Can anyone give me some advice on playing Darts?

Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share
1

I wasn’t sure where to make this post, didn’t seem factual enough for GQ, or artistic enough for Cafe Society, so I figured I’d ask here-

Yesterday a bunch of friends celebrated my best friend’s roomates birthday party (we have a lot of mutal friends). We went to Britannia Arms, a British-styled pub in San Jose. Initially we were going to play foosball, but the competition was intense and I wasn’t in the mood to have my ego shattered over a little ping-pong ball. So my friends and I played coin-op darts. Now, I haven’t played darts much before, but it was quite fun. Who knew the idea of trying to throw some little piece of plastic and metal on an area the size of a dime could be so much fun? While I did get better as the night wore on, I kind of wished I at least knew a little bit of form on throwing the darts. Now granted these were cheapy beat up darts that got used a lot, and they were the blunt plastic tipped ones for use with the coin-op machine.

The main thing I was wondering was how to throw the darts so that they fly relatively straight. Sometimes the dart would take a tumble, and if it hit the board, often the machine would register a ‘hit’ (once the outer bulls eye was tripped this way, kind of funny!)

Also, when playing for points (starting at 0 and seeing who has the most points after 8 rounds), what is the best part of the board to go for? It seems like the 3x score ring on the 20 point wedge is easier to hit than the center bulls eye, and nets more points to boot. The bulls-eye is really tricky to get and more often than not I miss it by a hair and hit the 1 or 3 point wedge :mad:

2

First off, relax. Nothing screws up your aim more than tense muscles. I hold the dart with three fingers like a pencil, upper arm mostly level with the floor and use your forearm and wrist to propel the dart.Try not to move your upper arm as the gross motor there isn’t usually precise enough.I also find that when I am following through on a throw, my fingers tend to be pointing at the spot I am aiming at…imagine your hand in a mostly upright position, you toss the dart forward and the three holding fingers are now pointing at the board.

Playing for points is not a game I’m familiar with but I will say that if you get good at Trip 20’s, they can be deadly. Vileorb and I used to play quite a lot till he just moved :(, and his favorite was Trip 19’s. I have also found it to be a very nice number to hit. I’d recommend practicing the trip and double rings as they can make or break you!

The most popular dart games are Cricket, 301, and 501. Trips in Cricket will end your opponents hopes of free beer very wuickly and Doubles are essential in 3-0 and 5-0, as you have to hit a double of a number to end the game i.e. you have 32 points left so you hit the double 16. It’s also the 1 and 5 that are next to the 20 ;), hitting a 1, 5, and 20 in one throw is called “breakfast”…guess which meal I hate to eat!

3

I like to take a shot of whiskey, close me eyes, turn 90 degrees (either direction) and throw it as hard as can.

Suprisingly, I rarely win. I’d think with this technique that I would be unstoppable.

4

The most important thing is to relax and breath evenly. The second most important thing is consitantcy.

Throw every dart exactly the same way that you threw the last one.

Practice. This is key. You have to practice.

Some people will tell you that “it’s all in the wrist.” Those people lie. It’s all in the fingertips/

For everything else, what MikeG said.

5

I agree with the above posters; keep the upper arm still, use the elbow-hinge as your fulcrum so only your forearm is in motion. The follow-through is important; note what they said about the fingers.

As for the “bouncing-out of the board thing”, it’s common with crappy bar-darts and an electronic board. The good news is you can get a set from Wal-Mart or some such for $10; no they’re not top-of-the-line, but we’re talkin’ bar-darts here.

–IDB

6

Pointy end first!

7

Electronic boards are garbage, for one thing.

The key for me is developing a repeatable motion (like Ex said).

It’s also important to remember that the game is 100% mental. It’s all about attitude management. Anybody can get the mechanical part down with enough practice.

Don’t worry about “form”. Find a stance and a motion that feels comfortable enough and go from there. No two darters throw the same way, and many are completely unorthodox.

If you’re ‘playing for points,’ ultimately the triple 20’s are the way to go. I’d suggest starting with aiming at the fat 20 until you get good at that and then focusing in on the trip. When I’m having a bad night I frequently find that I can re-center myself by not trying to do too much and making it my goal to just hit three fat 20’s each set.

I’d suggest that you play Cricket, though. It’s much more fun and makes for a more competitive game for beginners.

Most importantly: find a bar with a few nice boards and a good selection of beers on draught. I know of a few up here in the Bay if you’re ever up this way. :wink:

8

Ditto what everyone says above. The main thing is to find what works for you. I’ve got a stupid little kick I do after throwing my dart, not quite like Elaine from Seinfeld dancing, but pretty close. It looks stupid, but I’m an okay dart board player. I get better after a few beers, so I think the “relaxation” suggestion really is valuable.

9

Dammit, you stole my line!!

Drink first. Hold dart in hand. Throw at board, closing one eye if necessary. Scream “Yeah, Baby!” or “Do Over!” depending on where said dart lands. Drink again. Repeat.

10

Also, apparently you have to match the weight and shape of the dart to your throwing style. I’m not sure how, but when my roommate and I went out to buy darts, the storekeep had us throw a whole bunch at a board in the store, and ended up giving us very different darts. I can’t throw his to save my life, and vice versa, but with our own, we both do decently well…

11

No, no, no! You use the first dart to help you determine how to adjust your subsequent throws. If it’s too low, you raise your elbow a bit. If it’s too high, you lower your elbow.

