How to Get Better at Darts: The Complete Guide to Improving Your Game
If you want to get better at darts, the first thing I want you to understand is this:
You do not necessarily need to practise more. You need to practise better.
I see the same pattern regularly when coaching players.
They want to improve, so they spend more time at the dartboard. They throw at treble 20. They play 501. They practise a few doubles. They watch videos of professional players and perhaps even change their grip or darts.
Then, a few weeks or months later, they are still at roughly the same level.
The problem isn't always a lack of effort.
Very often, the player simply doesn't know what they should be working on.
That's where a structured approach makes a difference.
As a darts coach, my approach is based around three words:
Plan. Transform. Perform.
First, understand where you are and where you want to go.
Then identify the changes that are most likely to improve your performance.
Finally, practise those changes until they become part of your game.
In this guide, I'm going to take you through exactly how I would approach improving at darts, from establishing your baseline and improving your throwing technique to practising scoring, doubles, checkouts, match play and the mental side of the game.
What is the fastest way to get better at darts?
There isn't a magic drill that suddenly makes you a better darts player.
The fastest way to improve is to follow a simple cycle:
Measure → Identify → Practise → Test → Adjust → Repeat
Most players start at step three.
They practise.
The problem is that if you haven't identified what is limiting your performance, you can spend hundreds of hours practising something that isn't your biggest weakness.
Instead, start by asking:
What is currently stopping me from playing better darts?
That question is much more useful than:
How many hours should I practise?
For one player, the answer might be an inconsistent throwing action.
For another, it might be poor scoring.
Another player might score well but miss too many doubles.
Someone else might practise brilliantly at home but struggle to reproduce that performance in competition.
There is no single solution because there is no single darts player.
Step 1: Decide what "better" means for you
Before you start changing your game, define what improvement actually means.
Your goal might be:
Increase your three-dart average
Hit more 100s and 140s
Improve your checkout percentage
Hit more doubles
Win more league matches
Qualify for a competition
Become more consistent
Improve your confidence
Stop struggling under pressure
Break through a performance plateau
Simply enjoy your darts more
Your goal matters because it influences what you should practise.
If your goal is to increase your average, that doesn't necessarily mean spending every practice session throwing at treble 20.
If your goal is to win more matches, your doubles and checkout performance could be just as important as your scoring.
Don't confuse a statistic with the goal.
Your three-dart average is useful.
It isn't your entire game.
Step 2: Establish your baseline
You can't properly measure improvement if you don't know where you're starting.
This is one of the biggest mistakes I see in darts.
A player has a good night and thinks:
"I'm getting better."
Then they have a bad night and think:
"I've gone backwards."
Neither conclusion may be correct.
Darts performance naturally fluctuates.
Instead, establish a baseline and look for trends over time.
Your three-dart average
Your three-dart average is a useful measure of scoring performance, particularly when tracked over a meaningful number of legs or matches.
Don't judge yourself on one leg.
Don't even judge yourself on one evening.
Look at your performance over time.
Your checkout percentage
How often are you actually finishing when you get an opportunity?
A player can score heavily and still lose matches because they aren't converting their chances. If you regularly leave yourself good finishes but miss too many doubles, your practice needs to reflect that.
Your scoring performance
Look beyond your average.
How often are you producing:
100+
120+
140+
160+
180
More importantly, how consistent are your scoring visits?
One 180 doesn't tell me very much about your scoring ability.
A pattern of consistently strong visits tells me much more.
Your doubles
Which doubles are you good at?
Which ones cause you problems?
Do you have preferred doubles?
How do you perform when you need the double to win a leg?
Your set-up play
This is an area many players overlook.
Getting from 501 to a finish isn't simply about hitting as many points as possible.
The decisions you make as you approach a finishing number matter.
You need to understand how your scoring is setting up your next visit and whether you're leaving yourself finishes that suit your game.
Your performance under pressure
Finally, ask yourself an uncomfortable question:
Do I play as well in competition as I do in practice?
If you average 70 at home but regularly average 55 in matches, throwing more darts at home may not solve the problem.
There may be a mental or process issue that needs attention.
Step 3: Find your biggest weakness
Once you've established your baseline, look for the area that is currently giving you the biggest opportunity for improvement.
This is where I would encourage you not to simply practise what you enjoy.
