"I can’t always see where my dart lands" – Ryan Searle on heavy metal, chasing his first major and inspiring darters with vision impairments

Ryan Searle has been competing in the PDC for some time now and has steadily climbed to 19th in the world rankings. ‘Heavy Metal’ has the rugged look of a true rock star, but behind the long hair and tough exterior is a down-to-earth and easygoing character.

Searle, with his signature flowing locks, has become a familiar face at major tournaments. He may look like a wild rocker, but appearances can be deceiving. “I might have the long hair and listen to heavy metal, but did you know I’ve never actually been to a concert?” Searle revealed in an interview with Het Nieuwsblad. “Honestly, the idea of getting lost in a huge crowd doesn’t really appeal to me. I prefer to enjoy the music on my own, in my own space,” he laughed. “Okay, sure, when I was 17, I was your typical skater kid who only listened to metal, but now I’m not as strict about it. That said, when I’m getting mentally prepared for a match or if I’m feeling a bit low, I still turn to heavy metal—it just works for me.”

Searle’s love for heavy metal goes beyond just his music taste—it’s also reflected in his choice of darts. “I’m a big metal fan, and I throw with heavy darts… that’s it, simple, right?” he joked. And when he says heavy, he means it. While most professional players use darts weighing between 22 and 24 grams, Searle throws with a whopping 34 grams. “I’ve always been comfortable playing with heavier darts. Even before I joined the PDC, I was already using them. The 34-gram ones just feel right for me.”

Searle has already claimed six Players Championship titles, but a major victory still eludes him. He came agonizingly close in 2021 when he lost 11-10 to Peter Wright in the final of the Players Championship Finals. “Since that performance, I think I’ve fallen short of expectations,” he admitted.

“It’s strange because I don’t really focus on winning tournaments, and money definitely doesn’t motivate me. I’m just grateful that I can call myself a professional darts player. But I know I need to change that mindset. And that’s not the only issue—I struggle with concentration as well. If I could focus better, I know I could win a major. There’s no reason I can’t claim a big title—I’m just as good as anyone else. But mentally, I let myself slip sometimes.”

Searle has also been dealing with an eye condition that significantly affects his vision. “I have something called Dominant Optic Atrophy (DOA), which basically means there’s reduced blood flow to my damaged optic nerve. Because of that, the connection between what I see on my retina and what my brain processes isn’t as strong, which causes blurred vision,” he explained.

“I’d love to have better eyesight, but there’s nothing that can be done about it. It’s a genetic condition that runs in my family. I wear contact lenses now, but they don’t help much. I’ve learned to live with it, but it does affect me—I can’t always see where my dart lands. That’s why you’ll often see me asking the referee what I’ve thrown.”

Despite this challenge, Searle has still managed to carve out a successful professional career. “I hope it can be an inspiration for people with vision impairments—to show them that even with those challenges, you can still chase your dreams.”