A Discussion With Tim, TheDartdoG!

Today we're meeting another passionate darter named Tim, TheDartdoG from Canada. I've lifted his introduction off of his website which includes lots of good information on the mental aspect of the game, columns from well-known darters, links to the pros and more. The link to his site is at the end of his profile, so now we'll get to the good stuff and get to know Tim...

Hi !! Some People Like to Call Me Tim !!!

Here is a little bit of info on myself. Yes my name is Tim, and I throw darts. The name DartdoG came from me being cocky one night at darts. I was throwing pretty good and I kept calling myself TheDartGod, in which my Old Dart Captain (Barry) decided I was being a little too cocky and changed the name to Dog ... Also a Buddy at WebDarts also had the Name (TheDartGod) so I had to sign in as someone else ... In which changing the letters God around spells doG.

Anyway, I love the game of darts, and have been playing for somewhere around 12 years, and I'm anyways looking for ways to improve on My Game! I've been through many SLUMPS With the help of some great Internet friends, I came up with My Practice Routines and more...

Now Tim answers some questions...

1) Do you play steel-tip, plastic or both?
I just play steel tip. Tried tupperware darts in The U.S. once, while at a bar one night as the bar didn't have any REAL dart boards hanging.

2) Do you prefer steel-tip or plastic?
Yes steel tip. I don't really care for tupperware darts! (Editor's Note: I haven't heard that one before Tim...you get extra points for originality!)

3) How long have you been playing darts?
I guess it's going on about 12 years now.

4) How did you get started?
While at the local pub, I went down to sign up with a pool table league. Frank the owner yelled over to join darts instead, so I said SURE! I Joined The 2nd highest league. They wouldn't let me into 1st Division, as I had never played before! LOL!! But I did make it there the following year.

5) What keeps you hooked on the game?
LOL, good question! Don't think I have a answer. Darts is just a part of me.

6) How many teams are you currently playing on?
Currently? NONE, LOL. I quit my last year's team, so now "I'M A FREE Agent"!!! I was going to play summer darts up here, but injured my lower back so I'm just taking it easy this summer and just working on getting back in form.

7) How many times do you play a week?
I throw 5-6 times per week and a few hours each time.

8) Are you a team captain, league manager, member of any darts organizations...and describe the highs and lows...
I was a Team Captain a few years back. It was just a bunch of guys mainly from my work, just beginners looking to have some fun. Until the league set up the teams and saw my buddy Darrin and I were on the same team, and put us in the highest division going. The team didn't win many nights out. But the worst part would have been when 2 brothers on my team were playing a league cricket game and 1 of them just kept trying to close the 20's, and kept missing, while the other team had already closed 20,19,18,17,16 and was shooting 15's LOL! Being that MY team was a bunch of beginners I said "Maybe you should they and hit something else"! Just as I finished saying that, one of the bothers picked up a bar stool to throw at me! But it was OK, being he couldn't hit the single 20, it turned out he missed me also, LOL. Oh well, one less player we had then, LOL!

10) Tell me about the first team that you played on...
1st team, wow that was great! My dart Captain Gary Cameron was Kewl. We now are still the best of friends!!! I used to carry and use 3 sets of darts to play. One set for hitting 20's, one set for hit doubles and the last set was for hitting BULLS. LMAO! My team thought I was NUTS !!! But it did work, and I became the only guy on our team to hit a 180 all year long ! But now I just use 1 set of darts, LOL.

9) What have some of your team names been?
You know something , I never thought to ask !! LOL

10) Been to any tournaments? If so, what was your first tournament experience like? Jitters?
Jitters??? YES, BIG TIME ! I use to go to 2 big tourneys in Hamilton Ontario. I remember one of the blind draw 501 dbls on a Friday night, I got paired up with a lady - Dawn was her name. We went to the board we were to play at, I corked for us and lost. I hit the outer bull and they hit the inner bull, so this guy starts off with a 140 and boy did I have the jitters. Then I answered back with a 180 and this was the sweetest 180 I have ever thrown. None have felt that good since. We ended up winning 2 straight due to my partner Dawn Loveys(sp?). She was a top notch player and took out every game we played and every out was in the hundreds. I never even got the chance to throw at a dbl, LOL. I love them partners! We ended up losing in the 4th round of play. I diddled and won the cork...This Was the 1st time in my life that I was proud of winning the cork, because I hit it dead center and the other guy hit the outer bull !! And that other guy was "JOHN PART" !! And yes, once again the jitters CAME BACK, so this is why we lost in the 4th round! But at least we won some money !!

