Nathan Rafferty

Nathan Rafferty is a Northern Irish darts player whose results are best understood through the lens of match context: format length, opponent style, and whether the game is on a stage or on the floor. This Nathan Rafferty darts profile brings together the key patterns that matter most to fans and bettors ? how he scores, how he finishes, and what tends to happen when pressure rises. On DartsStats.com, you can track his averages, checkout efficiency, 180 output and match splits over time, then use those numbers to form clearer pre-match expectations rather than relying on reputation alone.

Player Snapshot

Full Name and Nickname (If Used)

Full name: Nathan Rafferty
Nickname: Not consistently used in major coverage. When a player doesn?t have an established nickname, it?s usually better to focus on measurable traits (tempo, scoring bursts, doubles reliability) rather than branding.

Country and Tour Status

Country: Northern Ireland
Tour status: Rafferty has competed across PDC pathways where form can swing quickly because opponents are deep in quality and match formats are often short. When you?re assessing his chances, it helps to separate ?ability level? from ?weekly variance? ? floor events and qualifiers in particular can produce sharp statistical spikes in either direction.

Best-Of Formats and Typical Strengths

Like many developing and mid-tour players, Rafferty?s performance can look different depending on whether he has time to settle. On the stats, that usually shows up as:

• Short formats (best of 9?11 legs): higher variance; one hot scoring burst can decide the match.
• Medium formats (best of 15?19 legs): form ?normalises? and the better baseline player more often comes through.
• Set play: momentum swings are amplified; key legs at 1?1 or 2?2 in sets become decisive, so doubling under pressure becomes more important than raw average.

Typical strengths to look for in his data are strong first-visit scoring (getting to a finish quickly) and legs where he applies immediate pressure with early trebles.

Playing Style

Scoring Profile (T20 Heavy, Switching, Tempo)

Rafferty?s scoring profile is best evaluated by how often he builds a leg through the 60?100 range versus explosive 140+ visits. On DartsStats.com, check the distribution of his scoring visits and his First 9 Average to see whether he tends to ?start fast? or grow into legs.

• T20 reliance: Many players at this level are naturally T20 heavy. If Rafferty?s 180 rate is healthy but his overall average fluctuates, it can indicate a high-reward profile that depends on finding the treble early.
• Switching: Watch for patterns in matches where the T20 is blocked ? does he switch smoothly (T19/T18) or does his scoring dip while he searches?
• Pressure scoring: A useful tell is whether his opponent?s checkout chances reduce his scoring power. If his average drops notably in legs where he is behind after 6 darts, that suggests he can be ?chased? into mistakes.

Finishing Profile (Preferred Doubles, Checkout Tendencies)

Finishing is where many matches swing, especially in short races. Rather than assuming a ?good? or ?bad? finisher, use the numbers:

• Preferred doubles: Look at his most frequent successful doubles and whether he returns to them under pressure (commonly D20/D16 routes, but always verify with match data).
• Checkout tendencies: Does he favour safer routes (setting up tops) or aggressive two-dart checkouts? This can be inferred from high-checkout frequency and the proportion of legs finished inside 15 darts.
• Clean-up ability: If missed doubles per leg is high while checkout percentage is middling, it may suggest he gets opportunities but doesn?t always take them first time ? a key factor for totals and handicap markets.

Pace and Rhythm Notes

Pace is often discussed loosely, but it matters because it impacts settling time and doubling composure. If Rafferty?s first 3?4 legs in matches are consistently lower than his later legs, he may be a ?grows into it? player who benefits from longer formats. If the opposite is true (fast starter, then fade), that can influence in-play expectations and correct score angles.

Key Stats on DartsStats.com

3-Dart Average and First 9 Average

The 3-dart average tells you overall scoring quality; the First 9 Average tells you how quickly he sets up finishes. For Rafferty, the most actionable approach is to compare them:

• If his First 9 is strong but overall average trails, he may be reaching doubles quickly but taking longer to finish (more missed doubles or messy set-up).
• If his overall average is close to his First 9 strength, he?s sustaining scoring deeper into the leg ? useful for predicting 12?15 dart legs and leg totals.

When you review recent matches, look for clusters rather than one-off peaks: a run of matches where both numbers are up is a far better signal than a single standout performance.

Checkout Percentage and Missed Doubles

Checkout percentage is powerful, but it can mislead unless you pair it with missed doubles and opponent opportunities. Use a simple checklist:

• Checkout % rising + missed doubles falling = genuine improvement.
• Checkout % rising + missed doubles stable/high = could be ?finishing streaks? rather than a real level-up.
• Checkout % falling in short formats may be variance ? confirm across 10?20 matches.

Also note the calibre of opposition: a player can look ?poor on doubles? when they?re constantly forced into low-margin finishes because the opponent is scoring heavily.

