Guides · Darts for beginners · 9 min read
Darts for beginners: how to get started with steel-tip darts
Darts for beginners starts with a bristle board hung at 1.73 m, an oche 2.37 m away and a set of 20 to 24 g steel-tip darts. Learn 501, keep one repeatable throw and practise with drills that give you a score.
In short
- Kit: a bristle board and 20 to 24 g steel-tip darts.
- Setup: bull at 1.73 m, oche at 2.37 m.
- Game: 501, down to exactly zero, last dart in a double.
- Practice: 15 to 20 minutes on most days.
The kit
What do you need to start playing darts?
A bristle board, a set of steel-tip darts and a clear lane about 3.5 m long with good light. None of it has to be expensive, but the measurements have to be exact.
- Bristle board of compressed sisal, 451 mm across, with a thin wire spider. Paper, cork and magnetic boards play nothing like it.
- Steel-tip darts of about 20 to 24 g, with some grip on the barrel. Tungsten is slimmer for the weight, brass is cheaper.
- A surround of foam or rubber, which saves the wall and your points.
- A lane about 3.5 m long and 1.5 m wide, with no door opening into it.
- Even light from in front, so your own shadow stays off the board.
- A dart mat with the oche printed on it. It also catches dropped darts.
- A way to keep score: chalkboard, whiteboard or an app such as Sridu.
A good dartboard for beginners is a mid-range bristle board, not the cheapest one on the shelf. The dartboard buying guide shows what separates them, and how to choose darts helps with the first set.
Hang it right the first time. Once both marks are on, check the 2.93 m diagonal from the bull to the oche. The guide on how to hang a dartboard goes through it step by step.
The board
How is a dartboard scored?
The board has 20 numbered segments. A dart scores the number it lands in, double in the thin outer ring and treble in the thin inner ring.
- ×3treble ring (green): treble 20 is 60
- ×2double ring (cream): finishes a leg
- 25outer bull (orange)
- 50bullseye, counts as double 25
The 20 sits at the top, between the 5 and the 1. A dart outside the double ring, or one that bounces out, scores nothing.
The game
How does 501 work? Darts rules for beginners
Most people learn how to play darts with 501, and the darts rules put every rule of it on one printable page. You start on 501, throw three darts per visit and take the score off your total. The first to reach exactly zero, with the last dart in a double, wins the leg.
- Bull-offEach player throws one dart at the bull. The dart closest to the centre throws first.
- Count downAdd up your three darts and take the total off your score.
- Finish on a doubleYour last dart has to land in the double ring or the bullseye. This is double out, the rule of pubs, leagues and TV.
- Don’t bustScore too much, leave exactly 1, or reach zero without a double, and the whole visit counts for nothing.
- Win legsFirst to zero wins the leg. A match is first to a set number of legs or sets.
- 501starting score, down to zero
- 180best visit: three treble 20s
- 170highest checkout: T20, T20, bull
- 9darts for a perfect leg
Double out, dart by dart
An easier first game. Play 301 with single out, where any field finishes, until you can close out legs, then move to 501 double out. The X01 rules cover every option, and the darts terms explain words like visit, ton and leg.
Technique
How do you throw a dart as a beginner?
Build a throw you can repeat: the same stance, a relaxed grip, a still upper arm and a forearm that swings from the elbow. A smooth throw at medium pace repeats far better than a hard one.
- StanceRight-handers put the right foot forward, left-handers the left. Many coaches suggest the front foot at about 45 degrees to the oche, others prefer standing fully side-on. Keep most of your weight on the front foot.
- GripThumb and two or three fingers near the point of balance, tip slightly up. White fingertips mean you are squeezing. More in the darts grip guide.
- AimLine up the dart, your eye and the target. Most players aim with their dominant eye, so find out which one that is.
- ThrowUpper arm still, elbow as the hinge. Bring the dart back towards your face, then forward, and let go without a hard flick of the wrist.
- Follow throughLet the arm keep moving until your hand points at the target. The elbow may rise a little at the end, which is normal.
Pick one version of each step and give it a few weeks. The guide on how to throw darts covers each one in depth, including the points coaches disagree on.
Practice
Which practice drills help beginners aim better?
Good drills have one target, a fixed number of darts and a score at the end. That way you can tell whether today went better than last week. A darts practice app keeps that score for you.
- GroupingThrow three at one spot and judge how close together they are, not where they landed. A tight group only needs a small change of aim.
- Around the ClockHit 1 to 20, then the bull, with every field counting. A perfect run takes 21 darts. Play it in Around the Clock.
- Bull practiceBull Shooting scores 2 for the bullseye and 1 for the 25, over two minutes or 60 darts. It trains a straight throw.
