some additional time
to get used to, like a golfer
getting used to a new putter.
But Target’s managing director, Garry Plummer,
always had faith in Taylor.
“We knew he would win with our darts. They just
took a little time to get used to.
“Phil had a lot of input. He’d come in and spend
three or four hours a day going through different
sets because he’s a perfectionist.
“All he’s changed [about his darts] since the start
of the Premier League are the shafts. He’s added a
little ‘nano-grip’ at the back which you can hardly
see, and now he’s telling me he can’t stop hitting
180s.”
Paul Gillings, who runs the Darts Performance Centre
in Brockenhurst,
links
Taylor’s
initial poor form
in the Premier
League to his
dramatic weight
loss.
van
Gerwen
becoming
world
champion could very well
have affected Taylor’s physiology and
led him to over think.”
Gillings fears that not enough is being done by
players with regards to their physical preparations.
“Physical training is hardly mentioned in player
interviews, which tells you all you need to know. If
you look at Andy Smith on stage you can see that he
is not a physically fit man. Andy Fordham collapsed
during his champion vs. champion match against
Taylor
in
2004
because his body
couldn’t take any
more.”
Taylor makes a point of not drinking
alcohol when he’s around darts and
this has served him well for many
years.
“Because
he’s
lost so much weight his arms will naturally be
different in position when throwing. Their weight
affects the force of the throw and movement too.
Taylor lost weight a few years ago and this had a
similar effect.
“The combination of his weight loss, new darts and
At
this
time
Fordham, the 2004
Lakeside champion,
was 31 stone and
drank 25 bottles of lager before a match.
“Some players have been brought up around pubs.”
says Gillings.
“You can tell that some of them have been drinking
because they come across as half cut in interviews.
They think they can’t play without a drink.”
Taylor makes a point of not drinking alcohol when