So you’ve mastered the basics and can hit the board somewhat consistently. Maybe you’ve even had a few lucky shots land in or near the bullseye. But if you really want to dominate at darts, it’s time to step up your game.
The pros make it look easy, but there are advanced techniques and skills that separate the amateurs from the champions.
If you’re ready to become a force to be reckoned with at the oche, read on. In this article, you’ll discover seven advanced dart-throwing techniques that will transform your accuracy, precision, and consistency.
With practice, these pro tips will become second nature and have you throwing like a pro in no time. Get ready to take your dart game to the next level. The basics were just the beginning – now the real fun starts.
Perfecting Your Stance and Grip for More Accurate Throws
To become a darts sharpshooter, you need to master the fundamentals. The most important is your stance and grip.
Stand sideways to your target, with one foot slightly in front of the other and knees bent. This athletic stance gives you balance and stability for an accurate throw.
Grip the dart right behind the needlepoint, between your thumb and index finger. Hold it lightly but firmly, like you would a pen or pencil. Don’t choke down on the dart or hold it too loosely.
Release and Follow Through
Release the dart smoothly, rolling it off the ends of your fingers as your arm extends. Follow through by continuing the motion of your arm across your body after releasing. This helps ensure a straight, targeted throw every time.
With practice, a consistent stance, grip, release and follow-through become second nature. You’ll be hitting triple 20s in no time! But if your darts aren’t quite flying true yet, try these adjustments:
•Stand with your side facing the board at about a 45-degree angle. This may feel more natural and balanced.
•Relax your wrist and don’t lock your elbow. Tension will reduce accuracy and power.
•Release the dart when your arm is extended about three-quarters of the way. Releasing too early or too late affects direction and force.
•Finish with your arm extended and palm facing behind you. A full follow-through is key.
A flawless throw is all in the details. Refine your technique with each toss and bullseyes will become your new norm. Keep at it, and before you know it you’ll be giving Phil Taylor a run for his money!
Throwing With Proper Follow-Through and Release
To get those darts to stick right where you want them, follow-through and release are key.
Keep Your Elbow Up
As you bring the dart back and prepare to throw, keep your elbow up and avoid dropping it. A dropped elbow affects your release and accuracy. Hold your elbow at a 90 degree angle for the most control and precision.
Follow-Through
Follow-through refers to continuing the motion of your arm after releasing the dart. As you release the dart, continue the forward motion of your arm – don’t abruptly stop.
Follow-through helps ensure a smooth release and adds power and spin to your throw. Imagine your arm is a whip – you want to snap your wrist as you release to generate speed and momentum.
Release at the Right Time
Releasing the dart at the proper time is critical. Release the dart when your arm is extended and following through in the direction of the target.
If you release too early or too late, your accuracy will suffer. Practice the timing of your release and build up muscle memory so it becomes second nature.
Release with Your Fingers, Not Your Wrist
A proper release starts with your fingers, not your wrist. Keep your wrist straight and firm, and release the dart off to the side of your index finger.
Releasing primarily with your wrist reduces control and accuracy. Place your index finger along the side of the barrel for support, and release with your middle, ring and pinky fingers.
With practice, a consistent elbow, proper follow-through, well-timed release, and release off your fingers, your darts will start sticking where you want them to – and your opponents won’t know what hit them!
Aiming Strategies to Hit Any Target
When it comes to aiming, accuracy is key. Master these techniques to hit any target.
Aiming for the Bullseye
Focus your eyes on the exact spot you want to hit. For the bullseye, visualize the red center circle. Take a few practice throws to gage the proper speed and release point to hit your target. Start close to the board, around 5 to 7 feet away, and slowly move back as your accuracy improves.
Follow Through
A smooth release and follow through are essential for precision aiming. Keep your elbow up and pointed at the target. Release the dart with your fingers pointed at the bullseye, and continue the motion of your arm extended toward the target after releasing the dart. This helps ensure a straight and true throw.
Release Point
Releasing the dart at the proper point in your throw is key. For the bullseye, release when your upper arm is parallel to the floor and your forearm is pointed at the target. Release the dart off to the side of your index finger, with your wrist straight and elbow up. Release the dart smoothly without jerking your arm.
A Consistent Stance
Using the exact same stance and throwing motion each time you throw a dart will significantly improve your accuracy. Place one foot slightly in front of the other, keep your upper body still, and pull the dart back and throw in a smooth motion.
A consistent pre-throw routine also helps, such as taking a deep breath to focus before each throw.
Adjust for Different Aiming Spots
To hit other targets beyond the bullseye, you’ll need to adjust your release point and speed. For lower targets, release the dart earlier and with slightly less force. For higher spots, delay your release just a bit and throw with more power.
Double and triple targets require a higher, softer arc, while outer singles need a flatter, more powerful throw. Practice at different spots to get a feel for the adjustments required.
With regular practice of these techniques, your accuracy and precision will improve dramatically. Soon, no target will be out of your reach!
Adjusting for Distance, Wind, and Other Environmental Factors
As your dart-throwing skills improve, you’ll need to account for factors beyond just releasing the dart smoothly. Environmental elements like distance to the board, wind, and lighting can influence your shots. Making adjustments will ensure your darts land where you want them.