Most players naturally practise the things they are already reasonably good at.
If you love hitting treble 20, it is very easy to spend an hour throwing at treble 20.
It feels productive because you hit some big scores.
But if your biggest weakness is finishing, that hour may not have addressed the problem that is costing you matches.
Ask yourself:
Where am I losing points?
Where am I losing legs?
Where am I losing matches?
Those questions can tell you much more than simply looking at your average.
The DartsMatt approach: Test, Target, Train, Retest
This is why I developed the DartsMatt Benchmark Assessment.
The assessment takes around 30 minutes and 117 darts to test four areas:
Singles
Power Scoring
Doubles
Set Up
The purpose isn't to give you a grade or tell you whether you're a "good" or "bad" darts player.
It gives you information.
You can then identify where your game needs attention, focus your practice on that area and repeat the assessment later under the same conditions.
That gives you a simple process:
Test
Find out where you are.
Target
Identify what needs the most attention.
Train
Practise that specific area.
Retest
See whether your work has actually produced an improvement.
That is much more useful than simply throwing darts and hoping your average goes up.
Step 4: Build a repeatable throwing action
Once you've established what you need to work on, take a look at your throwing action.
You don't need to copy a professional player's throw.
You don't need to have the "perfect" grip.
There isn't one perfect darts throw.
What you need is a throwing action that is repeatable, comfortable and appropriate for you.
There are several elements worth considering.
Your stance
Your stance creates the foundation for your throw.
You want to be balanced and stable without forcing yourself into a position simply because another player uses it.
Your feet should be positioned consistently.
Your body should feel stable.
Your head and eyes should give you a reliable view of your target.
You shouldn't be fighting your own body before you've even thrown the dart.
Your grip
Your grip should allow you to control the dart without creating unnecessary tension.
There are several different ways to grip a dart.
Front grip, middle grip and rear grip can all work.
The important question isn't:
"Which grip is correct?"
It is:
"Which grip allows me to release the dart consistently?"
Your grip should be repeatable without excessive tension.
Your elbow and shoulder
One of the technical issues I regularly look for when analysing a player's throw is unnecessary movement.
The more movement you introduce, the more opportunities there are for variation.
That doesn't mean your throw needs to be rigid.
It means you should understand which movements are helping your throw and which are creating inconsistency.
Your release
The release is obviously important because it is the point at which the dart leaves your control.
But don't fall into the trap of trying to consciously manipulate the dart at the exact moment of release.
A good release is normally the result of a good throwing action.
If you're constantly thinking:
"Release later."
"Snap the wrist."
"Point your fingers."
"Straighten your elbow." you can easily create more problems than you solve.
Work on the process that leads to the release rather than trying to micromanage
the dart as it leaves your hand.
Your follow-through
Allow your throwing arm to continue naturally after release.
A consistent follow-through can help you develop a repeatable throwing rhythm.
Again, the goal isn't to make your follow-through look like somebody else's.
Repeatability matters more than appearance.
Step 5: Develop a pre-throw routine
This is one of the most important areas I look at when coaching players.
A pre-throw routine is the sequence you use to prepare yourself before delivering the dart.
It should be simple.
It should be repeatable.
And importantly, it should work when you're under pressure.
A basic routine could involve:
Approach the oche.
Establish your foot position.
Settle your balance.
Focus on your target.
Bring the dart into position.
Deliver the throw.
The exact routine will be individual to you.
What matters is that you can repeat it.
If your feet are still moving while you're bringing the dart up, or your head is still finding its position as you're trying to aim, you're introducing unnecessary variables into your throw.
Get set first. Then throw.
Your routine should also help you transition from thinking about the situation to executing the dart.
This is where my Think Box and Play Box approach can be particularly useful.
The Think Box is where you make your decision.
The Play Box is where you commit and execute.
Once you are ready to throw, you don't want to be analysing your elbow, grip, stance and release simultaneously.
You want to throw.
Step 6: Stop throwing darts randomly
This is probably the biggest practice mistake I see.
A player has an hour available.
They stand at the board.
They throw at 20.
Then 19.
Then 18.
Then back to 20.
Then they play 501.
Then they throw a few doubles.
Then they play another game.
They've spent an hour practising.
But what have they actually trained?
