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Nathan Aspinall is back on track to becoming the best player on the planet – all thanks to a slight alteration in his equipment.
The Asp has set his sights on World Championship glory at the end of the year after ending his four-year wait for a second major honour at the World Matchplay and backing it up with a run to the World Series of Darts final. Now 32, Aspinall is back to his simmering best after battling back from a potentially career-ending injury – and would back his scoring against anyone on the PDC Tour.
Speaking to Daily Star Sport on the release of his new Gen2 Target darts, Aspinall said: "I've been with Target now for probably five years and, over the years we've tweaked weight, thickness, colour, shape you name it.
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"So a big, big part of it for me was, trying to make the treble 20 look bigger when two darts are in there, the obvious answer to that is make the darts thinner or have a longer point.
"I tried the longer point and it didn't work for me so we decided to get the barrel thinner and I think that's been a massive change in my game over the last six months.
"My scoring is probably the best in the world and I think that's contributed to me winning the Matchplay in July. I've been to four finals out the last five tournaments, so it's definitely having a big impact on my game.
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"Finally now we've found that finished product and I'm really happy with what Target and team have done for me, this new dart that's come out is absolutely fantastic."
Aspinall is back up to five in the world rankings having slipped outside the top ten after suffering a torn ligament and tendon in his arm back in early 2022.
That resurgence is leading up perfectly to the 2024 PDC World Darts Championship which takes place between December 15 and January 3.
The Stockport favourite reached back-to-back semi-finals in 2019 and 2020, either side of his first ranked televised event triumph at the UK Open.
Aspinall added: "The Grand Prix is on a long list of tournaments coming up this year, finishing the European Tour, the finals, the Grand Slam and it all leads up to the big one. I really fancy it this year, I've had two semi-finals and not been past the third round the past three years but I've got a really good feeling."
He then chuckled: "Put a bet on because the odds are getting lower every week.
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"I've always had the belief that I can win everything I play in, but thinking it and doing it are very separate things.
"Now I've had the Matchplay and going close in New Zealand, close in the World Series Finals, I know what it takes to win these big events and there is none bigger than the World Championships.
"Fingers crossed that this year is mine."
Nathan Aspinall new Gen2 Target darts are available now at target-darts.co.uk
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