Darts is one of the oldest established English pub games which, since the late 1970s, has become one of the most popular sports in the world.

As far as the origins of the game are concerned, javelins, crossbow bolts and archery have all been considered. Of these the most likely scenario is that the game has its roots in archery.  Indeed, glance back to the earliest type of dartboards and you will see that these were concentric targets – miniature forms of the archery target.  Moreover, darts is most commonly known as ‘arrows.’ Some would say that these two points alone are sufficient to confirm our sports heritage.

Up until the early part of the 20th century, darts existed in disparate forms across parts of England, the only matches taking place being either ‘in-house’ or friendly matches between pubs which were close to each other. (The cost of transport was prohibitive at that time.) However, after World War 1, the first brewery leagues appeared and grew to such an extent that, by 1924, the seeds had been sown for the establishment of a national darts association.  The News of the World competition was established in London in the 1927/28 season and by the end of the 1930s had expanded to cover, by region, most of England.  The total entrants in the competition in 1938/39 was in excess of 280,000.

Such was the take up of darts by the brewers and the dart-playing public that, by the 1930s, it had become a popular national recreation in England and parts of Wales, played by all classes, often ousting existing pubs games such as skittle and rings (indoor quoits). The development of darts found some resistance in places like parts of Manchester (where the smaller Manchester/ Log-End) board still holds sway.

Darts playing boosted morale in the forces during the Second World War being played in the Officer’s Mess and PoW camps alike. Darts was standard issue in  the NAAFI sports pack.  American soldiers visiting our shores took darts home with them and generated substantial interest in this ‘olde Englishe’ game in the US which up until then was little played in that country.

The News of the World Individual Darts Championship was revived in 1947/48, this time on a national basis, and continued to be described as ‘the championship every dart player wants to win’ until its demise in the 1990s.   The end of the war also saw the return of The People National Team Championships (first played for in 1938/39).  However, the original national darts association did not survive the war and although a number of attempts were made to introduce another national, controlling agency, nothing firm was realised until 1954 when The People supported the setting up of the National Darts Association of Great Britain.

The 1950s and 1960s were periods when darts maintained a fairly low profile even though participant levels were still extremely high.  The NDAGB was undertaking sterling work both in establishing county leagues and organising top competitions such as the NODOR Fours.  The 1960s saw darts on TV for the first time and through the work of the British Darts Organisation (BDO), established in 1973, and the introduction of split screen technology darts really took a hold of Britain and then, it seemed, the rest of the planet.

The 1970s and 1980s witnessed the first darts ‘stars’ such as Eric Bristow, John Lowe, Alan Evans, Jocky Wilson, Leighton Rees, Cliff Lazarenko becoming household names.

How to Play Darts

Things You'll Need 

A dart board

Three darts per player

An opponent!

Playing darts is a great way to pass the time with good friends and good laughs. While there are many variations of games played with a dartboard, the most well-known approach is for each player to start with a number of points ending in -01 (e.g. 301, 501, 1001). Then, they have to throw their darts, trying to get to zero before all the other players. First to zero wins!

Steps 

Understand the board layout. Every dart board is the same and is numbered from 1 - 20 in non-sequential order around the board. The center of the board is called the bullseye. This is split into two sections. The inner section (usually red) is called the "double bull" or "cork" and the outer section (usually green) is known as the "single bull" or just "bull."

Hang the board so that the center of the double bull is 5ft 8in (1.73m) from the floor

Mark the Oche (/OCK-EE/), which is the line that a throwing player must stand behind. This is 7ft 9 1/4 inches from the face of the board.

Throw a dart each to see who goes first. The person who gets closest to the double bull gets to throw first, and sometimes chooses which version of the darts game will be played.

Take turns throwing three darts in an attempt to get the highest score possible. After all three darts are thrown, the player's total is scored and subtracted from their current score as follows:


The board is split into 20 separate sections each with a number allocated to that section. If a dart lands in a (usually) yellow or black section, the thrower scores that number of points.

If a dart lands in the outer green or red sections, the thrower scores double that section's number of points.

If a dart lands in the inner small green or red sections, the thrower scores triple that section's number of points.

The maximum number of points a thrower can score is 180. All three darts must land in the triple twenty space.

If a dart lands in the green part of the bullseye, the thrower scores 25 points.

If a dart lands in the red part of the bullseye, the thrower scores 50 points.

If a dart lands outside the outer wire, or doesn't stay on the board, the player scores nothing for that throw.