Distance
The further you are from the board, the more arc you’ll need to put on your throw to land your darts where you aim. Stand parallel to the board with your side facing it.
Extend your arm and point at the target to gage the angle. Bend your elbow and wrist to match that angle on your throw. Release the dart when your elbow is level with your shoulder for the most accurate shot.
Practice different distances to build consistency. Start close to the board, maybe just 3 to 5 feet away. As you get comfortable, take a step back. Find the sweet spot distance, usually 7 to 10 feet for recreational players, where you can group your darts tightly around the bullseye.
Wind
Even a light breeze can blow your darts off course, especially for long shots. If possible, position the board out of any drafts. When the wind is unavoidable, aim slightly into the breeze to compensate.
The more wind, the more you’ll need to adjust. Release the dart with a smooth follow through in the direction you’re aiming to give it the best chance of hitting your target.
Lighting
Poor or uneven lighting makes it difficult to aim accurately. Place lighting fixtures directly above and slightly in front of the board.
Avoid backlighting the board. Bright, full-spectrum bulbs that mimic natural daylight provide the best illumination for darts.
Making adjustments for the environment may seem complicated but with regular practice at different distances, in various wind conditions and lighting, you’ll get better at intuiting how to slightly alter your throw to nail your shots.
Consistency and precision will become second nature, allowing you to focus on more advanced techniques.
Advanced Training Drills to Improve Consistency and Precision
Once you’ve mastered the basics, it’s time to take your dart throwing skills to the next level. Try these advanced drills to improve your consistency and precision.
The Around-the-Clock Drill
This drill helps you practice throwing accurately from different angles and positions. Start at the 12 o’clock position, then move clockwise to 1, 2, 3 and so on, throwing 3 darts at each number. Focus on using the same smooth release and follow through on each throw.
The Pressure Drill
This drill simulates the pressure of competition. Give yourself only 3 seconds to grip, aim and throw each dart. Start with larger areas to hit, like single or double numbers, then work your way to smaller targets like triple 20 or bullseye. This helps you get comfortable making quick, accurate throws under pressure.
The 180 Drill
If you can consistently hit the triple 20, this drill is for you. The goal is to hit 3 triple 20s (180 points) with your 3 darts. Start at an easy distance, like 5 to 7 feet from the board. Once you’ve mastered it up close, take a step back and try again.
Keep moving further away from the board as your skills improve. This drill really challenges your precision and consistency.
The Random Number Drill
For this drill, have a friend call out random numbers between 1 to 20 for you to hit. You get 3 darts to hit each number called.
Start with larger areas, then progress to more specific numbers. This helps you practice hitting any target on command and challenges you to adjust your aim and trajectory for different areas of the board.
The Blindfold Drill
The ultimate test of your muscle memory and form is to throw while blindfolded. Have a spotter stand behind you to retrieve your darts and call out where they land.
Release the dart the same way on each throw, using the feedback to make minor adjustments. This drill really forces you to focus on repeating the same smooth motion on every single throw.
With regular practice of these advanced drills, your precision, consistency and performance under pressure will reach new heights. Keep at it and you’ll be dominating in no time!
Top Mistakes that a Person can make while throwing Darts
One of the biggest mistakes new dart throwers make is using the wrong grip. There are a few basic grips for darts that will give you the most control and accuracy:
The Hammer Grip
Grab the barrel of the dart with your index finger placed along the top of the barrel, and your thumb placed along the bottom. Curl your remaining fingers around the dart. This grip gives you the most control and stability.
The Fist Grip
Make a fist around the dart, with your index finger extended and placed along the top of the barrel. Only the very tips of your fingers should be touching the dart. This grip allows for a fluid release but less control.
The Pinch Grip
Hold the dart between your thumb, index and middle fingers. Your remaining fingers are extended. This grip provides good control but can be less stable.
Other common mistakes include
•Releasing the dart off to the side of your body instead of straight forward. Make sure you extend your arm directly at the target.
•Dropping your elbow or not keeping it up. Your elbow should remain at the same level as your shoulder, not dropping down.
•Not following through. Release the dart smoothly while extending your arm and fingers at the target. Don’t snap your wrist or jerk the dart. Follow through for accuracy.
•Aiming at the board instead of a specific target. Pick out numbers, sections or small areas to aim at. Aiming at the broad area of the board leads to scattered darts.
•Not taking your time. Rushing your throws will lead to poor accuracy and technique. Take a breath, focus on your target, and release the dart smoothly.
With practice, these advanced techniques and avoiding common mistakes will have you dominating at the dartboard in no time. Stay focused, keep at it, and throw consistent darts.
Conclusion
You’ve mastered the fundamentals and are ready to take your dart-throwing skills to the next level. With practice and patience, these advanced techniques will become second nature, and up your game in no time.
Whether you want to impress your friends at the local pub or compete in dart leagues and tournaments, these pro tips will give you an edge over the competition. Keep at it and before you know it, you’ll be hitting triple 20s, and checkout finishes like a pro.
The key is to start with one technique, nail it, then build up from there. So grab your darts, step up to the oche, and unleash your inner Phil Taylor. The bullseye is yours for the taking!
