How well do you know the rules of darts?
You have purchased your perfect set of darts. Installed your dartboard. Practiced your accuracy with some dart practice routines, it’s now time to play a game or two.
301 or 501
In its simplest form, a game of darts starts at either 301 or 501. Players throw a set of darts (3 in total) at the board and subtract their score from the total. The winning player is the one who gets his score to zero by hitting a double to conclude the game. If a player reduces the score to 1 or goes below zero, the score is bust, that turn ends immediately and the score is returned to what it was at the start of that turn.
Variations of the game, could be that that players are also required to start with a double, as well as finishing with one.
Equipment
A players darts cannot exceed a total length of more than 200mm. They are not allowed to weight more than 40grams. They must consist of a metal point and a minimum of a barrel, stem and flight.
the throw
completing a throw
Once a player thorws three darts and the marker calls the score, that players turn in complete. The “throw” or turn is als considered complete if the player touches a dart that is already in the dartboard.
point of entry
The point of entry determines the score of each dart. if the dart enters the board, on the treble 20, but the tip of the dart passes under the wire into the segment below the treble, a score of 60 is registered for that dart. This is regardless of where the point of the dart comes to rest.
scoring dart
For a dart to score, it must have either entered the board, or be touching the face of the board.
time in board
A dart must remain in the dart board for at least 5 seconds to be counted within the score. If a dart sticks into the back of another dart, or falls on the floor, it does not count. You are not allowed to re-throw any dart which either bounces or fall out of the board.
Game shot
The marker calls game shot, when the winning double is scored. Any darts thrown after “game shot” is called do not count. If there is no marker, and a player finishes the game, but throws another dart, the game is still considered to be won. Hitting the winning double concludes that “leg”.
Incorrectly called game shot
If the marker incorrectly calls game shot, the player can continue his “throw” to try and complete the leg. If the payer has retrived his darts from the board, the marker repalces the darts, as close as possible to their original position, and the throw continues.
Further Reading
A complete set of rules used by the PDC, please click here.