Darts is one of those traditional pub games played all around the globe. Due to its popularity, the sport is now organized by large governing bodies. English people invented the game and therefore, British Darts Organization administers the game guidelines and rules.
- Darts Scoring Guide
- Darts Scoring Double Bullseye
- Printable Dart Scoreboard
- Darts Score Sheet Excel
- Madhouse Darts Scoring System
- Darts Scoring Sheet Template
- Printable Dart Board Score Sheet
For your question on darts how to keep score, we will tell you about the formal rules of the game, different formats of the game like darts cricket, killer, around the clock, darts 501 and darts 301, and many other phenomenons.
How to Set up Darts Board?
Table of Contents
For starters, you must know how to set your darts board. If you have a darts board and want to practice at home, we prefer that you use competition conditions as it will help you in adjusting to the traditional techniques. Follow the below-given instructions to set up your darts board at home.
Feb 8, 2014 - This Darts Score Sheet has space to record your scores for everybody's favorite pub game. Free to download and print.
- Hang your dartboard flat against the wall in such a way that the total distance from the floor to the center of the dartboard (or center of the bull) appears to be 173 cm (1.73 m).
- Mark a line from the face of the dartboard. The distance between the thrower and the face of the dartboard should be 237 cm (2.37 m). As per the rules, you are required to throw the darts from behind that line.
What are the rules of the game?
The rules of darts are pretty simple and easy to follow. Following these rules will allow you to play the game without any hassle.
Darts Scoring Guide
- Which team will ‘bull up’ first will be decided by a coin toss.
- ‘Bulling up’ is the term used when a player from each team throw the dart at the center of the board, that is; the bull. Whose dart is closest to the bull will be given the choice to play first or second.
- The players throwing the dart have to make sure that they have to keep their foot behind the line. Even ‘on the line’ is considered out.
- Except for promotional games, every game must start and end with ‘double.’
- The Caller or the Chalker is the person who records the score.
- The job of the Caller is to only provide you the details of the remaining score. He/she will not tell how to score the remaining points.
- You will not get any points if the dart falls out of the board before the Caller calls it.
- Unfair tactics like sledging, heckling or any other means which can disturb the concentration of the opponent is not applicable.
- Referee’s decision is the final decision.
- Each player can fire the dart 3 times.
- Dart Score Sheet Template This is a blank Dart Score Sheet Template you can use to put player’s scores while participating in tournaments. It could be used in friendly match as well.
- Edit, fill, sign, download Darts Score Sheet online on Handypdf.com. Printable and fillable Darts Score Sheet.
How to Score Darts?
The dartboards made as per the international standards are divided into 20 numbered sections. You can score from 1-20 points. The dartboard is divided into different areas using wires – single, double and triple.
- If you hit the large portions, you will earn points to the exact value of that section. That is, if you hit 20, you will get 20 points.
- If you hit the thin inner portions, colored red and green; you will earn triple points of the value of that section. That is, if you hit T20, you will earn 60 points. (T is denoted for triple)
- If you hit the thin outer portions, colored red and green, you will earn double points of the value of that section. That is, if you hit D20, you will earn 40 points. (D is denoted for double)
- The bullseye is divided into two sections – inner section colored red or black and outer section colored green. Hitting the green section will earn you 25 points and hitting the red section will double the points to 50.
- If you hit anywhere outside the outer ring, you will earn zero points.
- If the dart you threw falls out of the board before you collect it, still you will earn zero points. The darts have to remain on the board. However, in case of electronic boards, the points are counted if the dart falls off it.
- Points will be counted only for those darts hitting the playing surface.
There are different formats of the game and each format has its own rules and difficulty level. There are five popular formats of darts namely – Darts Cricket, Darts Killer, Darts 501, Darts 301 and Around the Clock. We will discuss 501 and 301 as this format the integral part of the completion matches. Cricket, around the clock and killer, are more of a pub game.
How to play 501?
‘501 up’ is played in most of the professional matches. It is one of the simplest formats of the game. You and your opponent will be provided with 501 points in total.
You will get three darts per turn. The score you garner in each turn will be deducted from 501. The main objective of the game is to reduce the score to zero as fast as possible. The first one doing it wins the game.
However, in case, if you require 32 points to go out but you hit 15 and then 16, then your chance becomes a bust. That means you have to start again with 32 points to go. Score reduced to 1 or below is considered a bust. Some of the games are required to be started and ended with a double.
Example:
You score D10 (double 10), 20 and 5 in your first turn. The total is 20+20+5 = 45.
Your starting score = 501
You scored = 45
Points to go = 501 – 45 = 456
Darts Scoring Double Bullseye
How to play 301?
‘301 up’ is similar to 501 apart from the fact that your total score will be reduced to 301. The rules and regulations are also the same.
