RAYMOND VAN BARNEVELD admits he feels 'comfortable' again after returning to the darts with which he won three major PDC tournaments.
The Dutchman made a high-profile switch of darts ahead of the 2007 Ladbrokes.com World Championship, when he edged out Phil Taylor to claim the Circus Tavern title.
He also went on to win the 2007 Blue Square UK Open and Las Vegas Desert Classic with the darts, before changing again to a set with a ceramic grip late last year.
He was a second round victim at the PartyBets.com Grand Slam of Darts and a third round loser at the World Championship in December, before abandoning the new style dart last month.
His decision has proven a successful one so far, with his campaign in the Whyte & Mackay Premier League Darts opening with three successive victories to put van Barneveld at the head of the table.
"I didn't feel comfortable with the other darts," admits van Barneveld.
"I played with the other darts for two-and-a-half months, I played well and had a nine-darter in Germany but they didn't make enough of a difference.
"I didn't have a good result in the Grand Slam of Darts, the German Darts Championship or the World Championship and I had to do something to start believing in myself again.
"I had won 11 tournaments with the old darts, and I went back to them.
"You never know what the future brings, but for now I'm sticking with these darts and I'm pleased with them."
Van Barneveld has also worked hard on his fitness recently and is practising with young Dutchman Joey ten Berge, while he has steered clear of PDC Pro Tour events in recent weeks to avoid extra travelling.
He admitted: "I didn't practice that much in January.
"I had a holiday in Dubai but now I am training every Tuesday night with Dutch player Joey ten Berge, and we are making each other sharp.
"I also noticed I was feeling a little bit lazy so I went back to the gym as well to put some power back, and I am comfortable, I'm relaxed.
"I said after the World Championship that I had to relax because I was putting so much pressure on myself and that didn't help me.
"I am going to enjoy playing now, and I am proud to be playing at this level in the Premier League."
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