WORLD NO. 45 JUSTIN HOOD TO MAKE COMPETITIVE DEBUT AS ‘POCKET ROCKET’ AT PLAYERS CHAMPIONSHIPS 21-22
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Target Darts athlete Justin Hood, currently ranked world No. 45, has officially unveiled his new nickname, “Pocket Rocket”, ahead of his first appearance under the new moniker at Players Championships 21-22 in Wigan next week.
The nickname replaces Hood’s previous “Happy Feet” identity and will be used in competition for the first time when he takes to the oche at Robin Park Leisure Centre on 16-17 June. This year he also reached a PDC Players Championship Final, losing out to Chris Dobey.
The “Pocket Rocket” identity has been developed as a new brand concept by Target Darts, built around Hood’s personality, explosive scoring style, and growing stage presence. Central to the identity is a distinctive penguin/rocket mascot, designed to reflect both his charm and the high-energy entertainment he brings to the sport.
Hood enjoyed a breakthrough start to 2026, reaching the quarter-finals of the PDC World Darts Championship and cementing his place among the sport’s rising stars.
To mark the occasion, a special reveal video was released by Target Darts on Instagram today, which can be viewed in full here https://www.instagram.com/p/DZXNolgFHpx/ , giving fans their first look at Hood’s new darts identity ahead of the Players Championship double-header.
The end of the video also provided darts enthusiasts with a first look at packaging for Hood’s new Target branded darts, part of the upcoming Justin Hood Gen 1 signature range, due for release in September 2026. The darts will feature a navy blue, gold, and black colourway and will be supplied with new Swiss Point technology as standard.
Justin Hood said: “Pocket Rocket is a nickname that really captures who I am. It’s energetic, competitive and reflects the way I approach the game. Happy Feet will always be a part of my story, but it belongs to someone else. This feels like the right time for a fresh chapter.
He added: “I’ve been having a good season so far and now there is so much to look forward to, with my own darts launching in September. It’s so exciting working on a product that’s designed around me and my game. I can’t wait to see people using my darts.”
