**Dartitis: A Psychological Challenge in Darts**
Dartitis is a condition faced by some dart players, which manifested dramatically for former professional darts champion Kevin Painter earlier this year. With a celebrated career spanning nearly four decades in which he pocketed over £900,000 in prize money and thrived under pressure during prestigious competitions, Painter encountered a puzzling dilemma: during a routine throw, the dart simply wouldn’t leave his hand. Addressing the emotional and psychological turmoil behind this condition, Painter expressed, “I was in shock. I stood there for ages, unable to lift my arm to release the dart.”
This distressing phenomenon is classified as dartitis, a psychological disorder where players find themselves unable to release a dart, despite having no physical impairment. Dr. Linda Duffy, a professor of psychology at Middlesex University who herself was a champion player, characterized dartitis as a purely mental block. From 1982 to 1987, Dr. Duffy held the title of women’s world number one in darts and has personal experience with dartitis. She elaborated, “It was not widely discussed back in those days,” suggesting that mental health challenges in sports, especially in darts, didn’t receive sufficient attention.
Dartitis is not an isolated issue—both professional and amateur players can experience this condition. Jack Langston, a darts referee and content creator, first noticed symptoms at just 12 years old. He described how a brief pause before throwing evolved into a frustrating delay requiring a full minute to throw just three darts. By age 13, he felt compelled to quit, seeing his career in darts come to an abrupt halt. The mental strain was evident as he lamented, “It’s demoralizing. You show up only to be defeated by players you know you should surpass.”
Notably, each case of dartitis unfolds differently, with no singular underlying cause. Many athletes report that anxiety and fear of failing fuel their inability to perform. Painter related this to his experiences, explaining that what appeared to others as panic attacks translated for him into dartitis. To tackle this issue, he sought help from Chris O’Connor, a recognized hypnotherapist and the official partner of the Professional Darts Players Association (PDPA). O’Connor’s methodology involves guiding patients to visualize improvements in their lives while cultivating self-confidence during therapy sessions. Painter initially found hope after eight sessions and publicly praised the treatment. However, disappointment followed as dartitis unexpectedly resurfaced during a televised match on the World Senior Darts tour.
Dr. Duffy expressed skepticism about the efficacy of hypnotherapy for dartitis, framing it as a conscious skill rather than something that could be treated solely at the subconscious level. “Improving dart throws involves conscious movements,” she argued, suggesting that other methods may be more applicable.
Interestingly, players often assume dartitis is unique to the sport and expect solutions to come from within its context. Dr. Duffy contests this view, underlining dartitis as just another cognitive disorder that could be effectively managed with cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT). This treatment encourages players to reframe dartitis as a challenge to overcome—diverging from conventional methods.
While Painter continues battling dartitis, Jack Langston has ultimately overcome it. In January, at the age of 31, he made a life-altering decision to switch to throwing darts with his left hand. This shift yielded immediate, positive results—within three months, he was actively winning amateur tournaments. Alongside this newfound success, Langston’s dependency on alcohol to manage pre-game jitters vanished, emphasizing a significant transformation in both his performance and mental clarity.
Reflecting on his journey, Langston noted the striking change in his mindset. Meanwhile, Painter, too, has made strides toward recovery. He’s reducing his alcohol intake and incorporating morning walks into his routine to clear his mind, illustrating a comprehensive approach to coping with mental challenges associated with dartitis. Dr. Duffy remains adamant that while alcohol and dartitis might coexist in conversations, they stem from separate roots related to anxiety disorders. With growing support and a willingness to address mental health openly in the darts community, both Painter and Langston illustrate the ongoing battle and complexities within the realm of darts, emphasizing that dartitis, while challenging, can also foster new insights and motivate persistent change in the sport.