A practice session should have a purpose.
Before you start, know what you're trying to improve.
For example:
Today I'm working on scoring consistency.
Or:
Today I'm working on doubles.
Or:
Today I'm practising my match routine under pressure.
That one decision changes the quality of the session.
A simple 30-minute darts practice session
If you have limited time, you can still have a productive session.
5 minutes: Warm up
Don't immediately start chasing your highest score.
Get comfortable.
Find your rhythm.
Focus on a relaxed and repeatable throw.
10 minutes: Scoring
Choose an appropriate scoring exercise.
This could involve grouping at a particular target, working on switching or measuring your ability to produce consistent scoring visits.
Don't just record your best score.
Record something you can compare with your previous sessions.
10 minutes: Finishing
Work on doubles or checkout combinations.
Make the practice purposeful.
For example, rather than randomly throwing at doubles, set a challenge and record the result.
5 minutes: Match simulation
Finish with a pressure element.
Play a short 501 challenge.
Give yourself a target.
Or practise a series of finishes where missing the target has a consequence.
The aim is to bring together the skills you've just practised.
But don't become obsessed with the 30-minute routine
You'll find plenty of darts articles telling you that a particular 30-minute routine is the secret to improving.
It isn't.
A routine is only useful if it addresses your needs.
If your doubles are excellent but your throwing action is inconsistent, doing another
10 minutes of doubles every day isn't necessarily the best use of your time.
Your practice should evolve as your game evolves.
That's why I prefer a diagnostic approach rather than giving every player the same programme.
Step 7: Practise your scoring
Scoring is obviously an important part of 501.
But good scoring isn't simply about hitting treble 20.
It's about producing repeatable visits and making good decisions.
Work on grouping
If your darts are regularly landing close together, that's useful information even if they aren't all in the treble.
Grouping is an important part of developing consistency.
If your darts are spread across the board, you may have a technical or process issue to investigate.
Learn to switch
There will be occasions when treble 20 isn't the best target.
A blocked bed, a dart sitting in an awkward position, or your own throwing pattern can influence your decision.
You need to become comfortable switching when appropriate.
Don't chase 180s
A 180 feels great.
Of course it does.
But your objective in a match isn't to hit the most exciting score possible.
Your objective is to win the leg.
A consistent stream of good scoring visits is generally more valuable than occasionally producing spectacular scores surrounded by inconsistent ones.
Step 8: Get better at doubles
If you want to win more darts matches, you need to finish.
You can dominate the scoring phase of a leg and still lose it if you cannot hit the required double.
Start by identifying your weaknesses.
Which doubles do you miss most?
Do you have a preferred double?
How confident are you when you have three darts in hand?
And how does that confidence change when you are throwing to win?
Make doubles practice measurable
Don't simply throw at D16 for 15 minutes and call it practice.
Record something.
For example:
Number of darts required to complete doubles around the board
Number of successful attempts from a set number of darts
Checkout success rate
Performance on specific problem doubles
The exact test matters less than being consistent with it.
That gives you something to compare.
Step 9: Practise checkouts, not just doubles
A player can be reasonably good at hitting individual doubles and still be poor at finishing legs.
Why?
Because checkouts require more than double accuracy.
You have to:
Know the route
Select the right target
Control your score
Set up your preferred double
Recover when you miss
Execute under pressure
That's why checkout practice needs to resemble the situations you'll face in matches.
Try the 121 game
The 121 game is a useful way to combine scoring, route selection and finishing.
Start on 121 and attempt to finish in three darts.
If you succeed, increase the starting score.
If you fail, continue according to the version of the game you are using.
The important point isn't simply how high you get.
It's whether you're making good decisions and executing under pressure.
Step 10: Practise your set-up play
This is one of the areas I think is massively under-practised.
Players often focus on:
"How many points can I score?"
instead of:
"Where do I want to be after this visit?"
Those are not always the same question.
Good set-up play means thinking ahead.
You need to understand your preferred doubles and how to leave them.
You also need to understand which numbers can create problems if you hit the wrong segment.
The better you become at managing your score, the less often you'll find yourself standing at the oche thinking:
"What do I do now?"
You want the decision-making to become familiar.
Step 11: Practise like you compete
This is another major difference between throwing darts and training at darts.
