It’s not my fault!

By Dave Fatum

So I am sitting at a table the other day at a local shoot, and I hear, “I missed because you made me.”

Huh? So, I listen closer. “If I had shot at what I wanted to, I would have hit it, so it is your fault I missed.” I would have laughed, but the real funny thing is that I hear it, or something similar, often; and people actually believe it! I just want to know – when did the other person throw your darts? I mean really now, you stood at the line, you got ready to throw, and you threw the darts. Magically, when you miss it is not your fault?

If you did not want to shoot the shot, then why did you? Will you give the other person credit when you shoot a 6.0? I doubt it.

So it comes down to responsibility for your own darts. If there is someone talking behind you and you throw without success, do not blame them, blame yourself. You need to learn to not throw your darts until you are ready to be successful and believe in what you are about to do.

So, if the TV above the board bothers you, shut it off. If someone tells you to make a shot you do not agree with, then say so. Ask why they think it is the right shot so you believe in it, or else you will miss due to your lack of confidence, not because they told you.

So learn not to blame others for your mistakes and to do what you need to do to be successful. If you want to take the glory for big shots, then accept the misery of the bad ones too. But then again, what do I know?