11) What are some of the highlights of playing in any tournaments? Best tournament experience? Worst tournament experience? Favorite tournament?
My 1st tourney I played in was the "George Pipper Tourney" in my home town of Brampton Ontario. It was a blind draw (luck of the Draw) and my luck found me playing with this little old lady, I can't remember her name now, (it's been 10 years now) but as it turned she was very new to the game, but she did help out as partners go. We ended up in the finals against the 2 best players, (Kardar(sp?) & Aaron Hunter) and being they were teamed up together things didn't look good! Well, things happen and we did WIN! We each received a big dust collector that is about 24" high and some other stuff. This was the 1st and only time, I came in 1st.

12) What's your high-out? Favorite number? Favorite out to shoot for? Assuming you've hit that perfect 3 darts, the 180...Do you keep track of the 180s that you've hit? Tell me about the first time you hit a ton-80.
High out , must be 160,(170 in Practice Only) but the best was 156, or the 144, which I hit, t-18, t-18 , dbl 18, to win a league game . Fav ##? Must be single "1" because I seem to hit a lot of them, LOL. Other than that, I feel that all the numbers are the same size and I should be able to hit them all, so answer is "No Favorite ###s". Favorite out? Any out that goes in! I like all 100+ finishes. 180's? I no longer track 180's.

13) How often do you practice and what is your practice routine?.
I practice just about every day, for a few hours. My routine...well that would be just to much typing for me, but ya can always read it at my site. I have mine and I use the 2 others listed right under mine.

14) What kind of darts do you throw? What kind of flights?
I use a set that Jeff Pickup Made. Had him custom them on the spot for me. I call them "Doggie Darts". I Own 4 sets of darts , all 90% tungsten , powerpoints, hammerheads and a set of fixed heads. Flights? Smooth bull dog flights and sometimes, Budweiser flights, LOL, and also smooth.

15) Share your blind draw experiences...
Already did, LOL!

16) Which are your favorite pubs to play darts and what, in your opinion is the best darts "setup"?
The "Royal Coachman" In Waterdown Ontario, "Spot One" in Brampton Ont. And just about any Legion in Ontario has a great set up. But I feel the best set up Is in my own basement. I have my basement set up as a dart bar, with 2 boards, but could put more up if needed. I'm in the middle of building a better bar in my garage and hope to have it done before the snow flies. It's been an 8 month project so far. Will also be posting pics on my site when it's finished, LOL.

17) What are some of your best moments playing darts?
Playing Scott Gordon in a league playoff match, singles 501. I was throwing smokin' darts, the best I had throwing in a longgggg time, only To lose 2 straight , against a 12 and a 15 darter. This was the only time I've seen a 12 dart game that wasn't a PRO, and this was against ME. It was very kewl to play against! And the game's were also  fun to watch , LOL.

18) Who are some of the darters that you admire and why?
Barry Peer, my old Dart Captain. He's been through a lot of stuff in the last 2 years and has overcome a lot, to become the best thrower in the town that I live in!! Good Job Mon! And probably Kenny McNeil, another Canadian thrower. He's now living out west, and I've been seeing his name up in the top of the standings at a lot of tourneys.

19) In your own words, what qualities embody the "Passionate Darter" (sportsmanship, fair play, competitiveness, etc.)?
Sportsman ship is the biggest thing, I feel.

20) What words of wisdom do you have for the novice darter?
Just try and have fun , win OR lose.

21) How do you get out of a slump?
When I figure that out, I'll let ya know! Been reading a lot about it lately and still haven't found the answer to getting out of one. I think everyone is different and there isn't just one simple step to fix it...

22) What are some of your favorite dart web sites? (You get extra points for mentioning www.passionatedarter.com!). And, how did your own website come to be?
LOL, Yes The Passionate Darter site, is one of them , also PlanetDarts, Dart History, Bristol's Dart Page, DartSmarts, and of course my own website.

23) What are some of your favorite dart phrases?
"I Thought We were Going Bowlin' ". (Editor's Note: That's a good one Tim!)

24) What three words describe you best?
Rooster Lolli Pop (sorry the meaning is a little too rude for this site)!

25) Anything else you want people to know about you? The man, the darter...
Really, I am , just a nice guy, LOL!

26) Tell me about your dart setup at home and about your dream board...
I will be posting pics of the new bar when it is finished...

27) Finish the phrase...When I'm not playing darts you can find me...
In my neighbour Scot's, back yard !! LOL Sorry, it's another story that's too long...LOL!

For those of you who want to learn more about Tim, his website is at The Dart doG. Thanks for sharing your profile with us Tim! Good luck, and as always I'll see you at the line.