If your practice is completely different from your matches, you shouldn't be surprised if your performance changes when you compete.
At home, you might:
Throw immediately after retrieving your darts
Ignore the score
Stand at the oche while doing your maths
Throw as quickly as possible
Restart after a bad visit
Practise without an opponent
Stop whenever you feel uncomfortable
Competition doesn't work like that.
In a match you have to:
Manage your score
Wait for your opponent
Control your emotions
Reset after a mistake
Make decisions
Deal with pressure
Follow your routine
Finish when the opportunity arrives
Your practice should sometimes replicate those demands.
Practise the pause
One simple change I encourage is to practise stepping away from the oche.
Throw your three darts.
Step back.
Look at the score.
Make your decision.
Take a breath.
Return to your starting position.
Then throw.
This helps prevent what I call "machine-gun practice", where players throw three darts, retrieve them and immediately throw another three without ever resetting.
The pause is part of competitive darts.
Practise it.
Step 12: Learn how to handle pressure
Darts is a precision sport, but it is also a mental game.
You can have a technically good throw and still struggle to reproduce it when the outcome matters.
Pressure can change:
Your grip tension
Your breathing
Your rhythm
Your release
Your decision-making
Your attention
This is why a player can hit D16 comfortably in practice and suddenly struggle to hit it when they need it to win a match.
The solution isn't to try to "not be nervous".
Nerves are normal.
Instead, learn how to perform while they're present.
Focus on the process, not the outcome
Imagine you're on 32.
You need D16 to win.
If your entire attention is:
"I need to hit this."
you've already moved your focus away from the process.
Instead:
Set your routine.
Choose your target.
Commit to the throw.
Execute.
You cannot guarantee where the dart will land.
You can control your preparation.
That's why I talk about controlling the controllables.
You control your routine.
You control your preparation.
You control your breathing.
You control your decision.
You control your commitment to the shot.
You don't control the exact outcome of every dart.
Step 13: Don't change your technique every time you
have a bad session
This is one of the fastest ways to make yourself worse.
You have a bad night.
You decide your grip is wrong.
The next night you change your stance.
Then your elbow.
Then your release.
Then you buy another set of darts.
Eventually you don't know what your natural throw actually is anymore.
Technical changes should have a reason behind them.
If something needs changing, change it deliberately.
Then give yourself time to adapt.
Don't rebuild your throw because you missed three darts at D20.
Step 14: Record yourself throwing
One of the simplest tools available to you is your phone.
Record your throw from different angles.
Look at:
Your stance
Head position
Balance
Elbow movement
Shoulder movement
Grip
Release
Follow-through
Pre-throw routine
But be careful.
Video can show you what is happening.
It doesn't always tell you why it is happening.
That's where coaching can be valuable.
A player might see their elbow moving and decide:
"I need to keep my elbow completely still."
That may not actually be the solution.
The important question is what that movement is doing to the rest of the throwing action.
Step 15: Don't compare yourself to professional darts players
Professional darts is the result of years of practice, competition and development.
Watching Luke Humphries, Michael van Gerwen, Luke Littler or any other professional can be useful.
But don't assume that because a professional does something a certain way, you should copy it.
Professionals have developed throwing actions that work for them.
Your job is not to become a copy of another player.
Your job is to become a better version of you.
Step 16: Track improvement over weeks and months
Improvement in darts isn't linear.
You might improve quickly at first.
Then plateau.
Then suddenly make another jump.
Don't panic when the numbers fluctuate.
Instead, look for longer-term trends.
Record your results.
Use the same tests.
Keep the conditions as consistent as possible.
Then compare your performance against your own previous results.
That's much more useful than constantly comparing yourself with somebody else.
How often should you practise darts?
There is no magic number of hours that guarantees improvement.
The right amount depends on:
Your current ability
Your goals
Your available time
Your physical and mental freshness
What you're trying to change
The quality of your practice
For many players, several focused sessions each week will be more useful than one huge session.
If you have 30 minutes, make those 30 minutes count.
If you have two hours, don't assume that filling the entire two hours with repetitive throwing automatically makes it better.
Quality matters.
How long does it take to get better at darts?
There isn't a fixed timeline.
Some players improve quickly.
Others take much longer.
