Guides · T20 or T19 · 7 min read
T20 or T19: where should beginners aim to score?
T20 or T19 depends on how tightly your darts group. The treble 19 has bigger neighbours, so it scores slightly more until you hit the treble 20 with about one dart in eight, roughly a 60 scoring average.
In short
- Under 1 treble in 8? The treble 19 scores a little more.
- Above that, the treble 20 pulls ahead and keeps pulling.
- Under 2 in 100? Aim at the bull for now.
- Measure it: count your trebles over 100 darts.
The board
Where are the 20 and the 19 on a dartboard?
The 20 points straight up from the bull, between the 5 and the 1. The 19 sits at the bottom, just left of centre, between the 7 and the 3. Every treble bed is the same size, so only the neighbours differ.
Three trebles make 180 on the 20 and 171 on the 19. The full number order and every ring size are in dartboard dimensions.
Back of an envelope
T20 or T19: what does the simple maths say?
Per dart, a treble on the 20 earns 3 points more than one on the 19, and a single earns 1 more. A sideways miss earns 2 points less, because the neighbours average 3 beside the 20 and 5 beside the 19.
- +3per treble for the 20
- +1per single for the 20
- −2per sideways miss for the 20
Worked example: with 5 % trebles, 35 % singles and 40 % neighbours, you get 3 × 5 + 35 − 2 × 40 = −30 points per 100 darts, so the 19 wins by about 1 point per visit. The choice matters, but far less than a better throw.
A scatter model
Treble 20 vs treble 19: which scores more at your accuracy?
In a scatter model of a real board, the two beds are level when about 12 % of your darts hit the treble 20. Tighter than that the 20 wins, wider than that the 19 is ahead by up to about 3 points per visit, and under about 2 % the bull beats both.
The model throws 600,000 darts per spread at a board with WDF ring sizes, in a round, bell-shaped scatter. The spread is the standard deviation in each direction, and the circles above hold about 9 in 10 darts.
- The crossoverAbout 12 % trebles, roughly 59 points per visit in pure scoring. The 2011 study “A Statistician Plays Darts” by Tibshirani, Price and Taylor found the same pattern.
- The best spotFor spreads of 17 to 25 mm, the best aim anywhere on the board is the treble 19, nudged towards the 7. Wider still, it moves below and left of the bull.
- What it leaves outCheckouts, nerves and any bias in your throw. A 501 darts average comes out lower than these scoring figures.
Where to aim in darts comes down to how far your darts spread, not only to the numbers on the board.
Coaching
Why do many coaches start beginners on the 19 or the bull?
Why treble 19 for beginners, or even the bull? Because misses cost less there. Many coaches start new players on the centre and let them score on whichever bed pays more, while others teach the treble 20 from day one.
Score on the 19 first
- Sideways misses become 7s and 3s
- Fewer of the classic 26s (20, 5, 1)
- Practice feels better, the average climbs
- Not the bed matches are played around
The 20 from day one
- Counting and checkout routes start there
- A simple vertical line above the bull
- Habits that last into league play
- Costs a few points while you spray
A common middle way: group on the bull, score on the 19 while your treble rate is low, and practise the 20 alongside it. The darts for beginners guide starts exactly there.
Test it yourself
When does switching to the treble 20 pay off?
When it scores more for you, which the model puts at about one treble in eight darts. Your own numbers beat any model, so measure them.
Your treble rate on the 20
- under 2 %Aim at the bull
- 2 to 8 %The 19 scores more
- 8 to 15 %Close to a coin toss
- over 15 %The 20, and the gap grows
The test
- Count your treblesThrow 100 darts at the 20 in Darts at a Number and count the trebles. Do the same on the 19 another day.
- Score both bedsPlay Powerscoring for 99 darts, once counting only the 20s and once only the 19s. Repeat it, because single sessions swing a lot.
- Check the shape of your missesA heatmap shows whether your darts drift sideways or up and down. The statistics in Sridu draw one for every player.
- DecideIf the 20 scores the same or more over several sessions, make it your bed. If not, stay on the 19 and test again in a month.
- Keep the other one warmThrow a short block at the other bed every week. The darts practice routine has a slot for it.
Cover shots
What should you aim at when the treble 20 is blocked?
Most players switch to the treble 19, some to the treble 18. That alternative bed is called a cover shot.
- When to switch: when a barrel or flight hides most of the bed. If you can still see most of it, throw at the open part.
- Treble 19 (57): the standard cover. Darts in the 20 never get in the way, and T20 plus two T19s is 174.
- Treble 18 (54): two segments right of the 20, closer to your line, but misses land in the 1 or the 4. Mostly used when the 19 is blocked too.
Switching for the score: from 227, a treble 19 leaves 170, the highest checkout. The checkout chart lists the routes.
Stance and sight
How do you adjust stance and aim for the treble 19?
Keep the throw the same and change only the aim. The treble 19 sits about 20 cm below the treble 20 and about 3 cm left of the line through the bull.
- Left-handers: the 19 lies a touch towards your throwing side, so some find it as natural as the 20. Test it with the drills above.
- Stance: keep your feet still and move only the aim, or pivot slightly on the front foot. Either works if you do it the same way every time.
- Aiming eye: the dart should travel under your dominant eye, and a lower target changes the picture a little.
- Height: lower the arm or shift your weight, but keep a full follow-through.
Sources: Tibshirani, Price and Taylor, “A Statistician Plays Darts”, Journal of the Royal Statistical Society Series A (2011), WDF Playing and Tournament Rules (dartboard dimensions).
FAQ
Questions about T20 or T19
Is the treble 19 easier to hit than the treble 20?
No. All treble beds are exactly the same size. The 19 only makes your misses cheaper, because the 7 and the 3 beside it are worth more than the 5 and the 1 beside the 20.
Do professional darts players aim at the treble 19?
Most professionals score on the treble 20 and use the treble 19 as their first cover shot when the 20 is blocked, or to set up a finish. At their accuracy the 20 is simply worth more.
What average should I have before I switch to the treble 20?
In the scatter model the two are level at about 12 % trebles on the 20, a scoring average of roughly 59 without checkouts. Below that the 19 is slightly ahead. Test both beds, because the shape of your own group matters more than any rule.
Should a complete beginner aim at the bull?
For the first sessions, yes. The bull keeps wild darts on the board, and in the model the centre scores most once you hit under 2 % trebles on the 20.
Is it bad to switch between the 20 and the 19 in the same visit?
No, it is normal when the 20 is blocked. What costs points is switching on a whim after one poor dart, so set a rule in practice, such as “switch only when I can’t see the bed”, and keep to it.
Settle T20 or T19 on your own board
Open Sridu in your browser and throw Darts at a Number or Powerscoring on each bed. It counts every dart, keeps a record for each number and shows where your misses go, with webcams or by tapping your darts in.