Tips 

In the USA, darts games using this type of darts and board are referred to collectively as "English darts" to distinguish them from "American darts", which are darts games played with a different style of darts and board.

Games of "01" (301, 501, etc.) must end by hitting a double. For example, if you have 20 points remaining, hitting a double 10 (which equals 20) will win the game. Therefore, as one nears 170 points it is helpful to calculate your "outs" so as to leave oneself at least one throw at a double to go out and win. There are commercially-available "out charts" to hang by your board (or print one from the Internet), although advanced players will have most of the out-combinations memorized. 180 is the highest 3-dart "out" (T20, T20, Double Bull); 120 is the highest 2-dart out (T20, Double Bull). 32 is often viewed as a very good point total to be left with as it offers a succession of single-dart outs if singles instead of doubles are hit, i.e. D8 if single 16 instead of D16 is hit, then D4, D2 and D1.

My Article on Ezine@rticles!

Ok..First things first. I play the game and have done for over 25 years and these tips are what I have picked up along the way.

1.Preparation.

Get the right kit! A good set of darts needn't cost the earth. Try a few sets at different weights and settle on a weight that suits you. In the UK a decent set of darts costs about £10 that's about $15 in the US. Try and buy 2 or 3 sets the same as this helps practice and also if you lose a set there is no need to panic. Buy plenty of stems and flights..again plain is best and cheapest and it takes another worry out of the equation come match night.
Get a board put up at home so you can practice and if you are serious, set aside at least 2 hours a day.
When playing try and wear loose fitting shirts...just like the guys on TV, this keeps you cool and also stops any restriction when throwing. Make sure you wear comfortable shoes as well..some matches & tournaments can last a while..so keep those feet happy!



2.Join A Team


At this stage, it does not matter how good you are and dart teams are always looking for players, so get out and ask at local clubs and pubs. Give the guy behind the bar your phone number and just ask around. You will be surprised how quickly you will get a game. Darts teams in my local area have a huge range of players of all abilities..so you won't be discouraged as generally the Dart community is a very welcoming place.
Plus the fact if you follow step one and practice every day, you will soon be of a standard equal to or above 50% of the local players in your league who will generally only play on match night.









3.Concentrate.

You are playing the board. Not your opponent. Never worry about what your opponent hits as it is totally irrelevant to you. I never watch my opponent. I throw my darts, check my score and look away and concentrate on my next throw. At home I play against myself and try to hit the most I can in 10 3 dart visits.
This gives you a 3 dart average, and obviously, the higher the better.
When I play on match night..I do exactly the same.
Watching your opponent not only puts you off, it can seriously damage your confidence..especially if he or she hits a good score. So don't do it.
You need to worry about You..no one else.







4.Practice, Practice, Practice.

Do you think Phil Taylor is the greatest player ever because he was born with the ability he has now?
Do you think that he was an amazing player all through his teens and early twenties and was knocking on the door of the big championships in the 1980's?
Do you think that when he was working as a ceramic toilet roll maker in the 1970's for 52 pounds a week he was doing that for fun?
No..he would practice his darts..every day..and he still does today.
8 hours a day at least. Now, I know you may not be the next Phil Taylor..but if you copy his commitment even now at the absolute top of his game..he still practices..so you must do the same.
You can never expect to get better at this wonderful game without application.

5. Believe in Yourself and go easy on the Pop!

If you don't believe in yourself..no one else will.
Darts is the best and the worst game in the world for harming your confidence.
Some days you are on fire and get great scores and hit your doubles every time..the next you can't hit a donkey's butt with a banjo!
It's the way you deal with it.
Take care of yourself. Eat a healthy diet. Don't abuse your body, don't overload it, and don't deny it any of the things it needs. At the same time, don't obsess. Don't drink too much alcohol when you are playing..it's no good before you play and there is plenty of time after your match. Recently a guy in our team went on..slightly sozzled..and he started off with 140, 100, 140 97.....he would have had a 12 dart leg if he had hit the double 12! He lost the leg because he couldn't get out..even when he was 250 in the lead..because he had drunk too much. Confidence comes from within. If you believe you can hit that double..most of the time you will! The opposite is also true.

So don't drink too much before you play..believe you are a good player..imagine winning the match..and have some fun!

Basic Tips For Playing Better Darts

Training

Although it may seem like a game in your local pub is an ideal way of getting in some practice, most darts players will tell you that the only way to improve your game and technique is to practice by yourself. Competitive games in the pub are actually where you put this practice to use.

