If you've been watching the
European Tour this year, you've surely seen
Damon Heta's increasingly bonkers walk-ons, something the Aussie says has benefitted his game.
"It happened even before Munich, where I was doing little dance moves and stuff like that. One thing led to another and I really enjoyed it,” he tells Daily Star Sport. So far this year, Heta has incorporated everything from skis and a ski mask, to bongo drums as part of his entrance. Going from one of the circuit's most serious faces to one of its most enjoyable.
"I noticed, when I got up there, I wasn’t putting everything into it, not trying too hard from the start. I feel that was a weakness last year because, when it came to the big games, it felt like life or death. I felt I had to win games, I had to do this, I had to do that," he continues. "Now I’m getting up there and just enjoying it from the start to the end. It doesn’t come into my head now that I always have to win and that each dart matters. It just relieves the tension straight away. I’m just really enjoying.”
The props he's been using aren't just stuff lent to him for a one-off walk-on either. "I’ve been racking up the Amazon," he laughs. "It hasn’t been too difficult but I’m sure, as tournaments go on, it will get a bit harder as I try to think of something new."
“If I don’t do it for the majors, I’ll contradict myself,” Heta adds. "I think I’ll keep this rolling until something changes. If I’m feeling confident, feeling happy, there’s no reason I should stop.”