🎯 Darts Rules & Beginner's Guide: How to Start Your Darts Journey

For those new to darts, understanding the basic rules and knowing where to begin can feel overwhelming. This comprehensive guide will walk you through everything you need to know to start your darts journey with confidence—from essential equipment and official rules to practice techniques that will help you improve quickly.

Getting Started: Essential Darts Equipment

Before diving into the rules and techniques, it's important to understand the basic equipment you'll need to play darts properly.

The Dartboard

A standard dartboard is divided into 20 numbered segments, arranged non-sequentially to penalize inaccuracy. Each segment contains single, double, and triple scoring areas:

• Singles: The largest areas of each segment, worth the face value (1-20)
• Doubles: The outer narrow ring, worth twice the segment's value
• Triples: The inner narrow ring, worth three times the segment's value
• Bullseye: The center of the board consists of an outer bull (25 points) and inner bull or "bullseye" (50 points)

Professional boards are made of sisal fibers (compressed bristle), which allow darts to penetrate while "self-healing" when the darts are removed.

Darts

Darts come in various weights, shapes, and materials. As a beginner, here's what you should know:

• Weight: Typically between 18-26 grams, with beginners often finding 21-24 gram darts easier to control
• Barrel: The main part of the dart where you grip (brass, nickel, tungsten)
• Shaft/Stem: Connects the barrel to the flight (plastic, aluminum, carbon fiber)
• Flight: The "wing" that stabilizes the dart in flight (various shapes affect trajectory)
• Tip: Steel tips for bristle boards, soft tips for electronic boards

Basic Rules: How to Play Darts

Now that you understand the equipment, let's cover the fundamental rules that apply to most darts games:

Basic Gameplay

1. Stance: Stand at or behind the oche (throwing line), with at least one foot on the ground during the throw
2. Turns: Players throw three darts per turn (unless the game ends mid-turn)
3. Scoring: Only darts that stick in the board count for scores
4. Retrieval: Darts are only retrieved after all three have been thrown and scores recorded
5. Bounce-outs: If a dart bounces off the board, it cannot be re-thrown

Throwing Technique

While everyone develops their own style, these fundamentals will help you start with proper technique:

Popular Darts Game Types

There are dozens of darts games, but these are the most popular ones you'll encounter as you begin your darts journey:

501/301 (Standard Game)

This is the standard game played in professional competitions and the most popular game worldwide.

• Starting Score: Players begin with 501 (or 301) points
• Objective: Reduce your score to exactly zero
• Finishing: In official play, the final dart must land in a double or the bullseye ("double out")
• Busting: If a player scores more points than needed to reach zero, the entire turn is void ("bust"), and they return to their score before that turn

Cricket

Cricket focuses on numbers 15 through 20 plus the bullseye, combining strategy with accuracy.

• Objective: "Close" numbers 15-20 and bullseye by hitting each three times, while scoring more points than your opponent
• Closing: After hitting a number three times, it's "closed" (marked with ⨯)
• Scoring: If you hit a number that you've closed but your opponent hasn't, you score the value of that number
• Winning: Close all numbers and have equal or more points than your opponent

Around the Clock (Round the Board)

A simple game ideal for beginners learning board navigation and accuracy.

• Objective: Hit each number in sequence from 1 to 20
• Progression: You can only move to the next number after hitting the current target
• Variations: Some play requiring doubles or triples for added difficulty

Practice Techniques for Beginners

Consistent practice is the key to improving your darts game. Here are some effective practice routines for beginners:

Accuracy Drills

• Around the Clock: Hit numbers 1-20 in sequence, three rounds daily
• 121 Practice: Aim for three darts at the 20 segment, tracking your average score
• Bullseye Practice: Throw 10 sets of three darts at the bullseye, tracking hits
• Doubling Out: Practice hitting specific doubles, crucial for finishing games

Tracking Progress

Keep a practice journal or use a scoring app to track your progress. Note your scores, accuracies, and areas needing improvement. Setting measurable goals will keep you motivated and help identify weaknesses.

Darts Etiquette and Rules of Conduct

Understanding proper etiquette is important, especially when playing in public venues or joining leagues:

• Respect the Throw: Stand well back from players while they're throwing and remain still
• Scoring: Wait until all three darts are thrown before approaching the board to score and retrieve darts
• Board Access: After your turn, move away quickly to allow the next player access
• Chalk/Scorekeeping: Clearly mark scores and double-check calculations
• Sportsmanship: Acknowledge good throws and avoid excessive celebration or disappointment

Taking Your Game to the Next Level

Once you've mastered the basics, consider these next steps to further develop your skills:

Joining Leagues and Tournaments

Local darts leagues provide regular competition and an opportunity to learn from more experienced players. Most pubs and darts clubs welcome beginners, and leagues often have divisions based on skill level.

Watching Professional Darts

Study professional matches to improve your understanding of strategy and technique. Major tournaments like the PDC World Championship and Premier League Darts offer master classes in high-level play.

Upgrading Equipment

As you improve, consider investing in better equipment. Higher-quality tungsten darts with a weight and balance that suits your throw can make a significant difference to your consistency.

Common Beginner Mistakes to Avoid

Being aware of these common pitfalls will help accelerate your improvement:

• Inconsistent Stance: Standing differently for each throw leads to inconsistent results
• Grip Shifting: Changing your grip between throws disrupts muscle memory
• Dartboard Fixation: Focusing on the entire board rather than your specific target
• Rushing Throws: Throwing too quickly without proper setup and aim
• Poor Follow-Through: Dropping your arm immediately after release instead of completing the motion
• Overthinking: Analysis paralysis instead of developing natural rhythm

Final Thoughts: Enjoying Your Darts Journey

Darts is a game that offers endless opportunities for improvement, but it's also meant to be enjoyable. Don't get discouraged by slow progress—even professional players constantly work to refine their game.

The beauty of darts lies in its accessibility and social nature. Whether you're playing casually with friends or working toward competitive play, focus on consistent practice, good technique, and having fun.

Remember that every great player started as a beginner. With regular practice and by applying the techniques and rules outlined in this guide, you'll be hitting trebles and closing out games before you know it.

Start your darts journey today—set up your board, grab your darts, and step up to the oche. The only way to improve is to throw, throw, and throw some more. 🎯