How to Play Darts

In this post I’ll be covering how to play darts. Darts while remaining an impressively simple game at first glance is actually a very complicated game with a lot of rules. In fact, all the rules are laid out in a document by the DRA, the darts regulation authority. It is a thirty-two-page document that states every rule and regulation in the game. However, in this article I will go over the basic rules and regulation to follow if you are just getting into the sport.

The Rules of Darts

The basic rules of darts are broken down into playing rules and general rules:

Darts General Rules:

• The Dartboard should be hung at a height of 5 feet 8 inches from the bullseye to the ground.
• The oche length should be 7 feet 9 ¼ inches.
• The darts weight must not exceed 40g and must be no longer than 30cm.

Darts Playing Rules:

These rules change depending on the game you are playing. I’ve covered a wide variety of darts games on the website before, but 501 is the most popular game. The rules may also change from tournament to tournament if you are playing professionally. So, it is always good practice to read up on the rules of the game you are playing before you play it.

How to Play Darts for Beginners

If you are just starting out playing darts, it is essential you first get your equipment in order. You need a set of three darts and a dart board. When you are first playing, it can be daunting and I suggest you begin by playing online darts first to get a feel for playing the game against others. I’d also suggest that you practice a decent amount before looking to get into playing against others. However, darts has its origins in the British Pub so if you wish to just play with your friends for fun you are able to do that as well. If you are looking to play online, you can use Nakka N01 Online and Lidarts as good free platforms and dartconnect is a good pay ware option.

Once you are ready to play against others it is normal to feel nervous. Just remember, the more you play the quicker the nerves will fade. It is also natural to not be able to replicate the darts you play in practice in a match. Don’t beat yourself up if you are failing to achieve in match what you are in practice. Just stay positive and eventually the results will come.

As a beginner it is also important to practice. This is important as just throwing darts at a board is not great practice. You must practice with intent, there are several games for this, and you will find one that suits your needs on a certain day. One game I recommend for this is Bobs 27s.

How to Play Darts and Win

Darts, depending on the game, has a variety of ways to win. If you are looking to play the game competitively you will be preparing for a game of 501. This means you win by hitting a double, so it is important you practice your doubles. A misconception about darts is that those who play it are lazy and constantly “Booze Around”. However, just as with other competitive sports darts players put in the hours and practice. Frankly, you will never get anywhere by showing up and hoping you’ll win. If you truly want to win at darts the only real answer is practice – practice – practice.

The more you practice the better you will become. As you get better the results will begin to come at any level of the game. The outcome will always reflect the amount of input. In other words, if you want to win you need to work hard and if you work hard your results will begin to reflect this.