Raymond van Barneveld and Phil Taylor explain why modern darts players are nowadays as likely to be found in the gym as the pub.
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For darts players 'working out' usually means deciding the quickest way to double top, but more and more darters are discovering the importance of all-round fitness. And the trend is being led by current world champion Raymond van Barneveld.
Multiple world champion Phil Taylor has hit the gym in the past and so has former world number one Colin Lloyd. Both men have shed large amounts of weight in the quest to feel healthier and throw a better set of arrows, and the latest to join the club is van Barneveld.
The Dutchman first thought about the importance of getting into shape after a media-day twelve months ago - just days before his debut at the PDC World Championships.
The rounds of media questioning left the former postman exhausted and it was at this point he realised he needed a healthier lifestyle.
Transformed
Over the course of 2007 Van Barneveld, 40, has tried to improve his fitness. He has transformed his nutritional regime and gradually started a fitness routine at the gym, but it was only six weeks ago when he decided to work with a personal trainer has he really started to reap the rewards - shedding a staggering 7kg in weight.
"I find exercise hard so that is why I hired a personal coach," Van Barneveld told skysports.com. "You need someone to call you up and fetch you to go the gym. He is also working on the diet as well - I've lost 7kg so far. We work on muscles, back, running, we do lots of things."
Van Barneveld now also runs three times a week over 10km in distance and he also regularly cycles. He works out four times a week, burning up more than 1000 calories a day and is undoubtedly feeling the benefit.
"If you feel fitter, you think you can do anything," explained the Dutchman. "If you have a normal day you feel more tired and have more rest. You feel you can do anything, then by 10 o'clock at night you are tired. It's better now that the body is in shape."
He has also looked seriously into his diet. He has cut out the chocolates and sweets and for six days a week he is eating healthier, although he allows himself one day a week to indulge in his passion for food.
"I have just had a steak downstairs with a tomato soup and liver. I didn't like the steak - and normally I would say I go to McDonald's now. Now I say 'no, I've had enough' and I go to my bed.
"Before I used to go for a Chinese or go to the pub, now I say it is enough now. If you say that more often, you are going to lose weight. Now I start believing I can lose 30kg but it is still a long way to go."
Fluctuated
Taylor, the 13-times world champion, has fluctuated in weight often depending on whether he is working out regularly. He accepts physical and mental fitness is crucial for the modern game but in his preparation for the World Championship he has adopted a new approach - walking the dog.
"I am not doing so much work in the gym now, mainly due to time restrictions," he told skysports.com. "I have got a new dog, so I've started to take him for walks when I am home. Walking the dog is great exercise for me as it involves being on my feet a lot. My job obviously involves being stood for many hours, so this is great preparation for that."
However, although Van Barneveld is feeling physically better he is unsure whether the weight-loss will result in better darts. After all Taylor has - at various points in the past - lost large amounts of weight, but this has not necessarily led to an improved performance on the oche.
"Phil loses so many kilos and then for the first three months he doesn't win anything and he is back to his old weight and then the last three weeks he hasn't lost," added Barney. "I know it (exercise) is good for you. I know it helps you lose some kilos but in the end, if it helps your darts, I'm not sure."
