BUNTING STANCE BLAMED FOR MAJOR TITLE WOE
20/10/2025 By Aaron Nijjar
STEPHEN BUNTING has been told he’ll “never win multiple majors” because he stands in the wrong place on the oche.
‘The Bullet’ has enjoyed a brilliant 2025 season, becoming only the third player after Luke Littler and Michael van Gerwen to win two Players Championships, two European Tour titles and two World Series events in the same year.
World No. 4 Bunting also landed his first major trophy at the World Masters last year.
But former pro Andy Cornwall believes Bunting’s technique will stop him from ever dominating the sport.
He said on the Mission Darts podcast: “Commentators again were surprised in the World Grand Prix that Bunting hasn’t won more majors.
“I’m sat there and I’m not. I’m not surprised at all and I love Stephen.
“I used to practice with him years ago and I’ve played with him a few times, but I’m not surprised. He’s another Wes Newton.
“He stands in the wrong place. Sorry, but you’re never going to be consistent standing two foot to the right of the oche. You’re not.
“You’re a brilliant player, a thousand times better than what I ever was.
“But you are not going to be as consistent as a Michael van Gerwen, a Luke Littler, a Luke Humphries who’s standing in the middle.
“Both sides of the board are the same distance.
“Standing two foot to the right is ridiculous. And you’re never going to win multiple majors. Sorry, that’s my rant about Stephen.”
Cornwall compared Bunting’s throw to former world No. 5 Newton, who had a similarly unorthodox stance during his career.
He explained: “I know Wes [ Newton] listens to the podcast — hi Wes — another good pal of mine.
“He actually tried to move further left later in his career to become more consistent, but it messed up his throw completely.
“That’s not the point though. Stephen’s never going to win multiple majors because of where he stands.
“He’s going to have times when he’s buzzing and beats everybody, and he’s going to have times when he’s not quite on.
“So, I don’t agree with the commentators on that one either.”
St Helens ace Stephen Bunting has suffered some early exits recently after bowing out in the first round of the World Series Finals and the second round of the World Matchplay.
But the 40-year-old has also shown flashes of excellence at the PDC Premier events, reaching the World Championship semi-finals and the World Matchplay quarter-finals.
Image by Taylor Lanning.
