WILLIAMS TURNS TO HYPNOTHERAPY AND LIFESTYLE CHANGES IN DARTITIS BATTLE

SCOTT WILLIAMS admits he is working on his nutrition, improving his sleep and even seeing a hypnotherapist as he battles to overcome dartitis.

‘Shaggy’ has been dealing with the frustrating condition for several months and says the mental side of the game has become more important than ever. 

The former World Championship semi-finalist also stressed the importance of recovery and routine as he works his way through the issue. 

Williams revealed that the yips is linked to psychological triggers in the brain.  

He told the Double Tops Podcast: “Mentality is 85% of the game. 

“Yeah, I would say personally as well, because I’m going through it myself with dartitis. I’ve probably had it for six or eight months. 

“I’m just at the point now where I’m feeling comfortable in my home life, relaxed a bit more, enjoying it a bit more, enjoying darts more. 

“So, I think mentality and the way you approach the game itself is so much more important than the actual playing side sometimes. 

“It’s got nothing to do with darts or anything like that. It’s usually, so it’s apparently to do with the second part of your brain, your fight and flight. 

“Where it’s just subconscious stuff that you don’t even think about. 

“You don’t know why, you can’t trigger it. It’s just the fact that you’ve got to try and find a calm state. You’ve got to try and be calm yourself. 

“Sleep is really important. Having good sleep and stuff. But I’m seeing the hypnotherapist, the same as Josh [Rock] and Cammy [Menzies]. 

“The same guy that Nathan [Aspinall] is seeing and [Stephen] Bunting. A lot of us players go to see him because he got dartitis away from Kevin Painter, who had it recently, really, really bad as well. 

“Nutrition, for me as well as them guys. But the fact that we’re on the road all the time, not everywhere has accessible, delicious food that’s nutritious.

“Sometimes you just don’t want it after you’ve finished playing or you’ve had a long travel.

“You’ve got to look after yourself. Your body is so important now.”

Williams has revealed he has made a huge personal sacrifice in a bid to rediscover his best form. 

The world No.44 has shut down his own darts shop explaining the sport started taking over his own life. 

Williams is now looking at players like Gerwyn Price and how they switch off away from the oche, as he looks to bring in new hobbies to help improve his game. 

He added: “That’s the thing that Gezzy his hobby is more than just darts. Mine recently, over the last six months to a year, has been darts. 

“I’ve had a dart shop and I’ve done some dart coaching and stuff like that. And then literally, as soon as I finished doing my own darts, I’m then going to do all the people’s darts. 

“So, I literally yesterday got rid of my shop, all the stock out of my shop. So I’ve got nothing behind me. 

“It was either leave the shop or leave the wife. And I thought it’d be easier to leave the shop. 

“I love you Ellie. I’m going to try loads of different hobbies. 

“It’ll be pub-based. It’ll be pool, snooker, dominoes, maybe golf.”

Image by Taylor Lanning.