However, to complicate matters further, many professional darts players will advise not to practice 301, 501 or cricket by yourself, as you might become bored and frustrated with the game as you play. Instead, you should aim to hit particular scores (e.g. bullseyes, doubles, singles and triples) a certain amount of times each, so that you become experienced at hitting your required shot every time you throw the dart.

A great deal of mental ability goes into playing darts, and therefore you need to be able to develop this mental concentration. One of the main qualities that should be cultivated is confidence. If you think that you can do it, there is a much greater likelihood that you will be able to pull off your shot.



Developing your own technique, grip and stance is vital for your performance. Take time to see which one suits you best and provides you with the best throw, as well as observing other skilled darts players. Focus on how they throw with ease and try and recreate this with your own style, but try not to solely imitate them. Instead, try and develop what is best for you.

Technique

Make sure that you develop and maintain a correct stance. One of the key ways to be able to throw consistently good darts is by having a steady arm. Try and keep your upper and lower body fixed in place, and do not allow a swing when you throw the dart. Darts need minimal strength to reach the board and all the power used to throw the dart should come from your fingers, wrist and arm, not from the rest of your body. Many players think that if the dart misses the board or hits lower than aimed for it is due to lack of power. However, this is more to do with the accuracy of the aim and the follow-through.

Some beginners develop a little hop or push when they start to throw darts, and it is essential that this habit is broken straight away as it will be much harder to break later in your darts playing career. Others will try and lean over the line. Gaining these few inches is not worth it in terms of losing your balance and stability, and it will also be more physically demanding for your body. Again, this habit should be broken as soon as possible.

Legs and feet should be kept in a solid, relaxed and stable position, with one foot forward but your weight equally balanced. The foot which you place forward should be your dominant one, and correlate to which arm you use to throw the dart. If you lean too much to one side this can make you tired during the game, which will make you less accurate. Also, avoid lifting the back of your feet off the floor, as this will affect your entire throw.

One of the best ways to see if you are adopting a correct pose is to throw a few rounds of triple 20s. Then attempt to throw some triple 20s with your eyes closed. You will have a much better idea of your balance and movement when your eyes are closed, and will be able to tell if you are moving too much or managing to keep your body still. Another way to check your throw is to videotape yourself playing darts. This will truly highlight any problems you may have with your posture and movement.

How to hold the dart
The dart should be held at a level position, with the elbow up at a straight angle. Do not hold the dart at an angle, but keep it pointed towards the board. The purpose of the grip is to hold the dart pointing towards the board and, although it sounds easy, you need to make sure that is your focus.

Your grip should be solid and relaxed; do not put any tension into your fingers, and if they start to turn white when you are holding the dart then you are holding it too tight. Grasp the dart loosely so that it will not slide out of your hand, while keeping it firm to allow for accuracy. Most problems occur from the dart being held too tightly rather than too loosely.

Use two fingers and your thumb to hold the dart with. If you use any more fingers then it may feel more secure but will actually make the release harder, and you may get them caught on the flight. Spread the rest of your fingers so that you are not tempted to use them. This will also allow for a more effective release.

Do not throw the dart as you would with other objects, instead you are aiming to place it into the dartboard. A good way to measure if you are throwing the dart too hard is to check how far the dart is entering the dartboard. The front of the dart panel should never touch the dartboard, and if it does you are throwing it too hard.

Do not put any spin on the dart either when you throw it. When you throw the dart, make sure that the thumb and fingers leave it at the same time. If the thumb leaves it first it will roll off the fingers, causing it to spin. Keep your fingers and thumb pointing towards the dartboard as you aim and throw the dart, this will stop the fingers from touching the flight as it leaves your hand.

Tips

The key to playing good darts is consistency. Build this through practice, but do not over-practice. If you are throwing many bad darts it could begin to get demoralising, and a good state of mind is essential for good play.
Use sandpaper to keep the tips of your darts sharp. Rub them lengthways whilst rotating them.

Make sure you stretch before you start playing. This will loosen your muscles and therefore reduce the amount of time you need to throw warm up darts.
Develop a good breathing technique that will improve your concentration, clear your mind and promote a good posture.

You can definitely improve your concentration using hypnosis style relaxation techniques too. Check out the CD above.

When you reach 100, you are only within a few doubles of reaching zero, so be careful about which scores you aim to hit. It is best to aim for even numbers, as players often get into trouble when they score odds. Take time and effort over each shot, and do not race.
If you are left with an off number, aim to hit only odd numbers from then on, as this will give you a better chance of getting down to zero.