Henderson on weight loss affecting throw: "The rock doesn't seem to be as rocking as it normally would"

John Henderson was one of many players including Adrian Lewis and Mark McGeeney to use the lockdown to lose weight and he has now lost four stone but has admitted it has affected his throw.

Famed for his rocking motion, the popular Highlander spoke to Darts World and admitted that he didn't initially believe it but when he watched back his World Championship games, he did see the difference.

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“Everyone was talking about the weight loss, whether it has changed my throw. It hasn’t in my mind. But I’ve been looking back on the Marko Kantele and Jonny Clayton games at the Ally Pally," said Henderson to Darts World.

“The rock as I throw the darts doesn’t seem to be as rocking as it normally would. So that’s something I’ve got to work on and I’m putting in the hours right now.

“All players got their own unique style of throw and I’ve got the rock. Wayne Mardle always said that when my rock timing is right, I’m the best 180 thrower in the game.

“But he added that unfortunately that style of throw, if it’s off, it can be ugly. And Wayne said I wouldn’t mind him saying that, and I don’t.

“I don’t know how the rock came along but it’s now just part of my throw.

“I’ve spoken to Adrian Lewis and Peter Wright because they have previously lost a lot of weight in a short space of time.

“Peter felt he had changed his throw every so slightly. I’ve not done anything different. I don’t feel I’ve changed but maybe that rock is slower so I need to look at it.

“It’s something that I’m going to have to watch for and adjust more as I lose more weight and I’m only halfway to where I want to be.

“I want to play this game into my mid-50s so the weight loss is so important. It will help my stamina for Pro Tours when we play six games in a day.

“Especially now when the Players Championships, during this pandemic, have been five days on the trot. If you are to win these Pro Tour days, you need to be fitter, that’s for sure.”