Ricky Evans will consider using a sports psychologist to help improve the mental side of his game. Evans feels he has the ability to be a top player but that something is missing or holding him back.
Ricky Evans is a fan favourite in darts and has been a competitive player for a decade now but after missing out on this year’s World Matchplay, he’s admitted that he wants to mature and up his game.
Speaking to Online Darts, Evans had this to say on his current game:
“I’m playing alright, I genuinely am.
“Everyone says they’re playing well don’t they, but I genuinely am playing quite good.
“It’s just… everyone else is. That’s the problem with darts these days, they’re all good.”
Evans is currently 43rd on the PDC Order of Merit and 51st on the ProTour Order of Merit.
In his own words, he was not ‘competitive enough’ to push for a qualifying place and feels there are some areas that are holding his game back.
The main one he has highlighted is the mental side of the game.
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Ricky Evans Considering a Sports Psychologist
Evans knows he has the ability to beat the best players in the world but says the issue is that he knows they can also beat him and that mindset is holding him back.
He plans on implementing some mindset work with his management company MDA Events later this year and is open to using a sports psychologist.
He says,
“There’s no harm in trying it, it might work.
“It might click something, get me into the right frame of mind because I’m such a defeatist.”
Evans won’t be the first player to look into the mental side of the game.
Last month we wrote about Stephen Bunting changing his walkout song and making use of a sports psychologist.
He credits the change in mindset to finally winning his first major in the PDC (The Masters) earlier this year.
Evans himself mentions that this is common in other sports so there’s no reason he shouldn’t be open to it in order to improve his own game:
“It’s worked for some of the bigger boys in most sports.
“Tennis, golf, snooker. So why not Ricky, why not me.”
The mental side is always an interesting aspect when it comes to sport and with the growth in darts this decade, it’s no surprise that this is an area that players should be focusing on to gain an edge.
🗣️" I'm jealous this Matchplay is going to hurt"
— Online Darts (@OfficialOLDarts) July 12, 2024
🎤 @goodevans180 admits missing the Matchplay will hurt as he turns to a sports psychologist to try and help him take the next step
Watch in full now 🎥👇🏻https://t.co/f8POnC6iLx
While Evans won’t be at the Matchplay, we’ll be bringing you results, reactions and opinions at decentdarts.com so make sure to check in with us throughout the next week.
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