A 20-Minute Darts Practice Routine for Beginners

Lots of people get a dartboard for Christmas and throw aimlessly at the 20 until they get bored. A short, structured routine gets you better much faster. Here's one that takes 20 minutes.

Warm-up: 3 minutes

Throw at anything, without counting. Loosen your arm, find your rhythm, and check your stance and grip feel right. If you're new, read how to throw a dart first.

1. Round the Clock: 5 minutes

Hit 1 to 20 in order, then the bull. Count how many darts it takes. This teaches you to aim at every part of the board, not just the top. Write your score down and try to beat it next time.

2. Scoring practice: 5 minutes

Throw ten visits (30 darts) at the treble 20. Add up your total and divide by ten. That's your three-dart average for the session.

Don't worry if it's low. Most beginners average between 20 and 40. Watch it climb week by week.

3. Doubles: 5 minutes

Pick one double, like double 16 or double 20, and throw until you've hit it five times. Count the darts. Doubles win matches, so this is the most valuable part of the routine. See checkouts explained for why double 16 and double 20 are the ones to start with.

4. Finish with a game: 2 minutes

Play a quick 101 (finishing on a double) against yourself. It puts scoring and finishing together under a little pressure.

Track your progress

Keep a note of your Round the Clock darts, your average and your doubles count. A Light Up Scoreboard next to the board is handy for jotting your scores down as you go.

Look after your darts

Daily practice wears out your kit. A few tips:

• Re-sharpen your points every few weeks with a keyring sharpener.
• Fit flight rings so you're not picking flights off the floor every throw.
• Store your darts in a wall holder next to the board so they're always ready and never get knocked.

Little and often

Twenty minutes a day beats two hours once a week. Stick with it and you'll be surprised how quickly you improve. Free UK delivery on every order.