- One numberDarts at a Number: 30, 60 or 100 darts at one number. Single 1, double 2, treble 3 points.
- Anywhere on the boardIn Zones a spot lights up somewhere new each round. Darts score 5, 3 or 1 by how close they land.
- Legs against a bot301 or 501 against a bot at your level is match practice when nobody else is around.
Sridu has a mode for each of these. It counts every dart, shows your hit rate and keeps a record for each setting. Without cameras, you tap each dart on the board on screen.
Where should a beginner aim for points?
Aim at the treble 20 or the treble 19 and count every dart in the big single bed as a success. With a beginner’s spread, the neighbours decide how much a miss costs.
The 20 pays more when you hit it, the 19 costs less when a dart drifts. T20 or T19 helps you pick with a simple test.
First month
Darts for beginners: what should your first month look like?
Plan on 15 to 20 minutes a day, four or five days a week. Each week adds one new thing and gives you one number to write down.
- Week 1: set-up and throwSettle your stance and grip. Five minutes of grouping at the bull, then one Around the Clock. Note the darts you needed to get round.
- Week 2: a repeatable throwTwo minutes of Bull Shooting, 30 darts at the 20, one Around the Clock. Note your bull points and your hit rate on the 20.
- Week 3: scoring and first legs60 darts at the 20 or the 19, then a few legs of 301 single out against a friend or a bot. Note your points and darts per leg.
- Week 4: doubles and 501Darts at a Number on double 20 or double 16, then legs of 501 double out. Note your 3-dart average and the legs you finished.
Finish with a benchmark. At the end of the month, repeat the week 1 and week 2 drills with the same settings and compare. After that, the darts practice routine takes over with a 30-minute session and a weekly plan.
Expectations
How quickly do darts beginners improve?
There is no fixed timetable: it depends on how often you practise and how repeatable your throw gets. Gains come quickest while a new throw settles, then flat spells alternate with steps forward.
- Fewer darts round the clockSame drill, same settings, fewer darts.
- A higher hit rateMore darts stay in the bed you aim at.
- Your first tonA visit of 100 or more is a real milestone. The 180 comes when it comes.
- Legs that end on a doubleLess time stuck on the last few points is progress too.
Compare weeks, not single evenings, and measure yourself against your own numbers rather than the TV. Sridu’s statistics add a trend and a heatmap of every dart, so a drift towards the 5 or the 1 is easy to spot.
Avoid these
Which beginner mistakes should you avoid?
Most beginner mistakes come from trying too hard or changing too much at once.
Do
- Throw at an easy, medium pace
- Hold the dart just firmly enough to control it
- Give a new stance or grip two weeks
- Try a few weights before you buy
- Stop for the day when your darts start to scatter
- Practise doubles from the first month
Don’t
- Force it: extra speed mostly adds wobble
- Squeeze until your fingertips go white
- Change everything after one bad visit
- Buy the heaviest or dearest set on looks
- Play on tired and rehearse a worse throw
- Leave doubles for later: every leg of 501 ends on one
Sources: WDF Playing and Tournament Rules, DRA Rulebook
FAQ
Questions from darts beginners
What weight darts should a beginner use?
Somewhere around 20 to 24 g suits most beginners, and WDF rules allow steel-tip darts up to 50 g. Try a few before you buy, and pick a barrel with enough grip that you never have to squeeze it.
How long does it take to get good at darts?
It depends on how often you practise and on what good means to you. With short sessions most days, a first month is usually enough to settle your throw and finish legs of 301 or 501. A solid league level takes much longer.
Should a beginner aim at the treble 20?
You can, but the 20 sits between the 5 and the 1, so stray darts cost a lot. Some beginners score more on the 19, which sits between the 7 and the 3. Try both for a week each and compare your points per visit.
Should I start with steel-tip or soft-tip darts?
Both work for learning. Steel-tip darts go into a bristle board from 2.37 m, soft-tip darts into an electronic board, usually from 2.44 m, and the darts are not interchangeable. The comparison of steel-tip vs soft-tip helps you choose.
Which darts games are good for beginners?
Around the Clock and 301 single out are the classic starting points, and Cricket suits a group of friends. Killer and Shanghai add variety once you can hit most numbers. More ideas are in the guide to darts games.
Can I practise darts on my own?
Yes. Every drill here works alone (the guide to solo darts games has more), and a leg of 501 against a bot at your level is good match practice. To score automatically you can add webcams at the board, or tap each dart on screen.
Guides
Related guides
Start your first month of darts
The drills and games in this guide to darts for beginners are all in Sridu. Open it in your browser, warm up with Around the Clock or play 301 against a bot, and let the app keep score. No account, nothing to install.