Score points by hitting numbers that your opponent has yet to close out. For example, let’s say that you’ve already closed out the number 15, but your opponent hasn’t. Not only have you earned 45 points by hitting the 15 3 times for yourself, you can continue to ear 15 points by hitting the 15 on the board until your opponent has closed out that number.

Close out every number and the bull’s-eye before you opponent does. after you have beaten them to closing everything out, add up the scores. If you have the highest score, you win.

Continue playing if you’ve closed everything out but do not have the highest score. consider that the only way to get points is to try to hit numbers that your opponent still has open. To win, you have to get your score higher than your opponent’s score before your opponent has a chance to close out all of their numbers while still in the lead.

P.S. To boost your chances of winning at dart cricket, try to close out the highest numbers before the lowest numbers. The longer it takes to close a number out, the greater of an opportunity your opponent has to close that number out themselves. That gives them the opportunity to add up the score, and if your higher numbers are still accessible, they can add to their score quicker.

Got any more tips? Feel free to leave a comment
 

Dart Games

Since there are several different ways to play darts, such as 301, 601 and 801. These games are based on the numbers of points players or teams start from.

The Dart Board

A dart board must be set at regulation height – 5 feet 8 inches above the floor. This is an important step if you are looking to get serious with your dart playing. Throwing darts at a board that is not set at regulation height will hamper your throwing come competition time.

Starting the game

Each player gets three darts during a darts game. Each throw their darts and remove them before their opponents have a turn. To determine who starts first each player throws one dart at the board. Whomever scores closest to the bull’s eye wins the first throw.

Winning the game

The end game of darts is to get to zero points. Scoring points reduces your total number, whether that be 301, 601 or 801. The end goal is to reduce their total to zero. If they do not on a turn, their points do not count.

Fouls

If a player commits a foul if their foot goes over the throw line. The points from the fouled throw do not count. If a dart bounces off or is knocked off a board before the player removes it the points also do not count.

Summary

Becoming a good dart player is all about practise. Throwing every day is the key to becoming a better player. The key to doing this is to find time to throw, try drinking your morning coffee outside while you dart. I cannot stand still while on the phone so every time I take a call I throw darts to keep myself busy and as a result my throwing has slowly become better and better.

The bullseye should be 5 feet and 8 inches from the floor. The throwing line should be 7 feet and 9 1/4 inches away. This is measured in a perpendicular line to the center of the board, not from the wall that the board is hung on. For the best results measure directly from the center of the board. Reember! The “20″ section should always be at the top.

There are some exceptions however, soft-tip dart boards should be 8 feet away.

Always remember to throw your darts in a clear open area, away from things that are easily broken. Safety is a major thing while throwing darts, remember that they were once a weapon and still have the potential to poke someone’s eye out!

The Bristle Dartboard

A bristle dartboard is made out of sisal fibers, it’s a tough, stiff fiber – perfect for dartboard making! The fiber is clumped together and compressed to a specific density, they’re then kept in place with steel bands and staples. The regulation size for a bristle dart board is 1.5 inches thick and 18 inches in diameter. A dartboard is divided into 20 wedged sections, numbered from 1 to 20, typically alternating in coloring from white to black or some variation thereof. The board has an outer ring worth double normal points, an inner ring worth triple the normal points, and a two-layer bulls-eye.

Caring for your Darts & Bristles

First of all, don’t get your dartboard wet and make sure you use some nice darts, steel tipped of course! A blunt dart will crush and harden your dartboard whereas a sharp dart will slice and cut the fiber instead of evenly spreading them apart like it’s supposed too. Dart tips that are too sharp will also burr easily which is never good. To check for burrs you can simply slide your finger alone the dart tip. If you’re dart is burred you will feel little sharp hooks that when pulled out of the board will tear and rip fibers out.

Compression Benefits

The compression of the sisal fibers in the bristle dart board make it self-healing, which means that when darts are removed from the board the fibers go back into place, leaving the dart board intact. A dart that strikes the board temporarily splits the fibers apart as opposed to pushing them inward or creating holes in the fibers themselves. These wonderful qualities also keep the dart in place after impact, ensuring proper scoring and a hassle-free game.

Metal Grids and Staples

One of the major problems with bristle dartboards was the metal grid, and the metal staples used to keep the grid flush against the sisal fibers. They broke darts, they broke hearts. High quality boards today have completely eliminated the metal staples, and have made the bands of the grid much smaller and less obtrusive. This improves scoring on darts which land close to the boundaries of different point lines, and also minimizes bounce backs from darts actually impacting on the metal as opposed to the board.

Dartboard History 101.

Nodor, a dart and dartboard manufacturing company were the first to have introduced the bristle dartboard made from sisal fibers. This was in the 1930s, and the company touts being “First and Still the Finest” as its official slogan. Nodor also led the pack with improvements upon the metal wiring and staples used in order to improve overall play, functionality and scoring. Nodor, along with Winmau and a handful of other companies, manufacture and distribute high quality bristle dartboards today.

Bristle Dartboard vs. Other Options

For an authentic game of darts, the bristle dart board remains the top option available. Electronic dart boards are commonly used and provide benefits such as automatic and instant score keeping, as well as a variety of included games. These are perfect for offices and work related places where a misplaced dart could have some bad consequences. The problem with them is that the darts used and the board itself limits the quality of play. Other materials can be used for traditional dart boards, but bristle dartboards are generally the most durable and the highest quality.

In summary

• Buy a bristle dartboard if you’re looking to have an authentic dart experience.
• Buy an electronic dart board if you’re in a place where darts are a bad idea.
• Make sure you care for your dartboard and your darts – remember to not get it wet.
• Have fun playing darts!

