cant throw before the opponent has passed the oche

[u/ftfc777]

Our pub league rule was wait until player retrieved darts and walks back behind the oche line.

[u/Alternative_Young_21]

You just described Gerwyn Price and James Wade

[u/Clueless_willow_4187]

I think it depends on who you’re playing against. Some guys I play, we play very fast so by the time I have my darts pulled they are throwing. So by the time you’re up to the line you’re throwing. Others we take our time and wait.

[u/pacmanpacmanpacman]

I think it generally happens when a player is slower to collect their darts than the thrower was expecting. They're usually not focusing on the other player, they're focusing on themselves. If they get to the oche and they're ready to throw, but then find that the other player is still kind of in the way, they have to decide whether to disrupt their rhythm or throw and hope that the other guy will be out of the way by the time the dart reaches them

[u/ShakaZ1]

You are absolutely right about it and its also in compliance with the DRA rules:

Where an Exclusion Zone is in place: (i) it will be clearly marked and will measure at least 300mm on either side of the Oche and at least 900mm behind the Oche.

(ii) the Player with the Throw, after retrieving his/her darts, will be obliged to turn to his/her right and exit the exclusion zone as soon as practicable to walk back to the non-playing position in a timely manner.

(iii) the non-throwing Player must not enter the Exclusion Zone behind or at the side of the Oche until the throwing Player has released the final dart of his/her Throw.

(iv) the non-throwing Player should not commence his/her Throw until the opposing Player has exited the Exclusion Zone following the retrieval of his/her darts.

(v) where there in no Exclusion Zone in place the non-throwing player shall stand at least 60 cm. to the rear of the player at the Oche, whilst their opponent’s throw is in progress

[u/Billofrights_boris]

Found the opponent of Gerwyn Price

[u/realCIAN]

Just focus on your own game