At one stage in his career Phil Taylor was practising for up to eleven hours a day.
Darts players do not get the credit they deserve for all their skill and dedication.
They may not be athletes in the popular sense of the word but it takes great levels of skill, endurance and concentration to perform on stage under lights at a high level for a couple of hours.
In most other sports other than darts Phil Taylor would have already been recognised universally as one of Britain's all time top sportsman.
Throwing darts accurately and consistently is a skill which requires a great deal of concentration and excellent hand and eye coordination.
Any the factors listed below can have a dramatic effect on a person's performance.
Which eye to use for your aim? The stance at the oche.
The grip, holding the dart.
The throw.
The aim.
The positioning of the elbow.
Many people can hit big scores but the key to successful darts is accuracy and consistency.
You need to develop a consistent throw with every movement the same.
To help you achieve this use the vertical line as a training tool.
Draw a chalk line through the centre of your board from double top to double three.
For a couple of sessions purely concentrate on hitting that line.
If you find you are consistently hitting left or right of the mark, readjust your throw until you are consistently hitting the line.
Once you have developed a consistent straight throw, you are well on the way to becoming a competent darter.
In darts nothing destroys your confidence quicker than regularly hitting fives and ones when going for the treble twenty.
Once your line is right and you consistently find the twenty you can then concentrate on hitting the treble on a regular basis.
There are obviously many more aspects to successful darts but a straight throw is critical.