You have probably been rubbing elbows with one of Medalist’s top-rated players for several years now without being aware of it.

David Foster has inhabited Seattle’s Northend since 1996 and continues to find himself at the top of the list of Medalist’s all-time hot shots. David is a modest fellow with an attitude toward the game that, frankly, there ought to be alot more of.

The Medallion was able to corner David during his very busy schedule as a UW Law student for a bit of engaging conversation. Through this interview, it becomes apparent that David practices the approach to the game in the spirit from which the sport was borne. Join us as we attempt to understand the ways of a true champion in our midst, David Foster.


Q: David, when and how did you begin playing darts?

A: I started playing when I was 12 years old. My cousin Kevin Luke of Eastern Washington had been playing with his dad Mike Luke for a few years and was a very good steel-tip and soft-tip player. If I remember correctly, he qualified for the Bullshooter Soft-Tip Finals in Chicago when he was 12! Needless to say, I was intrigued by the amount of money my younger cousin was making playing so I used to practice with him at his house after school. I went to my 1st steel tip dart tournament with those two and got hooked after making some money myself!


Q: How has your game progressed over that time?

A: I paid my dues. I took a beating in steel-tip during my first year. I found that playing head-to-head singles against better players taught me the most and if I wanted to be successful, I had to practice and set some goals for myself. I got to a point where I could win a game or two against my cousin and other successful players and used those as stepping stones to set larger goals. I would say that 90% of the darts I did play was steel-tip. From age 12-20, there was no place for myself to play soft-tip besides in the Bullshooter tournament that came around once per year or at my cousin’s house!


Q: Did you play in a steel-tip league before Medalist?

A: I played in a steel-tip league right when I turned 21.


Q: When did you come west of the Cascades and start playing Medalist darts?

A: I moved west of the Cascades to Seattle in 1996 to attend the University of Washington. Of course, I was only 18 at the time, so I had to wait about 3 years until I could play in the Medalist League.


Q: Coming from a steel-tip background, how do you view the differences between soft-tip and steel-tip today?

A: The sad thing is this: steel-tip is dying out in the Pacific Northwest and in my opinion, is a result of the draw of soft-tip. Steel-tip is, has been, and I hope will always be a head-to-head, zero handicapped game. The better man (or woman) will win any given game at any given time. That is the heart of steel-tip and what I love about it. Unfortunately, many people do not feel the same way and want the handicap in order to even the playing field—which I can understand even though I am often on the handing out end of a lot of handicap! I have listened to people discuss soft-tip and steel-tip and how they are so different from one another and how one is superior to another and I used to feel that steel-tip was the superior game. However, after playing soft-tip in bar tournaments that are handicapped and in the Medalist league dealing with the rating variance, I have come to this conclusion: steel-tip and soft-tip should go hand-in-hand. If you play both games, you will be a better dart thrower period. Steel-tip helps with accuracy since everything is significantly smaller than the soft-tip board. Soft-tip helps with consistency because you are forced to throw your best darts and even then, as a result of the handicap, you can still lose. One errant dart in soft-tip is not equal to one errant dart in steel-tip. So keep both respective styles of this sport in mind when you desire to get better. Perhaps someday Medalist and the U.S. steel-tip governing body (ADO) will come together and help one another get this sport to the next level—ESPN.


Q: What is your current Medalist Rating?

A: I am a 15 right now.


Q: What are your personal goals in the sport, have you reached any?

A: Personal goals right now are that I want to be a 17 and #1 in Medalist….again. I reached that goal my 2nd season in Medalist and I think I have made the necessary adjustments to reach that goal again very soon.


Q: What locations do you prefer to play for and why?

A: Right now I prefer to play at Sharkey’s in Mountlake Terrace. The owner Wayne has been a superb host and the people are absolutely amazing there (yes Traci, you’re included).


Q: Have you ever considered being a Dart Coordinator?

A: Not really. I don’t have the time to consider doing that right now. I graduated from the UW in 2001 and am about to start Law School later this year. So you could say that I have a lot on my plate as it is!


Q: Do you attempt to attract new players to the sport?

A: I have tried to get friends in the past to participate more and have been semi-successful. Right now I just try to represent darts the best way I know how—on the board and off with the best sportsmanship I can demonstrate.


Q: What do you consider your fondest memory since playing?

A: When I made the United States Steel-Tip All-Star team when I was 18 years old. Since then, I’ve been on the team two additional times and this past year, I had the 2nd highest PPD (Points Per Dart) average of 27.5 on the U.S. team and threw the most 180’s (6) that day.


Q: How do you prepare for a big match at State or Worlds?

A: A decent night of sleep, something small to eat in the morning, and about an hour of warm-up before the event starts.


Q: What do you like about playing with low-rated players?

A: Their overall reaction to the game when they see a high rated player play. They seem amazed seeing hat tricks and multiple triple shots in cricket being thrown! I find it amusing when they say that they are sorry after their shots or when they are visibly nervous just because I know where they are coming from.


Q: Who do you look up to within the sport?

A: The steel-tip greats: Phil Taylor and Eric Bristow. I’ve always been amazed at their games. But you don’t need to just look to dart icons for people to look up to in this sport—I admire those players who come to play for the sake of playing the game and those who are gracious in defeat and in winning.


Q: What is your greatest achievement in darts?

A: When I threw a perfect 501 game in steel-tip (180,180,141 out) and Cricket (T20 T19 T18, T17 T16 T15, Double Bull, Bull). Perfection in darts is what we seek and twice in steel-tip, I managed to push the games to their limits.


Q: Who has been your all-time favorite partner, and why?

A: In steel-tip, my favorite has been Gerald Verrier of Salem, OR. He’s someone I looked up to for many years during my dart development and I really enjoyed shooting with him. In soft-tip, my cousin has to be my favorite person I’ve been able to shoot with. We’ve played so much throughout the years that when we play, we know what each other is going to do before we do it and to be honest, it’s just a lot of fun. He got me into the game and without him, I wouldn’t be where I am now.


Q: What does it take to be a good dart player, in your opinion?

A: First, you have to have proper mechanics to build from. Second, mental control—without the ability to control your emotions, the nerves kick in and “poof”, there goes your game. Third, strategy—if you don’t know what to throw at at the proper time, you decrease your chances of winning. Fourth, you need a positive attitude and know when to be aggressive.


Q: Would you make any changes to the Medalist program?

A: Medalist needs to give greater incentives to being a high rated player—and no, Lee, not just via cash and acknowledgement from our peers. The higher rated you are, the less league options available to you. Have a singles league, raise the Super A Trios and Super A Doubles team point values, have a Cricket Doubles and 501 Doubles league, or give a unique recognition plaque/trophy to the top two players in each region. These are just ideas and I know Medalist has devised a system that works—depending from whose perspective you are looking from and fortunately/unfortunately, it’s currently the best we have. All I have to say to Medalist is this: cash is not everything. You’d be amazed at the excitement and elation someone gets when they feel appreciated.


Q: If you could say anything to your fellow players, what would it be?

A: Have fun with this game. It’s one of the only games I know where you can be shoulder-to-shoulder with some of the best players around. I know if I could play a round or two of golf every month with or against Tiger Woods, I’d be thrilled! And take pride in your rating—if you know you shoot like a 13, don’t be afraid to go up to a 13. Max out your current skills, you’ll never find out what else you have in you unless you push yourself to the limits.