Sport
Rob Cross happy to play weighting game
Rob Cross believes that it “will take time” for his dramatic weight loss to make him a stronger player.
The 2018 World Champion has not set the PDC Premier League on fire yet with just one win and three draws in six outings.
Voltage, last year’s finalist, is just three points off rock bottom Daryl Gurney but is far from panicking despite the sluggish start.
He revealed: “No panic button pressing from me, that’s for sure. It’s not gone the way I’ve wanted yet so far, I know that.”
“There have been some really good patches of play and I know I’ve got that in my locker. I know I’ve got two or three more gears to go up.”
“Admittedly I’ve not got anywhere near that just now. There’s a long way to go. We are not sure what will happen because of the Coronavirus, how many Premier League nights will go ahead and stuff like that. But I will keep working hard to stay sharp. I think the weight loss was a big shock to my system. I knew I had to do it after the World Championships.”
“I cut out carbs big time. No bread, fizzy drinks and very little pasta. It worked so quickly. I struggled the first week but then I got right in the zone and I feel brilliant now.”
“However, I’m still getting used to it as a dart player. If you look down the years, weight loss has affected great players like Phil Taylor, Raymond van Barneveld and Peter Wright. It can change your throw, weight of arm and stance.”
“I’m aware of all this. But the main thing is that I know my practice game is fantastic right now so I know it’s only a matter of time before that comes on the stage. I’m playing really well, I’ll be patient and it will happen for me. I will take time but it will make me a stronger player.”
“I struggled last year for stamina big time, especially on European Tour events when the quarter, semi and finals were on the same day.”
“But now I feel fresh all the time. Once I find my A game, I’ll be in a very good place mentally and physically.”
The PDC have called off the next three nights; at Newcastle and the double header in Rotterdam on March 25-26. The next scheduled event is on April 2 in Belfast.
Rob Cross said: “It’s obviously hard for everyone involved but the only thing that really matters is the health of fans, officials and players. It’s the only sensible thing to do.
“We are now not due to play in the Premier League until April but obviously there’s no certainty over that either right now.
“I feel really sorry for so many players because like anyone else we have to earn a living. But this is an extreme circumstance that no one really knows how it will pan out. So it’s safety first and I agree with that totally.”