180 Rate and High Checkout Trends

Rafferty?s 180 rate is useful for understanding ceiling and match volatility. A higher 180 rate often pairs with:

• More legs decided by a burst of scoring rather than steady 100s.
• Greater suitability for ?most 180s? angles in specific match-ups.
• Higher chance of quick holds when he finds rhythm early.

High checkout trends (100+) are a different signal: they suggest confidence in routes and the ability to punish mistakes. If his 100+ outs appear more often on stage than on the floor (or vice versa), that?s a meaningful split to factor into your preview.

Legs and Sets Performance Splits

DartsStats.com splits help you avoid broad conclusions. Key splits to compare:

• Deciders (final-leg performance): Does his average and checkout rate hold up in last-leg situations?
• When throwing first vs second: Some players hold serve well but struggle to break; others are dangerous on the opponent?s throw.
• Early legs vs late legs: A settling pattern can point to format advantages (longer matches) or pre-match nerves (shorter matches).

Recent Form and Performance Trends

Last 10-20 Matches Summary

The most practical ?form read? is not just wins and losses ? it?s whether his underlying numbers are moving. Over a 10?20 match sample, pay attention to:

• Average stability: Fewer extreme lows usually indicates a stronger baseline.
• First 9 direction: Improving early scoring is often the quickest path to better results in short races.
• Doubles volatility: Spiky finishing can turn matches into coin flips even when he?s outscoring opponents.

If you see repeated matches where Rafferty loses while out-averaging the opponent, that?s a clue the swing is on doubles or timing (missing at key moments), not necessarily scoring quality.

Stage vs Floor Differences (If Relevant)

Many players show measurable differences between stage events (crowd, walk-ons, longer breaks) and floor events (quieter, faster rhythm). If Rafferty?s numbers show:

• Higher 3-dart average on the floor but lower checkout percentage on stage, it can indicate pressure sensitivity on doubles.
• Similar averages but better stage results, it may suggest he thrives on adrenaline and timing rather than pure practice-room rhythm.

Don?t assume the split exists ? verify it in the dataset. If there?s no clear split, treat ?stage vs floor? narratives as noise.

Form Indicators to Watch

Three indicators tend to be especially predictive for Rafferty-style profiles:

• Double attempts per leg: More attempts usually means he?s getting chances; the key is whether conversion follows.
• 12?15 dart leg frequency: A clean measure of whether he?s playing at a level that can beat competent tour opposition.
• Break rate: If he?s breaking throw more often, it suggests his scoring pressure is landing at the right time.

Career Highlights

Major Titles and Notable Runs

Rafferty?s career story is best captured by the steps up in standard rather than a single headline moment. Notable runs (particularly in televised or streamed rounds) often coincide with a period where his First 9 Average lifts and his doubling steadies. When reviewing highlights, prioritise matches where he beat players with a proven baseline ? those wins tend to be more informative than one-sided games against out-of-form opponents.

Breakthrough Moments and Milestones

Breakthroughs for players on the PDC pathway often look like:

• Putting together back-to-back wins with both strong scoring and above-average doubling.
• Posting repeated matches in the mid-to-high 90s average range (in the right context) rather than a single outlier.
• Demonstrating the ability to recover after losing a strong-scoring leg (mental reset).

On DartsStats.com, you can often see these breakthroughs as a sustained improvement in ?floor consistency? before it translates into deeper runs on bigger stages.

Rivalries and Signature Matches

Rivalries in darts are often statistical: two players whose styles collide regularly in qualifiers or tours. The signature matches to learn from are those where Rafferty:

• Wins despite being slightly outscored (suggesting clutch doubles and timing).
• Loses while outscoring (suggesting missed doubles, poor set-up, or nerves in key legs).
• Shows a clear adjustment mid-match (switching earlier, changing set-up routes, slowing tempo).

Best Matchups and Risk Factors

Opponents and Styles That Suit

Rafferty typically looks best against opponents who:

• Allow chances on doubles (low checkout percentage), letting his scoring pressure convert into breaks.
• Are inconsistent scorers, where a couple of 140+ visits can create decisive gaps.
• Struggle in deciders, where composure can matter more than pure average.

In these match-ups, the key is whether Rafferty can maintain first-visit scoring to get in first at doubles. If he does, he often turns matches into a rhythm contest.

Common Weak Spots (If Any)

Risk factors to watch in Rafferty?s profile are usually situational rather than permanent flaws:

• Doubling streakiness: A couple of missed darts can change the entire flow of a short race.
• Blocked T20 response: If switching isn?t immediate, his scoring can briefly stall.
• Opponent finishing heat: When an opponent is taking out 80?120 regularly, missed doubles become more damaging.

Format and Distance Effects

Format length changes what matters:

• Short races: favour volatility; one big checkout (e.g., 121) can flip expected value.
• Longer legs formats: reward baseline scoring and reduce the impact of one poor doubling leg.
• Set play: can punish a single sloppy leg more than it should, because it changes set momentum.

