Get better at darts
Straightforward guides to technique, practice, finishing and the mental side of the game.
Practice
How to improve your darts averagePractical ways to raise your three-dart average: what an average is, what good looks like, and the practice that actually moves the number.
A 30-minute darts practice routineA simple, structured 30-minute darts practice routine covering warm-up, scoring, doubles and checkouts, with a way to track your progress.
The best darts practice gamesThe best darts practice games for scoring, doubles and finishing, including Around the Clock, Bob's 27, 121 and Halve-It, with what each one trains.
How to practise darts on your ownHow to make solo darts practice count: set targets, keep score, add pressure and use games and computer opponents to stay motivated.
A darts warm-up routineA simple darts warm-up routine to use before practice or a match: loosening up, finding your rhythm and getting a feel for the doubles.
How to track your darts progressWhich darts stats to track, how often to measure them and how to use the numbers to decide what to practise next.
Finishing
How to practise doublesHow to practise doubles in darts: which doubles to focus on, why even doubles matter, and drills that build a reliable finishing double.
Darts checkout strategyHow to choose the right checkout in darts: preferred doubles, planning for misses, when to avoid the bull and how to leave yourself a good finish.
Bogey numbers in dartsWhat bogey numbers are in darts, the full list (169, 168, 166, 165, 163, 162 and 159), why they can’t be checked out, and what to throw instead.
12 checkouts every darts player should learnThe darts checkouts that come up most often, from 32 to 170, with the standard routes and why each one is worth learning first.
Scoring
When to switch to treble 19When and why to switch from treble 20 to treble 19: blocked trebles, miss patterns, and what each segment scores when you miss.
How to hit more 180sHow to hit more 180s in darts: tight grouping, a consistent rhythm, deflections, and the practice that raises your chance of a maximum.
Technique
Darts stance: how to stand at the ocheHow to stand when throwing darts: front foot position, weight, balance and the three common stances, with tips for staying consistent.
How to grip a dartHow to hold a dart: finding your grip, how many fingers to use, how tight to hold and how barrel shape affects your grip.
Darts throwing techniqueHow to throw a dart: aiming, the backswing, release point and follow-through, plus fixes for the most common faults.
Mindset
Setup
Dartboard height and oche distanceThe official dartboard height (5ft 8in to the bull), oche distance (7ft 9¼in) and diagonal measurement, plus tips for setting up a board at home.
How to choose dartsHow to choose the right darts: weight, barrel shape, tungsten percentage, grip and how to find a set that suits your throw.
Rules
501 darts rulesThe rules of 501 darts explained: starting score, double out, busts, legs and sets, and who throws first.
Cricket darts rulesHow to play cricket darts: the numbers in play, closing numbers, scoring points and how to win.
Darts terms and slangA glossary of darts terms and slang, from bed and breakfast to madhouse, tops, ton and robin hood.