Double world darts champ Luke Littler is practising with new hi-tech Oakley Meta HSTN glasses which film his throws then analyse every detail
Luke Littler has recruited an AI bot trainer to help him get even better.
The double world darts champ is practising using new Oakley Meta HSTN glasses which video his throws then analyse every detail. In an astonishing clip showing the shades in action Luke blasts off a maximum ‘180’ to order.
The teen – who has won back-to-back world titles and this year the sport’s first-ever £1m first prize – turned to the tech after suffering a rare defeat in the first Premier League fixture of the new darts season. He posted a video on Instagram showing him practicing with the specs on his Luke ‘The Nuke’ dartboard.
Fans loved the point-of-view footage showing exactly what the arrows ace sees when he throws his darts. The £479 voice-controlled shades – fitted with a microphone, speakers, wifi, Bluetooth link and camera – allow athletes to get tips while they are training.
They can ask ‘hey Meta, how am I doing’ and receive up to the second analysis of their performance – and suggestions for how to boost it.
In the video Luke, 19, says: “I’ve just had these Oakley Meta glasses delivered to me. I’m going to go down from a leg of 501.” He then fires off three straight 140s and seals it with a one-dart double-16 finish, adding: “There we go.”
Then he says, ‘I’m just going to try and hit 180’. To order he sends all three darts straight into the treble-20 to record the maximum possible score which he signals with a professional darts caller-style shout of: “One hundred and 80!”
Luke then flashes an image of him wearing the glasses in his reflection in the world championship trophy in his practice room. He said: “With my Oakley Meta HSTNs I get a proper POV recording of my throws.
“It’s class for training. I get to properly watch back how my darts fly so I can fine tune my throwing technique and get it spot on for competition season. Most of the time I do look back at my performances.
“I look back at the 180s, the averages and most importantly the finishing. But with the Oakley Meta glasses I can go back and see what’s going right and see what’s going wrong with my throw from a new perspective so I can change my technique for the future.”
One impressed fan replied: “You should take up darts mate, you’re decent.” Another said: “Amazing view.”
One more responded: “It’s even more INCREDIBLE when you see it from YOUR view.”
“Keep cooking champ,” urged another. Someone else commented: “As easy as that, ffs! Effortless.”
One chancer joked: “Wunna play for Landore social club mate? Got teams on a Monday and Thursday night. Let me know come down for a trial lad.” While another wag said: “Dare you to wear them at the Premier League on Thursday.”
Luke suffered a shock 6-4 quarter-final loss to Dutch star Gian van Veen, 23, on the opening night of this year’s Premier League in Newcastle. It was only the eighth time in 33 Premier League appearances Littler had lost his opening clash.
Former darts pro Matt Edgar said the short race-to-six structure – where there is little time to recover from slow starts – could expose a weakness in Luke’s game leaving him ‘vulnerable’.
A spokesman for US glasses manufacturer Oakley said: “Following a rare loss last week Littler has been analysing his performance while treating fans to a never-before-seen, first-person POV of his practice sessions. Using Oakley Meta glasses he runs through his 180s, 501s and Big Fish finishes sharing insight into how he refines his game at the highest level.”