A COMPARISON OF COMPENSATION FOR RELEASE TIMING AND MAXIMUM HAND SPEED IN RECREATIONAL AND COMPETITIVE DARTS PLAYERS

Abstract

The level of accuracy achieved by darts players is dependent on their timing capabilities, judgement of velocity and their use of technique. This paper examines the techniques used by a recreational and a competitive darts player in a throwing task. The inaccuracy of the throws by both players were attributed to variations in release timing and maximum hand speed, with variations in release timing found to be the primary factor in both subjects (94.8% and 99.2% of total variance). The degree of compensation for variations in release timing and maximum hand speed were calculated for both competitors. The greater accuracy achieved by the competitive player was found to be the result of better compensation from technique rather than less variation in release timing and maximum hand speed.