Hood admits he needs to start “dieting” to take his game to the next level

JUSTIN HOOD says he needs to start “dieting” and get healthier to take his game to the next level.

The world No42 has qualified for just TWO European Tour events this season at the Slovak Open and Baltic Sea Open.

Hood, 33, has shone on the ProTour reaching the final of Players Championship Nine before losing 8-4 to Chris Dobey.

The Bristolian admits his struggles come when qualifying stretches into a third day and believes improving his lifestyle could help overcome them.

He told Oche180: “I’ve been playing well. Throughout the year I am 15th or 16th on the averages over 700 legs.

“I am playing at a good level. I get the third day blues for the qualifiers. I seem to struggle on there.

“Hopefully, I put that right next year with better dieting and just feeling better with myself.

“As you know dart players aren’t exactly the healthiest people. We are trying to get better with it.

“Three days for me is a long time. Especially, the first event if you don’t get through that then you are a bit down in the dumps.

“Then you have to try and get yourself back up mentally and sometimes it just doesn’t work like that.”

Pocket Rocket pocketed a whopping £100,000 for reaching the World Championship quarter-finals before falling 5-2 to Gary Anderson.

Hood famously revealed he wanted to use his winnings to open a Chinese restaurant, but those plans are currently on hold.

He added: “It was the goal and is still the goal. After we paid our management and the taxes, I was left with a lot less than I thought I would.

“But it’s still the goal at some point.”

Justin Hood is an ambassador for Target Darts.

Words: Aaron Nijjar

Image: Taylor Lanning