DENNIS Smith has admitted a drastic change of approach is needed as he bids to retain his position in the world’s top 50.

PDC veteran Smith has been called ‘the gentleman of darts’ by a number of the game’s top players in recent months, but the man himself believes he can’t afford to be so nice given the tactics often utilised by modern players.

Smith accepts delaying tactics such as slowly removing darts from the board can often get in his head and is now edging towards the idea of employing them himself in a bid to keep up with the players of today.

“I don’t think my attitude off the board will ever change, I don’t want it to, but on the board I think I maybe do need to change the way I do certain things,” he said.

“You go up and play your games and people are using tactics and things like that while I’m just playing the game. I come off the board feeling fed up of being walked over so I think a change of attitude on the oche is well and truly needed. If you can’t beat them you may as well join them.

“It’s silly little things really, like taking time to take the darts out the board, and that can get in your head. They know how to push the buttons and enough’s enough.”

Smith, along with the rest of Swindon’s PDC players, is regularly making good progress in Players Championship events without consistently reaching the big money stages, but the stalwart is pleased with his recent form going into this weekend’s two Players Championship competitions in Wigan.

“Things are going alright and I’m practising really hard but I could have kicked myself last weekend because I had six darts to take Stephen Bunting out,” he said.

“He went 3-1 up and I brought it back to five each and just couldn’t take out the final double, it was so frustrating.

“Things are coming back nicely for me and things are working for me so hopefully that can carry on and I can pick up some good money.”