Nathan Aspinall Opens Up About Battle With ‘Dartitis’ Following Poor Start In PDC Premier League 615124

Nathan Aspinall has opened up about his issues with ‘dartitis’ following a disappointing start to the PDC Premier League.

Nathan Aspinall Opens Up About Dartitis After Run Of Poor Form 6x222n

The PDC star has been vocal about his ongoing battle with dartitis in recent times, as he continues to battle the issue on stage and in practice.

Dartitis has been a problem in darts for multiple decades, with the likes of Eric Bristow struggling to release his darts in a usual manner and stopping to re-adjust the throw.

Aspinall has endured a difficult time on stage, losing multiple matches but also showing signs of promise with a quarter final defeat to Luke Littler in the most recent World Darts Championship.

The ‘Asp’ revealed in a recent podcast that he works alongside a hypnotherapist, meeting with the expert twice a week and spoke about how dartitis impacts his game.

To help overcome his dartitis, Aspinall works with a hypnotherapist twice a week. In the podcast Tops & Tales with Huw Ware, the current No. 11 in the world opened up about how the condition affects his game and what steps he is taking to combat it.

Aspinall said (Via Tops & Tales with Huw Ware): “I just completely capitulated, couldn’t throw my darts. But I’m handling it really, really well today. I’m working with a hypnotherapy gentleman called Chris O’Connor twice a week to try and get rid of it.

“And it is making a hell of a difference in three months. It’s unbelievable. The way that he explains it is, when I’m on that stage about to throw it, I’m having a panic attack.

“So that is the equivalent of a panic attack on stage. You’re that scared. Your heart’s going like that. You don’t want to miss. And then all of a sudden, you’re like, I can’t throw it.”

Aspinall also confirmed that dartitis has been thrown around in darts and spectators do not understand what it really involves – with the two time Major winner comparing it to a panic attack.

Aspinall said: “You imagine every time I’m stopping on the oche here. And this is why another reason I come out, because you get abused about, ‘Oh, he’s got dartitis. Don’t put him in anything, right?

“You imagine having, say, in a game of darts, and it happens 20 times. In fact, I’ve had 20 panic attacks in the space of 20 minutes. It’s horrific. Once it starts, it starts. There’s nothing you can do.”

The World No.11 received some criticism for his placement in the PDC Premier League after a run of poor results and Aspinall has made a poor start to his Premier League campaign – losing in the first round in the opening two weeks.

Despite this disappointing start, Aspinall revealed the steps he takes on stage to help his overall performance and beleives he is near the end of it.

The Asp said: “It’s the reason why when I walk to the oche, I kind of put my foot on the top of the oche, roll forward and then step back. So it gives me that one more second to try and calm myself down.

“A lot of the time I stand at the back now, give myself two or three seconds on important shots. It’s about keeping yourself calm and breathing, not panicking. Like I say, not panicking. You know, it’s easier said than done. People say, ‘Don’t panic.’

“I’m working hard on it, but it is absolutely horrific. And I think I’m near the end of it. A lot of it comes as well from the pressure, like I say, the social media side of things.”