"You can’t always be driven and so obsessive" - Damon Heta discloses practice obsession and how it has impacted his game

Damon Heta has been regarded as one of the best players on tour, having integrated himself inside the top 15. However, his recent form, especially on the big stage, have left questions around the Aussie, who has indicated that too much practice has had a detrimental effect on his game.

Heta has not kicked on to the heights many darts fans would have expected. Currently ranked 11th in the world, he has only made one quarter-final in the big tournaments this year, losing out to a flawless Luke Humphries at the World Masters. His form away from the stage has been impressive, adding two more floor titles in 2025, just missing out on a third in yesterday's Players Championship event in Leicester against Wessel Nijman.

There has been a lot of conversation about how many hours players put on the board before events. Luke Littler and Gary Anderson are two that rarely commit to practicing, relying on their natural talent on the oche. Heta has taken an opposite approach to this, but it may have backfired.

“Just before I have been putting in some ridiculous hours of practice more than normal," Heta said. "I’ve done all of that hard work. Now I have backed off a little bit. You have to find time for yourself because you can’t always be driven and so obsessive. That’s where I have found myself very obsessive and that has been my downfall. I’m getting into my own head about not winning because then I will go back to the board and think the answer is put more time on the practice board.”

The Heat will return to Leicester next week as he competes in the World Grand Prix, an event where he should be one of the favourites for due to his remarkable consistency on the outer ring. Despite this, he has never won a match in the competition, surprisingly losing in the first round in each of his four appearances. He will face Luke Woodhouse in the first round, who recently made it to the final of the Swiss Darts Trophy. The pair endured a tense tie at Ally Pally at the end of last year. Even though Heta caused the whole of North London, including Woodhouse, to go crazy after pinning a nine-darter, he went on to lose the match to Woody. He now seeks revenge.

“There is no better time to get my first win at the Grand Prix with revenge over Luke Woodhouse. It would be absolutely amazing. He is playing some good stuff at the moment he just reached the final. I congratulated him with a message but now I am going to have to retract that. We will just go hammer and tongs at it. Hopefully I just bring my A-game and things happen for me.

"It’s just getting over that line and getting over that hurdle. I have got that belief. I’m there but it just seems no one has missed that many darts against me for me to have another crack at it. I have had one match dart here or there and that is all that I have been given. I’ve just been unlucky or unstuck against somebody who is playing that bit better. Fair play and I have to just put it down to myself and try and get over the line.”