My preferred method was to keep the dart at eye level and use the barrel of the dart as a “sight.” Then I’d adjust the height depending on my first throw. Other people would hold the bugger a few inches above or to the side of their eyes. Experiment and do what works best for you.

And, finally, invest in a good set of darts if you’re serious about it. You can get a nice set for less than $50. But before you do, borrow a few different kinds to see what weight works best for you.

12

The day after I played darts I noticed my bicep was a little sore- it was particularly uncomfortable to fully extend my right arm. Was this because I was using my arm in an unsual manner, and am stretching out muscles/connective tissue I dont normally use much? Or is it because I’m throwing the darts badly and hurting myself unnecessarily?

How much of an effect does alcohol have on your performance? On one hand, if it relaxes you, it might make you throw more consistently. But alcohol also screws with things like balance and depth perception, which would probably really be a handicap in a game like darts.

13

I have to agree with a lot of what’s been said already (especially White Lightning’s comment about electronic boards being crap!)

The best advice I can give is the same as Ex gave… practice. It’s the only way you get better. When I first started playing with lurkernomore a year and a half ago, one of the guys we played with suggested getting a board with smaller double and triple rings. It helps build up your accuracy, according to him.

Also, keep in mind that what works for other people may not work for you. One of the women I knew, again when I was playing with lurker, had the worst form ever. She moved her whole body when she threw. She was my height (read: short) and she managed to get the dart where she wanted it almost every time. IIRC, she was one of the 10 best women in the country. Now, for all that she and I are similar in build and height, I can’t shoot the way that she does. I have to move across the floor a bit, line things up and do a straight arm shot, otherwise the darts end up everywhere but where I’m aiming.

And what PunditLisa said about dart weights is true as well. My darts are some of the lightest out there… 16 grams. Most darts, especially bar darts, are closer to 21 or 22 grams. You may not think it makes a difference, but it does. I’ve had people pick up my darts and have to take several rounds to adjust to the new feel of a lighter dart. If you are thinking about joining a league some time (it doesn’t take much to get bit by the darts bug), try out different dart weights before you buy them.

One thing that I’ve found that often works for me and does work for a lot of other people is that I shoot better when I’m angry. It helps me focus. If I’ve been shooting a crappy game when I know I should be shooting better, I get upset with myself for it. And somehow, it makes me focus more on getting the darts where they need to go. As I said, it doesn’t work for everyone. There might be something counterintuitive like that which will be your “key”.

I’m saying a lot of the same things that have already been said, I realize. But they are, in my experience, important. I don’t shoot well yet. Part of it is that I haven’t found a place to practice since moving to Philadelphia. But when I was playing regularly, I was getting better every time I shot. And a lot of the advice I was given came from people that had been playing for 15 years or more. So I’m trying to pass a little on.

Incubus, I would guess that it’s more just unused muscles than anything to do with your playing style. Your using your arm in a differnt way than it’s used to so there’s going to be a bit of strain there.

Insofar as alcohol on your performance, it really depends on how much you drink. I usually will have a pint or two through several games. It relaxes me enough that I’m not trying too hard. But when if you cross the line from drinking to relax to drinking to get drunk, it will screw with your game. Again, everyone’s different. I know some people that shoot better when they’ve been drinking than they do when they’re stone cold sober.

And that, folks, are my two pennies worth.

14

Pick up an inexpensive set of darts, they will be 100% better than plastic bar darts. After some time, you’ll know if you want to stick with it and invest more money in good darts. I have Harrows Power Points that I think I paid around $90.00 USD 5 years ago.

Of course, I am trying not to be a dart snob but my honest opinion is electronic dart boards should be burned atop the bodies of the bar managers who saw them as “revenue streams” for their crummy pubs!

You need to find consistancy in your throw to build accuracy. Accuracy does not come before consistancy. Repetition is key. Concern yourself with consistantly grouping your darts first, not how many hit the bullseye.

Play strategically. If you find yourself worried about what your opponent just did and how you now must throw XYZ in reaction - you have already lost. If you opponent opens the game (Cricket) by closing the 20 and 19 in his first round, try to get the 18 and 17 in your round - don’t panic and try to cover the 20 and 19. You’re playing your opponents game now and youi’ll lose.

Aaaahhh… I miss going to the pub and tossin’ steel. sigh

MeanJoe
MeanJoe

15

Around me this is called a “Murphy”. Never heard of the breakfast term.

16

We call it breakfast too.

17

A few years ago I had a boss who was English. (In fact, his father used to own a pub.) He put up a dartboard and we’d usually get in a game or two in the afternoons. He called the 20-5-1 “half a crown”. (26 points, and half a crown was two-and-sixpence.)

My best tip is to find a good grip, and one that you can do the same every time. If you keep your fingers too close together when you hold the dart, it doesn’t really lock in and you might have it angled a little differently from one throw to the next. My boss used to hold it with his ring finger on the very tip of the dart, and he was very good. I found a good grip with the shaft resting in the crease of the knuckle of my index finger, middle finger even with my thumb, and my ring finger in the little curve where the tip meets the barrel. When I bought my own darts, I found a set that was comfortable with my grip.

Mugs away!