"I think it’s going to work" – Can equipment change get Gabriel Clemens back to his best?

Gabriel Clemens is quietly plotting a return to the mind of form that saw him reach the PDC World Darts Championship semi-finals a few years ago – and a fresh setup could be the key. The German Giant impressed at the latest Players Championship double-header in Hildesheim, not just with his results, but with the introduction of a brand-new dart that he believes could take his game to the next level.

Speaking on the new Darts auf die #1 podcast with Sport1 expert Robert Marijanovic and Marcel Althaus, Clemens was open about his recent equipment changes – and the signs are already encouraging.

Marijanovic began by highlighting a moment that captured Clemens’ growing confidence. At Players Championship 22, he pinned a 123 checkout on the bullseye to defeat Jermaine Wattimena, who was waiting on double 8. “His facial expression was my moment of the two days,” laughed Marijanovic – a moment that perhaps signals the beginning of a new chapter.

Clemens confirmed he’s currently experimenting with different dart models. “I said I was going to try out a few things – but this still isn’t the dart I’ll end up playing with long-term,” he clarified. At present, he’s using a Target Japan model that caught his attention unexpectedly. Some minor adjustments have already been made, and a final prototype is in the works.

“I’m hoping to get it this week,” Clemens said. “I’m really curious to see how it feels when the prototype arrives. I think it’s going to work.”

When asked whether the new dart was less front-heavy than his previous setups, Clemens was clear: “No, it’s still front-heavy. The grip is completely different, though – and it’s definitely a bit thicker and actually a little shorter.” One major tweak is the barrel length: previously 52mm, now trimmed down to 48mm – a change Marijanovic described as “heftig” (drastic).

But Clemens stressed that the overhaul has been a calculated decision. “I said I was going to give it serious thought – and then it had to be exactly right.” While he’s still in the testing phase, he’s confident the direction is right.

And the early results back that up. He reached the last 16 at Players Championship 22 and followed that up with a run to the last 32 at PC23, where he lost to eventual winner Jermaine Wattimena – the same man he had beaten the day before, and the only player to do so across the two days in Hildesheim.Two steady performances that suggest the setup change is already making a difference.

Whether the final prototype brings further improvement remains to be seen. But one thing’s clear: Clemens is taking a proactive, professional approach to fine-tuning his game. With Players Championship 24 set for 25 August, he now has a few crucial weeks to put the new darts through their paces.

If his belief is anything to go by, this could be the start of something. “I think it’s going to work” — and if it does, Gabriel Clemens might just be on the road back to his best.