How To Break Bad Dart Habits (Or Why Pros Have "Weird" Setups And Why You Need One Too)
Ever watch professional darts and notice some players have strange routines?
One taps the dart to his chin before every throw. Another circles the dart twice before raising it. A third brings the dart back to his face, then out, then back again before setting up.
Most people think these are superstitions or nervous tics.
They're not. They're solutions.
Every "weird" setup routine you see is a player's answer to the same problem you're facing right now: How do I prevent my brain from autopiloting back to bad habits?
The Old Habit Problem
Here's what happens when you try to change your throw:
Day 1: You learn a better setup position (let's say Photo 2 - compact and bent). You execute it deliberately. It works great.
Day 2: You practice focusing on the new position. When you concentrate, you do it perfectly. When you zone out, you revert to your old position.
Day 7: You're in a match. Pressure hits. Your brain defaults to the old pattern you've done 10,000 times, not the new one you've done 100 times.
The problem: Your old habit is in the path to your new habit.
The Path Interception
Let me give you a specific example from my own experience:
Old habit (Photo 1): Extended arm setup, reaching toward the board
New habit (Photo 2): Compact setup, elbow bent at 90 degrees
The path: To get from "dart down" to "Photo 2 position," I have to raise my arm. But on the way up, I pass directly through Photo 1.
What happens: My brain sees Photo 1 on the way to Photo 2 and goes "Oh, this is where we stop!" and locks in there. I never make it to Photo 2 unless I consciously fight through it.
The raise gets intercepted by the old pattern.
This is why willpower alone doesn't work. You can't fight muscle memory for 10,000 throws. You'll lose focus eventually and revert.
The solution: Don't fight through the old pattern. Route around it entirely.
The Route-Around Solution
Instead of raising straight up (which passes through Photo 1), I changed the path:
- Bend my elbow first (bring hand toward face)
- Then raise the elbow to final height
- Arrive at Photo 2 without ever passing through Photo 1
Result: Photo 1 doesn't exist in the motion path anymore, so my brain can't intercept and stop there.
This looks "weird" if you're watching - why is he bending his arm before raising it? - but it's the solution to bypassing an old habit.
What looks like a quirk is actually engineering.
Why Phil Taylor's Setup Is So Consistent
Phil Taylor has one of the most consistent setups in professional darts. Watch any video of him - his routine is identical every single throw for 30 years.
Why?
Because he drilled one specific path so many times that it became his only path. His brain doesn't have an "old pattern" to revert to - the Phil Taylor setup is the pattern.
But here's the key: Phil's setup works for Phil because it's the path he found that prevents his old habits.
If you copy Phil's exact setup motion but it doesn't solve your interception problem, it won't help you. You need to find the path that routes around your specific old habits.
Other Players' "Weird" Routines Explained
Once you understand the route-around concept, every "weird" pro setup makes sense.
The Chin Tap
What it looks like: Player taps dart to chin before raising to setup
Why it works:
- Forces a starting position (chin) that's different from their old pattern
- Creates a consistent reference point
- Impossible to autopilot because it's a deliberate action
- Routes around whatever their old raise pattern was
The Circle/Waggle
What it looks like: Player circles the dart or waggles it before raising
Why it works:
- Adds a step that breaks autopilot (you can't unconsciously waggle)
- Resets the motion pattern
- Gives time for conscious engagement before committing
- Routes around going straight to old setup position
The Back-and-Forth
What it looks like: Player brings dart toward face, then out, then back, then sets up
Why it works:
- Multiple decision points (face, out, back, setup) force conscious engagement
- Old autopilot pattern gets interrupted by extra steps
- Arrives at setup from a different angle than old habit
- Impossible to rush because it requires deliberate motion
The Slow Exaggerated Raise
What it looks like: Player raises dart extremely slowly, taking 3-4 seconds
Why it works:
- Speed itself forces conscious engagement (you can't autopilot slow motion)
- Gives time to correct if you feel yourself deviating toward old pattern
- Makes aiming phase deliberate (body aligns during slow raise)
- Impossible to rush or autopilot
How To Find Your Route-Around
Here's how to identify your old habit interception point and create a new path:
Step 1: Identify Where You Revert
Film yourself throwing 20 darts without thinking about your setup. Just throw naturally.
Watch the video. Where does your setup actually happen? This is your old pattern.
Now throw 20 darts consciously using your new setup (e.g., Photo 2).
Question: On the path from "dart down" to "new setup position," do you pass through your old setup position?
If yes: Your brain will intercept. You need a route-around.
If no: Your path is clear. Just drill the new setup until it's automatic.
Step 2: Map The Interception Point
If your old pattern intercepts your new pattern, identify exactly where:
Example 1:
- Old: Extended arm (Photo 1)
- New: Compact bent arm (Photo 2)
- Interception: Raising straight up passes through Photo 1 before reaching Photo 2
Example 2:
- Old: Dart at forehead level
- New: Dart at eye level
- Interception: Raising to forehead is the automatic stop point, have to consciously lower to eye level
Example 3:
- Old: Quick raise, no pause
- New: Slow raise with pause
- Interception: Brain defaults to quick raise unless you consciously slow it
Find your specific interception point.
Step 3: Design Your Route-Around
Now create a path that bypasses the interception entirely:
If your old pattern is in the vertical path:
- Raise from a different angle (arc, side, etc.)
