The Analysts

 So who are you trusting to get the advice about your throwing technique absolutely right?

Paul Gillings

My name is Paul Gillings. I went back to study a lot later in life than is the norm as I was keen to pursue my passion for sport and analysis. I read for a degree in Football Studies at Southampton Solent University. Amongst a variety of topics the key areas for me were: coaching, sports psychology, health fitness, nutrition and sports strategy.

I then undertook a masters degree in The Performance Analysis of Sport. This covered coaching, biomechanics, statistics, video analysis and the identification of key performance areas that distinguish between a winning or losing performance. My final dissertation was focused entirely on darts and more specifically areas that were vital for players to improve (and often ignored).

The more I studied dart players the more I realised they did not have the performance improvement resources that most other sports take for granted. I founded the Darts Performance Centre, a resource packed with ideas, tips, games and advice underpinned by sound academic sports research.

I then sat back and patiently waited for someone to come along (I knew they would in the end) that also shared my passion for improving dart players to take my ideas to the next level. Out of the blue I was emailed by Andy Humphrey and the darts coaching website was born.

Andy Humphrey

My name is Andy Humphrey. Before you think who is this guy? What  does he know about darts? Who is he to tell me how to throw? Please take a look at my bio:

Darts

Well here goes. I started throwing darts about thirty years ago. I hit my first 180 when I was seven or eight. I started playing super league in about 1990 for Lincolnshire. I have played county darts for a few years and we enjoyed a season in the premiership.

 I have won the Grantham men’s singles title, Newark men’s singles title, Lincoln men’s singles title, runner up in the Sleaford men’s singles and Lincolnshire county pairs champion.

Sports Science

Several years ago I was keen to have a complete career change and I decided to go back to College and University to pursue an occupation that I was going to be passionate about. I embarked on a Sport and Exercise Science course (FDSc) which I passed. I then followed this up with a BSc in the same discipline.

The course involved many hours honing coaching skills, analysing sporting techniques, sports injuries, injury prevention, and intervention strategies to improve performance. Now through the Darts Coaching website and our performance improvement site the Darts Performance Centre I am able to bring my knowledge of sports science to the sport that I love.