Customer Reviews

How To Master The Sport of Darts

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

This book does a good job of describing the basic equipment of the game, and the rules of the most popular games. Silberzahn then gives a concise description of proper dart form and technique. This makes it a good starting point for beginners. Any new player following the advice in his book should improve. He follows it up with a discussion of strategy and practice routines. Again, this is helpful for novice and intermediate players seeking to improve their game. Where the book excels is in its "Legends Speak" section. I disagree with the prior reviewer's opinion on the value of advice from acknoweldged masters of the game. Advanced darters will appreciate the professional tips on tournament play from people who have "been there and done that." Also, the "Legends Speak" section adds some human interest to the book, which is a quality lacking in many other works I have read on improving dart play.

I just received this book 2 days ago and have already gleaned some helpful insights that I'm sure will help me out of the slump I've found myself in this year. The practice routines suggested seem to be more helpful and realistic than any I've tried to date. I found the Legends speak portion to be interesting, with a few nuggets of "Dart Pro" Gold buried in the personal experience stories of these Legends. I am only a recreational darter, playing on a club league and hoping for a gradual improvement to my game over time, so I'll probaly never make use of all the information regarding tournament experiences. but if you are interested in Tounament strategy and info, this would be a great buy for you. Who woulda thought that the type of shoes your wearing could have an impact on your game?
Overall, I am impressed with the Book and recommend it highly.

Throwing a dart, driving a car, riding a bike, playing a piano or any other skill one would care to mention all seem to work the same way. Information about how to do a skill is only understandable after we acquire the experience of doing the skill. We actually have to begin doing it before we can ever understand it. (Karl Hartman)

This being a given how does this book fit in? Reading the information in "How To Master The Sport Of Darts" puts a proven way to accomplish the skill of darts into a person's mind (whether beginning or having been at the game a while) so a person may return to the written words as often as desired in an attempt to better understand and perfect their own way of doing it.

What's in the book?

What the dart world is: The people, organizations, competition, tournaments, leagues, and such.

Explanation of the three distinct styles of darts: American, soft tip and steel tip.

Which equipment a person needs to play each of the styles and how & where to get it.

Games played and/or used for practice.

Ways in which enjoyment is experienced beyond the act of competing.
You don't have to want to be a super star to have fun at darts.

The hidden costs of a career.

Discussion beyond explaining what a person needs to know.
The theme is `How to do it' after you know what "it" is.

The emotional side of the sport. What does being "good" mean and how does a person "know" they are "good". Never play for nothing; commit to hit; your natural drift; spot shooting, planning shots and more.

The finer points to becoming accurate and consistent.
* When & when not and how to practice for what you want from the game.
Most defeat their purpose without knowing it.
* The mechanics of physical form and how to do it your way.
(It's probably more involved than you think).
* A physical practice method which will have the most positive affect.

The intricacies of arithmetic and strategies of the games played.

The specifics of the soft tip game where they are different than the other two.

Dealing with the different mindsets required for higher levels of competition.

How to enjoy the tournament world and deal with the rigors.

The ways many years of competition affects a person.

Nine of the best darts shooters America ever produced talk to you about their experiences, approaches and techniques.

There is Information which covers every facet from "this is a dart" to "how to deal with the end of a career."

The first edition of this book is now out of print. To order the NEW Second Edition of "How To Master the Sport of Darts" from Amazon you must click on "Perfect Paperback" in the "Also Available in" box on the amazon.com page for the first edition. The Second Edition is subtitled "Complete and comprehensive instruction in all aspects of Soft Tip, Steel Tip, and American-Style Darts, with additional commentary and advice from legendary Masters of the Sport". It is, indeed, all that and more.

Great book.

Simple, direct instructions for techniques to improve your game that work. I've been working his drills, and my game has improved substantially.

Also, stories from quite a few dart pros to give you some insights into the world of pro darting.

Let me say firstly that George is a great dart writer, and that this is a great book, and an expansion of a brilliant pamphlet on throwing darts. However, instead of putting out a new revised edition of this, he expanded the book and changed the name to DARTS: Beginning to End. This covers the flight school regimen and encompasses everything that is in this book. Buy this instead. It gets 5 five stars and is essential.

Wow George really can explain the game on a different level,great indept explaination of what to think and what to feel. Have read it twice and some chapters three and four times, as soon as you feel your throw is off a little just pick up the book and read it again.

The book is OK....some helpful hints to help improve your game. The disappointment came with the section of famous dart players. Silberzahn
seemed unable to leave the Philly area for these interviews and most of the players talked about American darts and just touched on English, which is the form I assume most people buying the book are playing. That is the game Silberahn gives all his advice on. Where was Dave Kelly? Rick Nye?

I found great instruction within. I had several minor 'bad habits' to my game. Individually, they may have been irrelevant, but collectively, they made my game suffer. Now, I'm top ten in my league and getting better all the time. The practice tips were great and helped me avoid all the frustration while just narrowing down my spots.

Excellent instructive book written by a master of the sport. Genuinely aids one in sharpening up their skill in shooting darts.
Jim Crandall Massena, NY