Dartitis Treatment · Leighton Buzzard
Dartitis: Get Your Throw Back.
You know how to throw a dart. That’s what makes Dartitis so frustrating.
One day you’re throwing normally. Then something changes. You grip the dart, draw your arm back and suddenly you can’t release it.
You try changing your grip. You try throwing faster. You try slowing down. You tell yourself to relax. You watch YouTube videos on how to overcome it, throw a ball against a wall, change your darts weight, throw a tennis ball instead of a dart, play in the dark, and the worst of all learn to play with your other hand!
And the harder you try, the worse it gets.
As a darts player myself, I have seen up close the devastation this condition can cause. From being unable to throw a few darts in your house, to feeling like you’re letting your pub team down, or even struggling when you’re on a big stage.
What is Dartitis?
Dartitis is a performance-related mental block that affects dart players, sometimes
described as uncontrollable muscle spasms, cramps, or hesitation when trying to release
the dart. It’s often compared to the “yips” seen in golf and other precision sports — the
throw itself hasn’t changed, but something between decision and release has.
The Collins English Dictionary defines dartitis as nervous twitching or tension that
destroys concentration and spoils performance — and while it can feel like a physical
problem, it’s rooted in how the brain’s stress response gets triggered, often without you
consciously feeling anxious at all.
Here’s the part most players don’t expect: you don’t have to feel stressed or anxious for
dartitis to take hold — the brain can trigger a stress response without you being aware of
it. That’s exactly why trying to “just relax” or “think positive” so rarely works on its own.
Why It Happens
Dartitis tends to build gradually — a pattern of negative thinking, self-doubt, or
performance pressure accumulates until anxiety takes over the moment of release. Once that
pattern is learned, the brain treats it as protective — repeating it automatically, even though it’s actively working against you.
This is why dartitis can affect any player, at any age or skill level — it’s not about
ability, technique, or how long you’ve been playing. It’s a learned stress response, and
learned responses can be unlearned.
How I Can Help
I specialise in treating dartitis using BWRT (BrainWorking Recursive
Therapy) and Hypnotherapy — approaches that work directly with the
automatic, subconscious response driving the block, rather than asking you to consciously
“try harder” or overhaul your technique.
Why this works:
- We’re not treating a physical or technical fault — your throw already works. We’re addressing the stress response interrupting it.
- No reliving of past experiences, no lying on a couch, no lengthy analysis — BWRT works quickly with the pattern itself.
- Sessions are private, one-to-one, and specific to how dartitis shows up for you.
I’m one of the few therapists in the region specialising specifically in dartitis,
alongside anxiety, phobias and performance-related blocks more broadly.
What to Expect
Free Consultation
A short call to talk through exactly how and when dartitis shows up for you, and whether BWRT is the right fit.
First Session
We identify the specific pattern behind the block — what’s happening in the moment just before release.
Getting Your Throw Back
Most players notice a real shift within a handful of sessions — not months of technical drills or lengthy talk therapy.