how to throw darts
To throw darts well, focus on a relaxed, repeatable throw built on good stance, grip, aim, and follow‑through.
Basics before you throw
- Stand at the oche (throwing line), facing the board at about a 45° angle, with your dominant foot forward and solidly planted.
- Keep your body relaxed, shoulders square but not tense, and avoid leaning excessively; a slight lean from the waist is fine if you stay balanced.
- Use the same position every time so your body becomes a consistent reference for the throw.
Step‑by‑step throw
- Grip the dart
- Hold the dart like a pen: firm enough so it won’t slip, but not so tight that your hand tenses up.
* Use 3 fingers (thumb, index, middle) as a starting point, keeping the dart level or very slightly nose‑up.
* Keep your wrist straight and avoid twisting your fingers just before release.
- Set your stance
- Place your dominant foot on or just behind the line, pointing roughly toward the target; back foot for balance behind you.
* Distribute most of your weight on the front foot but keep the back foot touching the floor for stability.
* Keep your head still and eyes level with the board.
- Aim the dart
- Raise the dart to about eye level, lining the point up with your chosen target (for example, treble 20 or the bullseye).
* Aim using your dominant eye; for most people it matches their throwing hand.
* Keep your upper arm fairly still and let the forearm and wrist do most of the movement.
- Draw back and throw
- Smoothly draw your forearm back like a hinge, keeping the dart near your eye rather than sweeping it in an arc.
* Start the forward motion in one fluid movement—no jerky stops—keeping your elbow pointed toward the board.
* Release the dart as your forearm extends straight toward the target, letting your fingers “open” rather than flicking.
- Follow‑through
- After release, let your hand continue its motion so your fingers end up pointing at the target area.
* Don’t pull your arm back early; a full, relaxed follow‑through helps keep darts straight and consistent.
Simple practice routine
- Consistency drill : Pick one segment (like 20 or bull), throw three darts at it, and try to repeat the same motion, regardless of where they land.
- Grouping drill : Instead of chasing different numbers, try to land all darts as close together as possible; this trains a repeatable throw.
- Around the clock : Start at 20 and throw a set number of darts at each number going around the board, counting how many hit the target each time.
Quick safety tips
- Only throw when everyone is behind the line and away from the board area.
- Never walk toward the board until all darts have been thrown and clearly missed or stuck in the board.
Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.