- Change the order (bend first, then raise - not raise then bend)
- Add a step that breaks the straight line (tap, waggle, circle)
If your old pattern is a specific height:
- Start above or below the old position
- Add a reference point that forces the new height (chin tap, cheek touch, etc.)
- Approach from a different direction
If your old pattern is a tempo/speed:
- Add a count (1-2-3) to force slower tempo
- Add physical checkpoints that require pauses
- Make the motion so slow it's impossible to rush
Step 4: Test Multiple Routes
Don't commit to the first route you try. Test 3-4 different approaches:
My test (switching from Photo 1 to Photo 2):
Option 1: Straight raise, consciously stop at Photo 2
- Result: Brain kept stopping at Photo 1 (failed)
Option 2: Arc path (raise out, then in to Photo 2)
- Result: Worked sometimes, but felt unnatural
Option 3: Bend first, then raise elbow
- Result: Perfect - Photo 1 never happens because arm is bent the whole time
Option 4: Start at chest level, raise to Photo 2
- Result: Worked but felt rushed
Winner: Option 3 (bend first, then raise)
Throw 20 darts with each route. Whichever feels most natural AND successfully bypasses your old habit = your new setup path.
Step 5: Drill Until Automatic
Once you find your route-around, drill it until it becomes your default:
Week 1: Every throw, consciously execute the new path (you'll mess up, that's fine)
Week 2: Most throws use new path, occasional reverts to old path (catch yourself and reset)
Week 3: New path is default, old path rarely happens
Week 4+: New path is automatic, old path is forgotten
At 10 hours/day practice: Expect this to happen in 1-2 weeks
At 1 hour/day practice: Expect 4-6 weeks
Volume determines speed of pattern overwrite.
Common Route-Arounds That Work
Here are some proven route-arounds you can adapt:
Bypass Extended Arm (Photo 1 → Photo 2)
Route 1: Bend elbow first, then raise (my solution)
Route 2: Start with dart at chest, raise from there
Route 3: Raise to side first, then bring in to Photo 2
Bypass Wrong Height
Route 1: Touch dart to chin/cheek at correct height
Route 2: Line up dart with your eye (visual reference)
Route 3: Add a "too high" pause, then lower to correct height
Bypass Rush/No Pause
Route 1: Count 1-2-3 during raise-setup-throw
Route 2: Tap dart to specific spot before raising (forces pause)
Route 3: Take a breath at setup position before throwing
Bypass Inconsistent Setup Position
Route 1: Always start from the same place (chin, chest, side)
Route 2: Touch a body part at setup (cheek, nose, temple)
Route 3: Look at a specific reference point (dartboard feature) at setup
Why "Just Focus Better" Doesn't Work
You might be thinking: "Why not just consciously do the new setup every time? Why need a route-around?"
Because focus is a limited resource.
You can consciously fight your old habit for:
- 10 throws when fresh and focused
- Maybe 50 throws in a practice session if you're disciplined
- Approximately 0 throws in a high-pressure match when your brain defaults to autopilot
Your old habit will win eventually unless you engineer around it.
Route-arounds work because:
- They make the old habit physically impossible (can't stop at Photo 1 if you never pass through it)
- They require conscious action (tap, waggle, count) which prevents autopilot
- They create a new pattern that becomes the default over time
You're not fighting the old habit with willpower. You're replacing it with a new path.
The "Weird" Setup Is The Pro Setup
When you watch pros and see "weird" setups, you're watching players who figured out their route-arounds.
Beginner players: Inconsistent setups, no deliberate pattern, autopilot different every throw
Intermediate players: Try to fix setup by "focusing harder," fight old habits with willpower, revert under pressure
Advanced players: Find a route-around that bypasses old habits, drill it until automatic, setup is consistent even under pressure
The "weird" setup is the mark of someone who solved the interception problem.
Your Setup Doesn't Have to Look Like Anyone Else's
Phil Taylor's setup works for Phil.
Michael van Gerwen's setup works for MVG.
Your setup needs to work for you.
Don't copy a pro's setup just because it looks good. Copy the principle:
- Identify your old habit interception point
- Design a route-around that bypasses it
- Drill until it's automatic
Your route-around might look completely different from any pro you've seen. That's fine.
If it bypasses your old habit and gets you to a consistent setup position every time, it's the right setup for you.
Implementation This Week
Here's your action plan:
Step 1: Film yourself throwing 20 darts on autopilot (don't think about setup)
Step 2: Identify your old setup pattern (where does your arm/hand naturally stop?)
Step 3: Define your target new setup pattern (Photo 2, specific height, whatever you're trying to achieve)
Step 4: Check if old pattern intercepts new pattern (does your natural motion pass through the old position on the way to the new one?)
Step 5: Design 3 different route-arounds that bypass the interception
Step 6: Test each route for 20 throws, pick the one that feels best
Step 7: Drill your chosen route-around for 100+ throws until it starts feeling natural
Step 8: Continue using it exclusively until it becomes your new autopilot (1-4 weeks depending on volume)
The Bottom Line
Every "weird" setup routine you see in professional darts is a player's solution to the old habit interception problem.
The tap, the waggle, the circle, the slow raise - these aren't superstitions. They're engineered route-arounds.
You can fight your old habits with willpower and lose eventually, or you can route around them with a deliberate pattern change and win permanently.
Find the path that bypasses your interception point. Drill it until it's automatic. Become consistent.
Your setup might look weird to other people. That's fine. It's your solution, not theirs.
Want to understand what setup position to target? Check out our guide on Photo 1 vs Photo 2 and why your setup position matters.