Darts: Getting a Few Wins and Making a Few Points In Cricket

Darts my big sister used to win her first ever singles game!

You know there must be something to this whole consistent structured practice thing.  Unless of course it could be argued that it is pure coincidence that my recent reaffirmation and dedication  to practice has coincided with me rattling off eight wins in a row.  It was also a good night for the team as we also pulled of a very rare win.  On the night itself on Tuesday I was four for four and managed to pull myself up to the eleventh spot in the division.  Not spectacular, but for my first season of league play I'll take it!
However, let's not get overly excited for as positive as this news is, I am still kept humble by the fact that I am only a game over .500!  I am obviously hoping to keep pushing that in the right direction, but as we know talk is talk and doing is doing.
Speaking of doing I should also make a quick note that my Wife has really picked up her game of late.  In her cricket match she and her partner came back from a six Bull deficit with my Wife nailing the red to finish the deal. She then played with me in a best of three doubles 501 and pegged us out in the third and final game.
I also won my cricket game, but not without a little concern and debate.  I was playing with our team captain (who is a great guy) and he turns to me and says "OK don't point anymore" when we had at best two darts worth of points.  I know that in general I talk more about how I am doing and not so much about the game in the broader sense, but I think this 'don't point' thing is well intentioned but misguided and ultimately harmful as it rewards one kind of poor sportsmanship under the pretense of suppressing another.  I have no doubt in my mind that there are mean spirited people who will have a game they could easily put away and win but instead will keep piling on points. This is inexcusable, but I hope not blasphemy to say I believe is very much the exception and not the rule.  The words 'friendly' and 'competition' should not be mutually exclusive, and the desire and will to win should not be confused with a bullying attitude.  I can remember early on this year when i was first starting out in darts and before i discovered Flight School I was playing a game with a couple of guys (who I can beat now) and they spotted me some points.  I was so furious I thought I would explode. I wasn't good, but I worked hard to be as good as I could be at that time, and wanted to win or lose on my own merits.  In the case of the cricket game I was in, well we are the last place team so a bit presumptuous of us to be doing anyone any favours and I think more importantly an innately disrespectful act as it implies that they need the special consideration and that they could not win if we were trying our best.  
So the trick then is to figure out where the threshold is between simply trying to do your best to win and rubbing people's noses in it. 
The answer to this is of course highly subjective, but maybe this is something each league can suggest a standard for. I think having a score that exceeds what the other team can score with three darts is one hundred percent valid.  How much more is too much?  Six dart lead? More or less?
Personally I lean towards a six dart lead being maybe in the danger zone as in most C league games that should be plenty of cushion to move ahead and win the game. I am of course open to thoughts and suggestions on this issue.

I have no games over the holidays, so who knows what boring musings or practice reports might be coming your way.

Also, if you are as happy for me as I am for winning eight in a row and want a little of that for yourself then you should know that it is no secret that I am where I am well mostly being addicted to darts, but also through George Silberzahn's Flight School which I mention often here.  I mention it a lot because well I love the results I see from it, it is free and it develops your natural and intuitive game rather than trying to make you into something or somebody you are not.  It has something for seasoned pro and beginner alike so check it out for sure! 

See you all next time. Shoot well!! 

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