Justin Hood has delivered a brutally honest assessment of his form since his breakthrough run at the 2026 PDC World Darts Championship, admitting to Online Darts, "I've been lazy since the Worlds." The player, who reached the quarterfinals at that event, acknowledged that inconsistency has halted his momentum early this season, stating, "I've had some class games this year. First game after the Worlds I played Sebastian Bialecki and averaged 108. I beat Van Veen with 108. I lost with 100 to Mensur. But I've also had a lot of 85s and 86s, and I've got to be better than that." Hood emphasized that he is now putting in more practice at home with a practice board, adding, "now we're getting there at home... I'm putting some time in and I'm playing well tonight."
Hood contrasted his approach with that of natural talents like Gary Anderson and Luke Littler, explaining, "I need to practise. I'm not like Gary or Luke Littler. Littler can go to a ProTour, be 4–0 down averaging 90, and his B-game is better than our A-game. Then when he gets going, you can't catch him. Gary's the same. They're unbelievable. I'm not natural like that, so I've got to put the work in." He also discussed the challenges of increased attention post-Worlds, noting, "It's hard to go out and practise now because everyone wants pictures, autographs, or a chat, which is fine. But if you want serious practice, you've got to do it at home." Hood mentioned that he never turns down autographs or pictures but understands why players like Gerwyn Price get annoyed sometimes with overzealous fans.
Looking ahead, Hood revealed business ambitions beyond darts, saying, "We're looking at it now, me and my manager. I've got a couple of investors interested. It'll probably be the end of this year or early next year because it's so busy with exhibitions at the moment." His plan involves starting with a proper restaurant and potentially a van to take around. On the oche, Hood maintains confidence without specific targets, stating, "I never set goals. I just want to win every game I play... I believe I can win anything I play in. It hasn't happened yet, but all I need is one day where it goes my way. I can beat every player in the world, but I can also lose to them. I'm confident I can win one." He added that he doesn't see celebrities or top players as different, saying, "I've never seen celebrities as any different to us. They're just good at what they do—whether it's movie stars, singers, or dart players."
