Joe Cullen on success in darts: advice that seemed strange.

According to The Sun: Darts star Joe Cullen shared that the advice from his opponent, whom he called 'an absolute idiot', has always been useful for him to remember.

Currently ranked 31st in the world, he reached the second round of the World Grand Prix, defeating James Wade.

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Cullen has shown good results this year, including winning Players Championship 27.

The importance of emotions during the game

He noted that a lot depends on how he feels when he steps onto the stage.

After his victory over Wade, he said:

“It’s weird for me. I can practice great, but a lot is based on how I feel. If I don’t feel good – I won’t delve into family problems.”

He added:

“When you step onto the stage and don’t feel good, and don’t think your throw is great, you can doubt yourself. I base a lot on this, so I find it hard sometimes.”

Cullen also mentioned advice from Richie Burnett:

“If you complicate the game of darts, aside from the throw itself, you might fail.”

Cullen confirmed:

“Richie is an absolute idiot, but this advice has stayed with me over the years. I understood that he is actually right. No one stops you from hitting a nine-dart finish in every hand.”

Changes in the world of darts

Meanwhile, his opponent Wade expressed dissatisfaction with the 'robotic' personalities, which he believes lower the level of darts.

He noted:

“When I first started or in the middle of my career, there were players like Phil Taylor, Adrian Lewis, Wayne Mardle. They were personalities.”

Wade emphasized that the situation has now changed:

“Now it seems more or less the same, everyone is very robotic and skillfully conducts interviews.”

He added:

“I believe the game has become poorer in a way because of this. But it’s also part of how the world has changed.”

Currently, Joe Cullen continues to show a good level of play, and the statements of his colleagues indicate growing concern in the darts community regarding changes in the emotionality and individuality of players. The door to understanding the mental aspect of the game remains open, as for many athletes, the emotional component is no less important than technique.