How to Use This Profile

What to Check Before a Match

Use this quick pre-match routine on DartsStats.com:

• Last 10 matches: 3-dart average trend and First 9 trend.
• Doubles: checkout percentage plus missed doubles per leg (or per match).
• Opposition strength: were his good numbers posted against strong scorers?
• Format: best of 11 legs is a different game to best of 19.
• Throw advantage: if available, consider hold/break tendencies for both players.

Interpreting Stats Without Overreacting

Darts is inherently high-variance, especially in short formats. Avoid common traps:

• One-match bias: a 102 average last match doesn?t automatically mean he?s ?in form?. Confirm across a run.
• Result-only thinking: a 6?5 win can hide weak doubles; a 6?4 loss can hide elite scoring.
• Ignoring opponent context: some opponents drag matches into messy legs; others create clean, high-scoring contests.

Tracking Improvements Over Time

For Rafferty, improvements often show up in two places first: fewer extreme lows in average, and a steadier checkout rate in matches where he?s under pressure. Keep an eye on:

• Rolling 10-match average (rather than event-by-event noise).
• Performance in deciders (average + doubles).
• High checkouts as a sign of confidence and route clarity.

Concrete betting scenarios (educational examples)

The scenarios below show how you might translate Rafferty?s stats into a sensible, numbers-led view of a market. They?re examples of process, not predictions.

• Scenario 1: Total legs in a best-of-11 (first to 6)
  You notice in Rafferty?s last 15 matches that:

  • He?s gone to a deciding leg 6 times (40%).
  • His hold rate is solid, but his break rate is modest, suggesting tight matches when opponents can hold too.

  In a match priced around near-evens (for example, 1/1), you might consider whether a line like Over 9.5 legs fits the profile. Over 9.5 requires a 6?4 or 6?5 type outcome. If both players are holding regularly and Rafferty?s decider frequency is high, the over can be logically supported ? but you?d still check opponent checkout form to avoid backing an over when one player is likely to run away with it.

• Scenario 2: ?Most 180s? versus match winner
  Suppose Rafferty?s recent numbers show a stronger 180 rate than his opponent, but his checkout percentage is notably lower across the last 10 matches. In that case, it can be rational to separate the two outcomes:

  • Match result could be decided by doubles at key moments (where he?s weaker right now).
  • 180 count could still lean his way if he?s creating more maximum chances through T20-heavy scoring.

  As an educational example, if the match winner price is around 6/5 but ?most 180s? is nearer 10/11, the stats might suggest the 180 angle matches his current strengths better than the outright result ? provided the opponent isn?t also a prolific maximum hitter. Always sanity-check with match length: in a short race, one 180 can swing the market, so variance is high.

FAQs

What is Nathan Rafferty’s best format?

He?s generally easier to assess in medium-to-longer leg formats where baseline scoring and sustained rhythm have time to show. In very short races, outcomes can hinge on one burst of trebles or a single poor doubles leg, so his results can look more volatile.

What are Nathan Rafferty’s strongest stats?

The most useful ?strength? signals to check are his First 9 Average (how quickly he applies pressure) and his 180 rate (his ceiling and scoring bursts). Confirm whether these are consistent across the last 10?20 matches rather than relying on isolated peaks.

What should you look for in Nathan Rafferty’s recent form?

Prioritise trend direction: a steadier 3-dart average, improving First 9, and a checkout percentage that is stable rather than spiky. Also note whether his good numbers come against credible opposition or softer match-ups.

Which doubles does Nathan Rafferty prefer?

Preferred doubles can vary by match and setup route, so it?s best verified via recent leg data. Look for the doubles he returns to in pressure legs (for many players this is often D20 or D16), then see whether his conversion rate holds up in deciders.

Does Nathan Rafferty perform better on stage or floor?

Some players are stronger on the floor due to rhythm and repetition, while stage matches introduce pressure and longer pauses. Use DartsStats.com splits to compare his averages and checkout percentage in each environment; if there?s no clear gap, treat the difference as minimal.

How often does Nathan Rafferty hit 180s?

Use his 180 rate (per leg or per match, depending on the stats view) and compare it to the opponent?s. A higher rate suggests he can win ?most 180s? in the right match-up, but remember that short formats increase randomness in maximum counts.

The Final Throw

Nathan Rafferty is best analysed through repeatable indicators: early-leg scoring (First 9), the reliability of his doubling, and how those numbers shift by format and environment. If you use this profile properly, you?ll avoid the two biggest mistakes in darts analysis ? overreacting to a single hot match, and ignoring the context of opponent standard and match length.

Before any fixture, focus on a small set of checks: last 10?20 match trends, doubles stability (not just checkout % in isolation), and whether the match format gives him time to settle. When the numbers point in different directions ? for example, strong 180 output but shaky finishing ? consider markets that align with the specific strength rather than forcing everything into a match-winner opinion.

If you choose to bet, keep it measured and treat darts as a high-variance sport where even good reads can lose on small moments. Only stake what you can afford to lose, and if betting stops being enjoyable or feels hard to control, take a break and seek support from responsible gambling services.