DE DECKER BINS SETUP AFTER SEASON STRUGGLES
06/09/2025 By Aaron Nijjar
MIKE DE DECKER says he has binned the darts that wrecked his season and gone back to the setup that fired him to the World Grand Prix title last year.
‘The Real Deal’ hammered Ritchie Edhouse 6-3 in round one of the Czech Darts Open, averaging 100.9, slamming EIGHT 180s and taking out six of 12 doubles.
World No. 19 De Decker revealed that a switch to new flights at the start of the year left him struggling for consistency and results over the past eight months.
Belgian thrower De Decker admits this week he scrapped the change and instantly felt a positive difference at the oche.
He said: “Since this week I changed back to a different setup and the scoring alongside the doubles just feels more comfortable.
“Hopefully I can get a big run again because I need it.
“A couple of weeks ago I did a little tweak on my darts, and I signed with L-style this year.
“They made a personal set of flights, but it is a different set of flights that I used from last year.
“It is just not working, and I have tried them for the last eight months.
“Since this week I said I am done with it. I am just going back to what I was using last year.
“First game on stage I averaged 101 so I guess it is a good choice.”
De Decker reached the final of the Australian Masters last month on his World Series debut.
But the 29-year-old has endured a difficult campaign after failing to reach the quarter-finals in any of the four majors and not winning a ProTour title.
De Decker has now setup a mouthwatering clash with Michael van Gerwen in round two at Prague and is looking to end a run of SIX consecutive defeats to the Dutchman albeit their last meeting was in 2023.
He added: “We all know what Michael has been through this year.
“I get along with Michael very well and we will see tomorrow.
“If the Michael from a couple years ago turns up then I am in for a very tough task.
“I am just glad that I won today.”
Image by Taylor Lanning.
