What is Dartitis? The psychological condition that leaves darts players struggling
What is Dartitis? The psychological condition that leaves darts players struggling
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IT'S the dreaded condition that no darts player likes to talk about. Called the 'yips' or 'jitters' in other sports, darts players can be affected by a psychological issue that results in the loss of fine motor skills, muscle memory and severely damage their performance.
![[Darts star Nathan Aspinall revealed he has suffered with dartitis]](https://www.thesun.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/nathan-aspinall-england-throws-first-939112322.jpg?strip=all&w=960)
High profile players have been on the end of it and have been left in tears on stage - or unable to play at all. SunSport brings you all the information on the psychological effect dartitis can have on players. Dartitis is a mental condition in which the brain stops a player from releasing a dart.
![[Berry van Peer was left in tears on stage and consoled by Gary Anderson after a bout of dartitis during the 2017 Grand Slam of Darts]](https://www.thesun.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/van-peer.jpg?strip=all&w=805)
The name is a portmanteau and was coined by Darts World editor Tony Wood in 1981. This condition sees darts players of all levels struggle psychologically - and it is suggested it comes from a fear of missing. At the highest level, dartitis has affected many of the sport's best players, including five-time world champion Eric Bristow, who said he suffered with the condition for a decade.
Women's star Beau Greaves, Kevin Painter and Mark Webster have also been on the end of the condition, while one of the most high-profile episode affected Berry van Peer. During the 2017 Grand Slam of Darts, the Dutchman was left unable to throw his darts in a match against Gary Anderson.
Van Peer was in tears while on stage, with the crowd throwing their support behind him and Anderson and referee Russ Bray among those to console him on stage. During the World Darts Championship last year, Van Peer revealed all about his condition and how he deals with it.
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