In some games you are behind, in some games you are in the led - a dartplayer's usual business. Both situations have their own typical mental consequences. The most common situation is that the (supposed to be!) better player is in front. That's a normal situation which both players are 'used to'. In most cases the weaker player resigns at some point of the match, and then it's all over. It's usually easy to see who is behind only by looking at the players' behaviour. The behind player will lower his head and shoulders, usually shake his head or even nag or grumble. Well, only a mentally weak player would do so.

In such situations where you are a way behind it is important to think about what you look like and thus, what signals you are sending out to your opponent. Check yourself for what was mentioned above. Do you look like a loser? Then you normally are a loser. The player who is in front is expecting this. Raise your shoulders, raise your head and step in full confidence to the oche. Don't care about the standings in the match. Just look like a winner. Your opponent will recognise your confident look and maybe (if they are mentally weak) begin to think about why you look as if you are in the lead, and this is your chance. Once you get your opponent to think a little more than usual, they may lose their balance. Of course you will have to throw some good darts to catch up, but if you look strong and confident (even if you actually don't feel strong and confident) real strength and confidence will often come to you. If you look like "the boss" on the board it's not unusual that you in fact will become the boss!

Of course this needs practice to be accomplished. So take care of your behavior during matches. Ask a friend to watch you play. After the match they can tell you what impression they had of your behavior. After a while it won't be difficult for you to recognise yourself what effect your look has on your opponent, and then you will be able to control it properly. The next section looks at the situation where the weaker player faces the unusual experience of being in the lead, which surprisingly puts them in trouble...