Your rate of improvement will depend on your starting point, practice quality, consistency, technique, competition experience and how effectively you identify and correct weaknesses.
Don't fall into the trap of thinking:
"I've been practising for three months, so I should be averaging X."
Darts doesn't work like that.
Measure your own progress.
If you're hitting more consistent groups, finishing more often, making better decisions and performing better under pressure, you're improving.
The average will follow.
What if your darts average has stopped improving?
A plateau is not necessarily a sign that you need to practise more.
It may be a sign that your current practice isn't addressing the problem.
If you've been stuck around the same average for months, ask yourself:
What has actually changed in my practice?
If the answer is:
"Nothing."
then doing more of the same probably isn't the solution.
Look for the limiting factor.
It could be technical.
It could be scoring.
It could be finishing.
It could be set-up play.
It could be confidence.
It could be your performance under pressure.
Or it could be a combination.
This is where objective measurement becomes particularly useful.
A simple four-week plan to improve at darts
If you want something practical to start with, try this.
Week 1: Assess
Establish your baseline.
Record your average and relevant performance statistics.
Complete a structured assessment of your game.
Identify your biggest weakness.
Don't change everything.
Choose one primary area.
Week 2: Target
Build your practice around that weakness.
Keep the rest of your game ticking over, but give the biggest proportion of your focused practice to the area you've identified.
Week 3: Train under pressure
Now take that skill into more realistic situations.
Don't just practise the skill in isolation.
Put yourself in situations where you have to execute it when the result matters.
Week 4: Retest
Repeat your original assessment.
Compare the results.
What improved?
What didn't?
What surprised you?
Then decide what the next training block should look like.
That's how you turn practice into a development process.
The biggest mistake you can make when trying to improve
It isn't practising too little.
It isn't having the wrong darts.
It isn't failing to hit enough 180s.
It's practising without knowing what you're trying to improve.
You can throw thousands of darts and remain at the same level if you're simply repeating the same mistakes.
More practice magnifies whatever you're practising.
That's why I would always encourage players to ask:
What am I trying to improve today?
And at the end:
Did I actually improve it?
So, how do you get better at darts?
If I could reduce everything in this guide to one process, it would be this:
1. Know your goal
Decide what better means for you.
2. Measure your current performance
Don't rely on feelings.
Use numbers and repeatable tests.
3. Identify your biggest weakness
Don't automatically practise what you enjoy.
Find what is actually holding you back.
4. Understand the cause
Don't treat symptoms without understanding why they're happening.
5. Build a focused practice plan
Every session should have a purpose.
6. Develop a repeatable process
Your stance, pre-throw routine and throwing action should give you a reliable foundation.
7. Practise the whole game
Scoring matters.
Doubles matter.
Checkouts matter.
Set-up play matters.
Mental performance matters.
Match play matters.
8. Measure again
Don't guess whether you've improved.
Test it.
9. Adjust
Keep what works.
Change what doesn't.
10. Repeat
Improvement is a process, not a single practice session.
You don't need to practise more. You need to practise the right thing.
This is probably the most important message I want you to take from this article.
If you're serious about getting better at darts, don't simply stand at the board and throw more darts.
Understand your game.
Identify your weakness.
Train it deliberately.
Measure the result.
Then do it again.
That's the approach I use with my own coaching players.
The DartsMatt Benchmark Assessment is designed to help you do exactly that. In around 30 minutes and 117 darts, you can establish a repeatable baseline across Singles, Power Scoring, Doubles and Set Up, then use those results to decide where your practice should be focused.
You can repeat the assessment after a four-week training block and see whether your work has actually made a difference.
Test. Target. Train. Retest.
That's a much better way to improve than simply hoping your average goes up.
Want to know exactly what is holding your darts game back?
I've built the free DartsMatt Benchmark Assessment to help you find out.
It gives you a structured starting point, highlights the areas that deserve your attention and gives you a number you can work to beat.
And if you want a more detailed analysis of your throw, your mental game and your overall performance, that's where coaching can take the process further.
Through DartsMatt, I offer both online and in-person darts coaching, with a personalised approach built around your game, your goals and the areas that will give you the biggest opportunity for improvement.
You don't need to become somebody else to become a better darts player.
You need to understand your own game, make the right changes and practise them consistently.
Plan. Transform. Perform.
