"I've been having acupuncture, I have a hypnotist" - Martin Lukeman turns to unconventional methods in fight against dartitis

Martin Lukeman has spoken candidly about his battle with dartitis and the unconventional methods that have helped him rebuild confidence at the oche.

The Englishman revealed that acupuncture and hypnosis are playing a key role in his bid to get his career back on track. Last weekend, he already showed promising signs of improvement at the 2026 UK Open.

The 40-year-old, nicknamed ‘Smash’, has been struggling for some time with dartitis - a feared condition among players where they struggle to release the dart. The issue can severely disrupt a player’s rhythm and confidence and has negatively affected several careers in the past.

Lukeman has endured a difficult spell recently. Still, at the UK Open he showed he is slowly finding his way back up. With wins over Thomas Lovely, Ritchie Edhouse, and Madars Razma, he impressively booked his place in the last 16. There, Jonny Clayton ultimately proved too strong with a 10-7 win.

Afterward, Lukeman spoke with relief about his performances and the sense that he is gradually regaining control of his game. “It was good. I’ve been struggling lately, but I am coming back now — the old twitchy dartitis is gone."

According to Lukeman, his confidence is slowly returning, something he says makes a big difference at the highest level. “I am working hard and my confidence is coming back. Martin with confidence is a dangerous player,” he said with a smile.

To overcome his issues, Lukeman decided to try several alternative treatments. He received help from specialists supporting him both physically and mentally. “I have been having acupuncture, I have a hypnotist, and I have been working on lots of stuff to try and get me back to where I am. I am working on it and I am feeling good at the moment.”

The positive signs come at an important moment for Lukeman, who in recent months has struggled to sustain his strong form from 2024. That year he enjoyed one of the highlights of his career with a run to the Grand Slam of Darts final, impressing with strong displays against some of the sport’s biggest names.

Since then, however, a true breakthrough has not materialized. In 2025, Lukeman failed to reach a ProTour semi-final, and results on the biggest stages also disappointed.

At the World Championship he was knocked out in the first round. He also failed to qualify for the Winmau World Masters, another setback in an already challenging period.

Even so, Lukeman appears not to have lost heart. On the contrary, the Englishman again exudes belief in his own ability. With his dartitis symptoms fading and confidence growing, he feels competitive once more against the elite of the circuit.

His recent wins over Edhouse and Razma show, in his view, that he is moving forward again. If he can maintain that level, ‘Smash’ could once more become a dangerous outsider at major tournaments.

For now, however, the focus is on stability and building confidence further. The combination of mental coaching, alternative therapies, and hard graft already seems to be paying off. If Lukeman can extend this positive trend, his comeback could become one of the standout stories of the season.