Michael Smith is concerned that his throw may have changed without him noticing, with analyst Dan Dawson also spotting signs that the Englishman is now throwing from a slightly different position. The former world champion's ongoing injury problems have left their mark, and the technical shift has become a talking point during coverage of his recent matches.
Smith reached the third round of a European Tour event for only the fifth time this season at last weekend's Swiss Darts Trophy, where his run ended with a 6-3 defeat to Dirk van Duijvenbode. The 36-year-old has endured several extremely difficult years since winning the world title in early 2023. He suffers from chronic arthritis in his throwing hand, his right hand, and in both wrists, problems that stem from fractures he sustained at the age of 19. A shoulder injury added to his troubles, with Smith suffering a grade-two injury to the acromioclavicular joint (AC joint) in his shoulder. The issues began after a scooter accident and a fall while playing with his children, and since then he has needed scans, treatment and ongoing injury management.
The physical problems have taken their toll. Smith has now fallen out of the world's top 32 and risks ending his first full season without reaching a major quarter-final since 2013. Dawson believes the injuries may now be affecting "Bully Boy's" technique, and Smith himself is also said to be concerned. "Michael Smith was talking yesterday prior to his game about how he is concerned that his throw has changed a bit," Dawson said on the coverage. "He's throwing from a slightly lower starting position. It's about that elbow dropping. I hadn't really picked up on it."
Dawson believes the technical difference is small, but in a sport where fine details can decide matches, even a slight change can have an impact. "It will be a small change if it is, but he might have something there. That arm back in the World Championship-winning times, maybe it was a little higher," he said. Dawson also feels it would be no surprise if Smith's throwing technique had changed after all the physical problems he has faced, though he cannot say for certain whether there has been a lasting technical change. "But when you have had such significant damage done to that shoulder, it might not be a surprise that something has changed there. The throwing action looks good, but obviously if it is coming from a lower position, then everything has to change slightly. Now, I don't know if that is right or not, but I do know that is on his mind."
Co-commentator Dan McCarthy then drew a comparison with Michael van Gerwen, noting that the three-time world champion has also seen his throwing technique change over the years, partly because of physical problems. "It still looks pretty smooth. But if you are going to have injury problems the biomechanics are probably going to change," McCarthy said. "Look at Michael van Gerwen. The way his throw has changed from ten years ago. It's almost unrecognisable because of the wrist issues he's had. It's exactly the same with Michael Smith." Despite all the setbacks, Smith is determined to get his career back on track. The 2023 world champion wants to put this difficult period behind him and has already made a clear promise for next season that he will play everything.