Wednesday 29 April 2015 16:26, UK
Raymond van Barneveld has put his improvement down to the plethora of young talent in the game ... and his new arrows.
Van Barneveld, the five-time world champion and reigning Premier League title holder, has been throwing with the latest youth talent in his native Holland.
Jeffrey de Zwaan, 19, and Mike Zuydwijk, 20, come from a conveyor belt of multi-talented tungsten throwers which has produced current world champion Michael van Gerwen and last year's BDO semi-finalist Jan Dekker.
"These guys give me energy," said van Barneveld. "I practice with them two, three times a week and they make me sharper as well because these kids nowadays are amazing.
"Mike Zuydwijk had an average of 130.25 last week in the youth PDC, winning (legs) in 11, 11, 12, 12 darts, which is not normal, so these guys make me sharp because I have to be.
"The standard at the moment is not normal. If you watch Michael van Gerwen and his performance against James Wade last week - 116 average - where does it go to you know."
Health problems
Van Barneveld, who has struggled to cope with diabetes in the past, feels that his health is now under control thanks to a change in lifestyle with meditation and breathing techniques helping him prepare and giving him a much more of a killer instinct.
"My health is in control now so I never have problems with the diabetes," said the 48-year-old. "It's a killer because if you're drinking the fatty coke or the wrong food like carbohydrates then you get a red face or pins and needles in your hands and feet so I'm looking after things to help calm me down.
"The funny thing is that when I was 134 kilos I was the best in the world but when I was on a diet, I lost 26 kilos and sometimes you feel really different than you're used to. You lose so much weight that your stability changes.
"It's just a talent the way your mindset is because if you look at Michael van Gerwen, he never thinks about losing at the moment. He's always thinking about winning."
Birmingham
The Dutchman is now looking forward to taking on Gary Anderson and Adrian Lewis in Birmingham on Thursday night with the climax of the Premier League season just weeks away.
Other than playing with the latest talent from Holland, Van Barneveld has also put his current form down to his new arrows which he believes have given him a new sense of belief.
"I'm really satisfied with the way I'm playing," he said. "My last three matches after judgement night I have had a draw and three wins and tomorrow night I have two big games against Gary (Anderson) and Adrian (Lewis).
"If I can win these two matches then I will make a big step to the semi-finals.
"My belief is there. Finally, the set of darts I'm using is good because I was swapping them all the time for many years, but now I'm back to the 21 gram tungsten darts.
"The new shafts are brilliant - a little bit flexible - black shafts with white, so red is always good to focus at. The finishes go in fantastic.
"I have a good record against Gary but he had an unbelievable night last week. He got beat 7-1 by Stephen Bunting and then he beat Michael van Gerwen 7-5 so for me that wasn't a good result.
"At the end of January I beat him in the Masters and I got a draw against him in week nine of the Premier League so he hasn't defeated me for the last six months I think."
My belief is there. Finally, the set of darts I'm using is good because I was swapping them all the time for many years, but now I'm back to the 21 gram tungsten darts.
A couple of wins for the Dutch ace in the second city would put him in pole position to qualify for the O2.
And he is only too aware that he has the opportunity of knocking out his arch-enemy Phil Taylor by grabbing the fourth and final play-off spot.
"Tomorrow night has to go good and even if I win these two matches I still have to win the other two against James (Wade) and Stephen Bunting so I'm not going to sit and relax."
Buoyant mood
Van Barneveld is in buoyant mood and is fully confident that he can go on and retain his Premier League crown on Thursday 21 May.
"Of course I can," said the Den Haag-born player. "I wasn't thinking that after week eight and especially after week nine. I can't see a reason why it can't be done."
The Dutchman also has a "sixth world title in mind" although he was last crowned champion in 2005 and he is all too aware that he would have to make some changes to his schedule in order to make that dream a reality.
"The calendar is full of tournaments and exhibitions so I have to make choices to plan more rest rather than play every week," he added.
"I'm not too far off. Last year I reached the semi-finals and before that I lost twice to Phil Taylor, but he's the best player in the world so you can lose to him.
"Everybody has a chance of winning the world title so why not Raymond van Barneveld."
Watch live coverage of week 13 of the Premier League darts at the Barclaycard Arena in Birmingham on Sky Sports 1 from 7pm & listen to our interview with Barney by clicking on the audio link at the top ...