P.S! A last tip, rotate the dart board regularly if you’re not keeping score – it will even out the wear and keep it looking like new for longer!

The Setup

First things first, obtain 3 darts that are the same. Throwing with darts that are inconsistent in weight and length will result in different flights paths. Ontop of this you must also ensure that your dart board is at regulation height.

The Preperation

Before throwing think about what you are doing, every throw needs to be the exact same if you are to improve your game. Consistency is the key here.

You will need a comfortable stance that you can replicate time and time again. An easy way to throw darts and a helpful tip to close the distance between you and the board have your throwing side to the board and your corresponding foot against the line.

This means, for right handers that the outside of your right foot is against the throwing line, and to face the dart board you must turn your head sideways. This technique is a little hard to get used to but upon extending your throwing arm you can be up towards a foot closer to the board.

The drawback

Get used to your darts, this is not as easy as you may think. Line up, draw back, throw/release, follow through, rinse and repeat. The dart should be pointing at the board the entire time, this means keeping your elbow straight down and bending your wrist. Do not draw the dart to your ear, because you need to be able to see your dart at all times. Don’t flare your elbows either, each flare will be different and thus effect the flight path of the dart differently each throw. Think of it this way, your arm must always be vertically aligned to the path of the dart, straight up and down.

The Release

The release should be smooth and in the same direction of your throw, obviously . Sometimes good throws go bad at the release, an angled hand at release will mean an angled flight path. A good tip is to try pointing at the space on the board you wish to hit immediately after release. Be sure to not let go to soon. Exhaling as you throw can sometimes steady your throw.

Ask someone to watch you throw. Ask them to make sure your body doesn’t bob up and down, that your arm stays straight. Just like golf, if you are bouncing your accuracy will fall, Tiger Woods never bounces right before he swings and neither should you.

Dart boards are a common source of sport and leisure. There are strict regulations for setting up a dart board, including the height the board should be on the wall as well as protective measures you should have around the perimeter of the board.

Step 1

Establish where you want to put the board. You need to be about 9 feet away from the board in which to throw. Bounce-out darts can land a fair distance from the board, so be wary of putting a board up in a communal living area. Dart boards can be somewhat heavy, so make sure the wall you hang the board on can take the weight of the board to avoid any accidents.

Step 2

Measure on the wall up to five feet and eight inches and leave a small mark. This mark corresponds to the bull’s-eye. Hammer the nail at the appropriate spot for the board.

Place the board over the top of the nail and slide it down so that the back of the board sits flush against the wall.

Step 3

Protect the wall by sticking some thick material to it. This could be some cardboard, old spare carpet or a large wooden board. You will need six inches of protection in every direction from the edge of the board.

Step 4

Measure 7 feet and 9 1/4 inches away from the face of the board and leave a parallel mark on the floor. This is the regulation distance for throwing.

Be sure to leave any other tips you know about setting up dart boards in the comments section

Darts game image by Galyna Andrushko from Fotolia.com

Dart historian Patrick Chaplin traces the game’s history to the archers of old England, referring to that fact that in England, “arrows” is a common name for the sport today. A popular bar game, dart leagues and competitive tournaments allow players to display their skills for prizes and bragging rights. Becoming a master of the sport isn’t an easy thing and can take years of practice and devotion.

Step 1

Purchase an instruction book about the game or watch professional videos for improving play. Books such as “Fundartmentals: How To Throw Well and Win More,” by Frank Pratt and “The American Darts Organization Book of Darts,” by Chris Carey, offer tips about equipment, different types of dart games to play and tips from professionals about improving your game.

Step 2

Review the fundamentals of your technique. Rick Osgood of the website Cyber Darts says, “Accuracy begins with a solid stance. Keep your feet planted solidly on the floor and avoid lunging, rocking or lifting the back foot off the floor during the dart toss.” A solid foundation allows the player to work on finessing his game.

Step 3

Play each game with a focused intensity and for as long as attention can be placed squarely on the game. Playing beyond a period where each throw matters will not increase the level of play, no matter if shooting with a partner or in solitary practice.

Step 4

Practice often. Karlheinz Zöchling, a professional player from Austria, suggests that how often a player practices is more important than how much he practices. “Try to practice each day of the week, with not more than one or two days off,” he says.

Step 5

Join a league for regular competitive play. This will pit you against other players of varying skill levels and increase experience in playing when the stakes matter. Regular practice of both dart throwing and keeping your nerves and concentration under control while in competition is large part of mastering the game.

Step 6

Sign up for local and statewide tournaments. If you are consistently winning games in a bar and league you may want to take your game to the next level. Playing against a wider audience of of varying skill will improve your own game and heko move you up the ranks in amateur standings.

Easily one of one of the best games in order to play while at a sports bar, or at a party is playing a game of darts. There are many options when playing darts, but one of my favorites is 501. To start, all players start with 501 points.

The idea in 501 is to get your point total right down to 0. To begin, all players throw at the board, and the first one to strike a double (the small ring around the outer edge of the dartboard), has now doubled-in. For example, if you hit a double 20, you subtract 40 points from your score. You now have 461 points left. You cannot start deducting points until you’ve thrown a double. Once you’ve doubled in, all darts after this deduct from your point value.

To win the game, you must also double out. For instance, if you have 40 points left, and you hit a double 20, you have won the game. If you have 16 points left, you must hit double 8. A dart thrown that scores more than 16 is a bust. If you bust, you forfeit your turn and return to the points you started with before you busted.

Now that you know the rules, all that is left is to enjoy a beer and beat all your friends next time you play.

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