I am constantly on the lookout for ways to improve my game and to become a better darter. I have worked on my strategy as well as the physical basics of the game: stance, stroke and release. Previously I shot from the hip which means that my arm had to over-correct for inconsistencies in which I stood and threw my dart as well as how I released my dart. Even after working on the physical basics of dart throwing, I am still not as consistent as I desire to be. Let's fact it - we all want to win a little bit more and to become better as time goes by and we continue to play and continue to face opponents who are more skillful then we are. Are there any secrets and what are they?

While there are several books on the subject of darts and even one or two commercial video tapes (soft-tip...) illustrating an ideal stance, stroke and release, there are no magical answers and no two people throw exactly the same way. If successful and consistent darters have anything in common it is that they hold their body as still as possible while using the same repetitive arm motion and release. The consistent darter follows-through with each and every dart in exactly the same way as they aim for different numbers. Practice makes perfect but often it is hard to correct the physical basics of how you are throwing darts without a mirror, a video-tape of yourself throwing darts or even a mentor who is able to watch you throw and make suggestions on how to improve the basics in your game.

This week I discovered a new dart, at least new to me, called the "Montana Mosquito" by Voks Darts. The owner of the dart store where I picked up the darts assured me that these were training darts built to help you follow-through with each and every dart otherwise the dart would not stick in the steel-tip board. I was intrigued and immediately threw the darts; then quickly bought the darts and set about using them. Sure enough these pesky little "Montana Mosquitos" would not fly just right unless I followed-through and released them just right. Do they work? Are they a good training dart? The jury is still out as I have only thrown with them a few times.

At first glance the Mosquito is a shorter dart, very light-weight with a compact speed flight. The principals of aerodynamics indicate that the darter must throw the smaller dart more precisely then a larger dart that has more drag as the dart with more drag had more air time to correct itself. Now that I own a set of Mosquitos and have shown them to my friends (with mixed review) I returned home to find out what the Voks Darts company's website has to say about these darts as training darts.

From the Voks Darts Website:

"Mosquito Darts: Montana Mosquito, The Ultimate Training Device

This 4 gram dart is a great training aid for both the novice and veteran darter. The lowest mass-to-drag ratio of any dart enables th darter to determine with pinpoint accuracy whether their dart is released correctly. This brass barrel dart is an amazing tool that is phenomenally accurate and is a must-try experience!"

There is also an "Alaskan Mosquito" model which is a 5 - 6 gram dart with a tungsten barrel that is just a little heavier then the Montana model. When I asked my local dart store owner which set I needed, he replied that the Montana model is fine and the Mosquitos are used for practice only. (Actually, the Montana model is a little less expensive then the tungsten version.) One question that remains is "Does using such a light-weight dart for practice make it too difficult to switch back and forth to the heavier weight of one's actual steel-tip darts?" and also "How much more power or how much harder do you have to actually throw a Mosquito in order to make it stick?"

I have written the company for some more information on how this dart actually works as a training aid and will let you know what their response is as well as my progress using these darts for practice. Visit the Voks Darts Website for additional information. As always, shoot well and I'll see you at the line.