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21st Mar 2013

One of Ryan Giggs tips to stay at the top? Play darts left-handed

We have enough trouble throwing with our good hand but if it works for Ryan Giggs we might have to give this a try.

JOE

We have enough trouble throwing with our good hand but if it works for Ryan Giggs we might have to give this a try.

Ahead of round seven of the Premier League Darts tonight we have some very interesting news regarding darts and fitness. And yes, that’s a sentence we didn’t think we would ever write.

When it comes to extending playing careers, nobody beat Ryan Giggs. Now in his 23rd season at Old Trafford, the Welsh wizard is showing no signs of slowing down and many have wondered just how he does it.

The oft-cited example is yoga but surely a bit of stretching can’t be all he does? Today we learnt that he did much more than yoga, but we were surprised to read what he has employed to keep his game up to standard.

Today’s Mirror carries quotes taken from United Review from Manchester United’s former fitness and conditioning coach Mick Clegg. Clegg spent 11 years working with Giggs and he revealed some surprising secrets today.

“He regenerates his youth all the time by being open-minded. When I worked with him, he always allowed me to show him different things that I thought might help him. He would consider anything.

“Everyone knows Ryan does yoga. He did boxing and weightlifting too and has tried all sorts – he even gave trampolining a go when he was 34 or 35 – but one example still sticks with me.

“A few years ago, Ryan wasn’t happy with his crossing and he wanted to perfect it, but didn’t know why he couldn’t.

“By chance, I noticed that he wrote right-handed, and it didn’t look right, so we chatted and I told him to spend more time working with his left hand to create a balance, because the right-hand side of your brain affects the left-hand side of your body, and vice-versa.

“We spent about a month playing left handed darts, table tennis – he was beating me with his left hand in about a minute – and it appeared more natural to him.”

Right, we’re off to the JOE oche to give it a lash in the hope that our crossing will improve too.

Topics:

Darts