Example:
You score D10 (double 10), 20 and 5 in your first turn. The total is 20+20+5 = 45.
Your starting score = 301
You scored = 45
Points to go = 301 – 45 = 256
When your score gets below 171, a professional player knows how to check out the game in a single turn (3 darts). Below given are the best possible checkout options the professional players go for.
POINTS NEEDED | BEST POSSIBLE OPTIONS | POINTS NEEDED | BEST POSSIBLE OPTIONS |
170 167 164 161 160 158 157 156 155 | T20, T20, Bull T20, T19, Bull T20, T18, Bull T20, T17, Bull T20, T20, D20 T20, T20, D19 T20, T19, D20 T20, T20, D18 T20, T19, D19 | 154 153 152 151 150 149 148 147 | T20, T18, D20 T20, T19, D18 T20, T20, D16 T20, T17, D20 T20, T18, D18 T20, T19, D16 T20, T16, D20 T20, T17, D18 |
Conclusion
Darts is a fun game and is played all over the globe for leisure and competition. The game is all about precision and you are required to understand its scoring system and the board in order to play.
The best thing about this game is that every dartboard made is the same, divided into 20 sections. So, the platform and rules remain the same except the format.
You might do know but it is a game of fitness and from casual to hardcore, it is enjoyed by everyone and playing with rules might enhance your gameplay experience.
This was all about darts how to keep score. Neo geo rom size. If you still have any queries, we are waiting for the same in the comment section.
See also:
Darts Tournament and Leg Scorer Sheets
Organising Darts tournaments in your local pub or club is not always that easy. Players need to know the format of play when they arrive and your rules for your tournament. Most Pub & Club league games use rules governed by the BDO ruling and for a comprehensive copy of their rules visit the BDO Website. However, to help you along, most fun tournaments can be organised without too much trauma.
Below you will see I have produced a couple of basic tournament sheets for you use in your local event. You can download save and reproduce these sheets free for your tournament.
General Rules of a standard Game of 701, 501, 301 Game
The Standard Dartboard should hang securely from a wall so that the height of the centre bull is to the ground is 5ft 8ins / 173cm. (See Dartboard Set-up)
The throwing distances can vary from anything from 7ft to 8ft 6 ins but the standard setup is played from 7ft 9 ¼ ins 2.37 meters from the face of the dartboard measured horizontally.
The toe-line or oche shall be clearly marked and should be at a minimum 18ins long. The toe line can be just a painted line on the ground or a securely raised line indicator such as a piece of wood or metal. The latter is preferable has the thrower as a firm edge to rest his/her foot against not on top!
The order of play is either determined by a toss of a coin or by each player throwing for the centre bull the nearest being the player that throws first (BDO ruling) PDC Bulling up is slightly different. The rules here can vary depending on the league you may be playing in; the local rules should be observed at all times.
When throwing for the bull, if the first thrower hits the centre bull or outer bull the dart is usually removed before the second player throws. If the second player hits the same as the first player then the bulling-up procedure starts again. If the first player's dart does not hit either the centre bull or outer bull then the dart remains in the board until the second player throws. If the first player's dart is obstructing the bull the second player may request the marker/ref to straighten the dart. (See local rules)
Once the order of play has been determined the winner will start leg one and odd legs after that. The loser will start leg two and even legs thereafter.
Any standard darts may be used.
A throw consists three darts except were the game is finished in less.
Darts cannot be re-thrown this includes darts that miss the board and darts that bounce of the board wiring system. Only darts that have their points touching the scoring area of board score.
A player may be told, if he or she asks, what they scored, or what number he requires for the game, by the score announcer, but not how to achieve it. He or she should not ask another team member for the outshot unless the part of the agreed rules in your local league/tournament.
Printable Dart Scoreboard
If the number required for the game is exceeded in the course of a throw, throw ceases, and no account is taken of the score obtained during that throw.
The inner bull (50) counts as double of (25) the outer bull.
Darts Score Sheet Excel
The game or leg is to score 301, 501 or 701, as previously agreed.
Madhouse Darts Scoring System
Generally, each player’s score must start and finish a game with a double (The out narrow ring of the board). Competition games, however, are usually played with a straight start (no compulsory double) but with a compulsory double to finish.
Darts Scoring Sheet Template
Scoring this tournament
The first throw is deducted from the player start number e.g. 501 and then from the subsequent reducing total. The scorer should show both the score obtained for the throw and the reducing total remaining.
Printable Dart Board Score Sheet
This tournament requires double/single start
The tournament is the first to reach to _____ legs / _____sets. Each set is the best of (___) legs.
Disputes to be settled by _____________________
You may have other rules that you may wish to apply such match marking i.e. looser of the previous match marks the next. You may wish to impose fines if this isn’t done. You may have a team event and usually, home teams mark.
It is your event so you can make the rules however the more straightforward they are the easy it is for all.