Beginner's Guide to Playing Darts

Darts doesn't require too much equipment to get started. All you really need is a dartboard and a set of darts.

The best quality dartboards are bristle dartboards. These are made up of densely packed fibers that "heal" up after the dart is removed from the board. These are the same types of board that are used at all the major competitions and with good care, will last you a long time.

Darts themselves come in a vast assortment of shapes, weights, and designs. They are the most customizable part of the game and over time, and with plenty of practice, you will be able to find a dart that best fits your throwing style. A dart is made up of several distinct parts: the point or tip is the sharp end that enters the board; the barrel provides the weight to the dart, and is where you grip it; the shaft or stem, and the flights are the two replaceable parts at the back of a dart that determine the stability and aerodynamic characteristics of the dart in flight. Always try to play with a matched set of darts to keep your throwing consistent.

When playing darts, you and your opponent alternate between throwing three darts at the board in an effort to score points. To score on a dartboard, you must hit the numbered segments that are separated by the wire on the board. This wire is also known as The Spider. The numbers on the board go from 1 to 20, with a circle in the middle called the bull. The bull itself consists of two parts: the outer part is a single-bull, and is worth 25 points; the center part is known as the double-bull or bullseye, and is worth 50 points. Along with this, there are two thinner rings that go around the board. The outer ring is known as the double ring, and the inner ring is the triple ring. Landing a dart in one of these areas doubles or triples the score of that dart, respectively. Any dart that hits the board outside the double ring does not score. The highest score possible on a dartboard with three darts is 180. This is achieved when all three darts land in the triple twenty, scoring 60 points for each dart.

Contrary to what you may have been told, having a rotund gut does not provide a ballast for perfect balance when throwing darts. People of all shapes and sizes can play darts, but some caution must be taken as you are throwing sharp objects and you don't want to miss the target.

Many people out there will tell you the right and wrong way to stand, hold, and throw a dart, but at the end of the day, it depends on your style and how you feel comfortable throwing the dart. The first thing you have to learn is to hit the board, not the walls, ceiling, or floors. Then you can refine your shot.

Here are some general pointers to help you hit the board:

• Always throw with both feet touching the ground, and then lean into the board before throwing.


• Do not stand on one leg; you will only lose your balance.


• Hold your dart flat, at a ninety degree angle to the board. This allows your dart to fly true along its path. If you hold it at an angle, the dart will have to adjust its path as it corrects its angle.


• Keep your eyes on the target you are aiming for, and throw the dart from the same height as your eyes to try and make it travel along the same line.


• Lastly, don't try to throw the dart as hard as possible. This reduces accuracy and results in a sore arm. Instead of flinging the dart, use a a nice smooth action and "place" the darts into the board. When you release the dart, continue the motion with the arm, making a full arc.

Darts is an easy game to play, but it takes a lot of practice. Just go out with a few friends, have a few drinks, play a couple of games, and enjoy yourselves. You never know, you might end up turning pro in a few years.