‘Can’t get my head around it’ – Luke Littler plotting ‘change’ to his darts game to ‘get out of his own head’
Reigning PDC World Champion Luke Littler has opened up about the psychological toll of his meteoric rise, admitting he “can’t get my head around” sticking with his gold darts from the 2025 World Championship and is plotting a “change” to his setup to escape getting “stuck in his own head” during matches. The 18-year-old sensation, speaking at a Target Darts pop-up store event in Manchester on September 25, 2025, discussed his ongoing experimentation with equipment as a way to combat overthinking— a rare glimpse into the mindset behind “The Nuke’s” dominance amid a pressure-packed year.
The Confession: Grappling with Gold Darts
Littler’s candid chat with Online Darts highlighted his frustration with the custom gold Gen 2 darts he debuted at Ally Pally in January, where he clinched his first world title at 17 years and 347 days—the youngest ever. Despite their sentimental value and aesthetic appeal (“they’re a nice dart”), the teen revealed he’s struggled to adapt fully: “I always want to change, especially with the gold darts at the World Championships—I wanted to do well with them because they’re a nice dart. But I just can’t get my head around it.” This admission points to a broader mental hurdle: the pressure of loyalty to a winning tool clashing with performance instincts, leading to hesitation on the oche.
Experts like former pro Wayne Mardle have noted similar tweaks in Littler’s throw earlier in 2025, introducing a slight pause to combat rushing from high scores to doubles—a “potential weakness” he identified to stay fluid. Now, the equipment shift feels like an extension: by reverting to his trusted Gen 1 darts (90% tungsten, 23g, slim barrel with Shape No. 6 flights and extended points for treble grouping), Littler aims to “get out of his own head” and restore instinctual flow. “It’s about feeling right—when you’re overthinking the dart, it messes with everything,” he added, echoing advice from darts icons like Bobby George to “keep his feet on the ground” amid fame’s distractions.
This isn’t Littler’s first evolution; his smooth, one-motion throw has been refined since his 2023-24 breakthrough, but 2025’s grueling schedule (over 100 matches, including Premier League and World Series wins) has amplified mental fatigue. The change could prove pivotal as he defends his crown at the 2025/26 World Championship in December.
Littler’s 2025: Triumphs and the Mental Grind
Since exploding onto the scene with a World Championship final run at 16 in 2023-24, Littler has redefined darts’ global appeal, inspiring the “Littler effect” with youth sign-ups surging across the UK. His 2025 haul includes:
– **World Championship Title (Jan 2025)**: Beat Michael van Gerwen 7-3 in the final; £500,000 prize.
– **Premier League Victory**: Clinched in May with a nine-darter; youngest weekly winner.
– **World Matchplay Crown**: July triumph over Humphries; first major of the year.
– **World Series of Darts**: Recent loss to van Gerwen in September, but still 8-2 head-to-head.
Yet, cracks have shown: An early World Cup pairs exit with Humphries in June drew sympathy from Rob Cross, who “can’t get his head around” their meltdown, blaming pairs’ reliance dynamic. Littler has also fielded spoof “retirement” videos (a FIFA promo gag in September) and warnings about “sharks” in the industry.
| Tournament | Result | Key Stat/Moment |
|————|——–|—————–|
| PDC World Championship | Champion | Debut gold darts; 7-3 final win over MvG. |
| Premier League Darts | Champion | 9-darter vs. Humphries; 7 nightly wins. |
| World Matchplay | Champion | 18-10 over Humphries; avg. 99.23 in final. |
| World Cup (pairs w/ Humphries) | 1R Loss | “Meltdown” vs. Germany; 0-4 sets. |
| World Series Finals | SF Loss | Edged by MvG; praised rival as “second-greatest.” |
| Hungarian Darts Trophy (upcoming) | TBD | Post-“retirement” prank; fresh mindset test. |
The Bigger Picture: Pressure on a Prodigy
Littler’s vulnerability resonates in a sport of middle-aged grinders—his effortless 100+ averages and nine-darters have drawn Federer-like comparisons, but at 18, he’s navigating superstardom. “Everyone wants to beat me now,” he told Online Darts, crediting van Gerwen’s resurgence (“He’s the second-greatest of all time”) for keeping him sharp. The darts switch is pragmatic: Players like Ryan Searle and Stephen Bunting have boosted form via weight tweaks (32g to 34g, 12g to 18g), proving small changes yield big gains.
Fans on social media have rallied, with #LittlerMindset trending: “The Nuke’s human—love the honesty, smash those Gen 1s!” As the World Grand Prix looms (October 6-12), this “change” could unlock another gear. Littler plans downtime in 2026 (“holidays with girlfriend and family, no darts thoughts”), but for now, escaping his head might just fuel another historic run.
