Dart Rules
An incredible 21.2 million people play darts each year. Here are some of the basics.
How To Add The Number Values on the Dartboard
The numbers on the outer wedge of the dartboard are the base value of that
wedge. The small outer ring is double the value of that wedge and the
small inner ring is triple the value of that wedge. The small outer ring
of the bull's-eye represents a single bull's-eye (25 points) and the small
inner ring of the bull's-eye represents a double bull's-eye (50 points).
How To Play
The ADA League format includes six single 301 matches and six Cricket
doubles matches. Each match will consist of one game valued at one point.
How To Play 301
The game starts with players at 301 points. Straight start or any in
begins the game. Games ends when player reaches zero exactly by finishing
on a single, double or triple. One, two or three darts constitutes one
turn. You total the person's score after the turn, and remove their darts
before the next player's turn. No game of 301 shall exceed 51 darts thrown.
The total score of each turn is subtracted from the total score. Exceeding
zero score (busting) ends the turn and requires the player go back to the
score he or she had in the turn prior to busting. A bust counts as a full
turn (three darts thrown).
A 13th point (bonus point) shall be awarded to the team that has the
lowest total points remaining from the six single games of 301. In the
event of a tie, revert back to the 301 singles matches. The team winning
the first 301 singles is awarded the bonus point.
How To Play Cricket
The object of the game is to score three "marks" in each of the numbers 15
through 20 and the bull's-eye. On an open number, a triple scores three
marks, a double scores two and a single scores one. Additional marks on a
closed number score points if the opponent is still open on that number.
Example: four marks on the number 20 would close the number and score 20
points against the opponent. The first player to close all six numbers,
the bull's-eye and have the highest score is the winner. In the event
there is no score or the score is tied, the first team to close all
numbers and the bull's-eye wins.
Here are some other Rules
- The minimum throwing distance shall be 7 feet 6 inches
from the surface of the machine dartboard to the front of the line, placed
parallel to the board and at least 24 inches in length. The maximum
throwing distance is 8 feet.
- Machine shall be positioned so as to be readily available without
distraction to any player at any point of the game.
- No single dart shall exceed 16 grams (flight, shaft and barrel) or the
weight limit set by the machine owner.
Here are some tidbits on playing:
How far back can I stand?
The closest distance you can stand at to throw a dart is 7 ft. 6 inches, the
farthest is 8 feet. The distance is measured from the face of the board,
not from the wall on which the board is fixed.
What's the real name of the throwing line?
The line behind which you throw is called the hockey or toe line.
When do I add the score?
Each person can throw 1, 2, or 3 darts. You then total the score and
remove the darts.
Does it count when...
To count, the point of the dart has to be in the board and can't fall out before all three darts are thrown. Also, the dart score is the value of where the point of the dart enters the board. Hitting the wall outside the double ring on the board doesn't count.
The bull's-eye gets the highest score, right?
The bull's-eye on English dartboards is actually two areas -- a laughably
small "single" bull's-eye area, and an inner ridiculously small "double"
bull's-eye at the very center of the board. In 301, a single bull's-eye is
25, a double is 50. So it's not the highest -- a triple 20 is.
Do I get a last turn in 301?
Once a player wins, the game ends. The other players don't get a final
turn.
