Dom Taylor is back on the big stage for the first time since serving a six-month doping ban, and the Englishman insists he's a changed man. Speaking after qualifying for Saturday's finals night at the MODUS Super Series, Taylor opened up about his reinvention both on and off the oche. "Yeah, feeling amazing, mate. A lot better than what I have been. Things have changed and I'm feeling good in myself," he said during the coverage.
Taylor's return to the spotlight has been a complete overhaul. "I've had to completely start again, new darts, changed throw slightly. I was stacking, but now I've gone back to throwing how I used to in a way," he revealed. The changes extend far beyond equipment and technique — Taylor has also quit alcohol entirely. "Obviously, no alcohol, so that's starting again majorly. Yeah, basically starting fresh and, I mean, my life's starting fresh again, so see if the darts count as well."
The 26-year-old admitted that stepping back under the lights brought back familiar nerves, but he's relishing the challenge. "Yeah, of course there's a couple of nerves. Anyone says they didn't get nervous, chatting out their bum, but yeah, I just want to get into that first game now. I know I'm first game on tonight, so as soon as this game on, then we'll see what happens." He added that the practice session on stage reminded him of what he'd been missing: "Especially having a practice on that stage and knowing the cameras and that, feeling the heat of the lights is a good feeling again."
Taylor's confidence is growing after putting in the hard yards. "I've shown myself the averages can still be put in. I was at last week or the week before at ADC weekends, the averages were up and down a bit, but I've put in the hours," he said. That preparation paid off when he got the call he'd been waiting for. "I had the nice phone call Monday morning to come down. I've put the work in, ready to come here, so we'll see if it's paid off."
With his career having "gone up in smoke" during the ban, Taylor is determined to prove himself all over again. "I'm buzzed to get back to it and show people again that it's me, the real me this time," he declared. When asked if he still has something to prove, his answer was emphatic: "Yeah, 100%."
