Dart tips and more from Dextro Energy*: The tip has to go into the round

Arrows hit their target with incredible precision, people scream - what sounds like a medieval fan's fever dream is in reality: a darts tournament.

No other sport has experienced such hype in recent years as darts. A pub sport has long since become a multi-million dollar industry, and the best players in the world are adored by fans like pop stars. Names like Michael van Gerwen, Trina Gulliver, Peter Wright and of course Phil Taylor are well known even to people who can't tell the difference between a dart and a letter opener.

Do you want to learn more about this sport that delights and is played by millions? That you don't need a lot of equipment, that is beginner-friendly and so much fun? Then welcome to our story. This is about darts. About the right equipment, the rules of the game and everything else you need to know. Interest? Then “Game on”!

Team Dart World Cup 2022 in Frankfurt: The arrows will fly in June

Fans have marked the event in red on the calendar: The PDC (Professional Darts Corporation) Europe Team Darts World Championship will take place in Frankfurt from June 16th to June 19th, 2022. The “Team World Cup of Darts” is intended for teams of two and is a national competition. A treat for darts fans: The really big names are coming – and of course Germany is also there. Gabriel Clemens and Martin Schindler have big plans.

Dart glossary: ​​technical terms you need to know

Don't worry about all the technical terms that will fly around your ears like darts. We'll explain the most important ones to you now - for cultivated dart small talk.

• Oche The throwing line. This must neither be entered nor exceeded when throwing. Pronounced “ockey”.
• Usually put a game from 501 points to zero. Whoever reaches zero points first wins the leg.
• Set or sentence A set consists of several legs. For professionals, up to 5 legs form a set.
• Match or game A match usually consists of several sets or legs. Whoever wins a certain number of them wins the match.
• 180 The highest possible score with three throws. 3x Triple-20 required.
• Segment The “pieces of cake” on the disk that are assigned a numerical value and are interrupted by their triple ring. If you hit a segment, you get the simple score.
• Double or Double-Ring At the very outside of a segment field. Gives 2x the specified number of points. Double-20 is 40 points. Important for the usual victory condition Double Out.
• Triple or Triple Ring Also called “Treble”. That tiny little field between the two segment sections of a number. If you hit here, it gives 3x the stated number of points. Triple-20, for example, 60 points.
• Checkout or Checking The throw that wins you a leg is called a checkout. The rules say how a checkout must take place. A distinction is usually made between double and single out.
• Double Out The double out is common for professionals and connoisseurs as a finish. Here you try to get exactly zero points by hitting the appropriate double ring with your last throw. So there are 12 left: Double-6.
• Single Out You guessed it: just get to zero with one last throw, no double necessary. 12 left? Just hit the 12. Easier than the double out.
• Finish If a player can get to zero with three throws, this is called a finish. The highest possible finish is 170 (2x triple-20, then bull's eye).
• Bogey number There are seven values ​​less than 170 that cannot be brought to zero with three throws: 159, 162, 163, 165, 166, 168, 169. There is an almost infinite science behind it. Important for laypeople and amateurs: You want to avoid these seven intermediate values. At all costs.
• Overthrow If you score more points than required with a checkout throw, you have overthrown. Bad.

The basics: How to play darts correctly and what you need to know

Darts is one of those sports that is easy to learn, difficult to master. Finding the right dart technique can take years. Dart training doesn't just consist of physical repetitions that affect hand-eye coordination and muscle memory. You also have to be in top mental shape to play darts. Concentration, self-confidence, resilience: mental training is essential for darts players in order to be able to play consistently at a high level. Because accuracy begins in the head. And because your head and body need energy, you can take a look at our liquid gels , glucose ,drinks , bars or the easy-to-snack Energy* Gums . For quickly available during training or matches.

But we'll come back to the physical and mental aspect of darts later. Let's first take a look at the necessary equipment and the basic rules that you should know if you want to get started in this wonderful sport.

The dart equipment: a target, a few darts and off you go

Psst, don't tell the English: In the Middle Ages, French soldiers threw darts at targets to pass the time - and with modest means created a game that still captivates millions today. This is the best news for your darts game and training: you don't need much to get started. Just a little space, a dartboard and arrows.

We'll get to the place in more detail in a moment. But if you can hang your window on an ordinary wall and then use it barrier-free about two meters wide and four meters deep, the most important thing has already been taken care of.

When it comes to the dartboard, you can choose between the electronic dartboard for soft darts (with a plastic tip) and the professional board made of sisal fibers for steel darts (i.e. darts with a metal tip).

Whether electronic and made of plastic or traditionally made of sisal fibers: It is not for nothing that the design is reminiscent of wagon wheels - these were used for target shooting in the Middle Ages. The numerical values ​​of the segments of the target were determined in 1896 by the carpenter Brian Gamlin - the seemingly crude sequence of numbers was intended to challenge the skill of the thrower and minimize the chance aspect.

And then we come to the eponymous darts , i.e. throwing darts . Here you can choose between soft darts for electronic discs and steel darts for steel dart discs, whereby you can also remain flexible with interchangeable tips. By the way: Steel darts should not be pointed, but rather rounded at the front - this way they stick better to the target and damage it less. Which darts you can use, what material the individual elements of the arrow should be made of – there are entire treatises and fan discussions about this. Because this would go beyond the scope here, we recommend that you seek extensive advice from a specialist retailer.

And the logical advice at the end: definitely buy at least three arrows. This means you don't have to move forward to the target after each of your three throws in order to be able to throw again.

Dart rules: keep your distance, collect points, do arithmetic

Let's get to the darts rules. Here we have to look at what distances the rules stipulate, how counting is done and how you can even win a game.

According to the official rules, what distances must be maintained when playing darts?

The steel dart board must be mounted at a height of 173 centimeters (172 centimeters are also permitted for electronic boards). The center of the disc is used for height adjustment. There should be at least 90 centimeters of space on the side of the pane up to the wall. If you hang up a second pane, there should be a safety distance of 1.80 meters between the two panes. The throwing line is 2.37 meters horizontally from the target. The diagonal from the center of the target to the throwing line should be 2.93 meters. Of course, you don't have to adhere to this down to the millimeter - but if you want to train and play like the professionals, these dimensions are mandatory.

And what about the points ?

Before the game, you can decide which starting value you want to bring to zero through precise throws. The usual value is 501, but you can also set 301 for faster matches.

The aim of the game is to end up with exactly zero points. To do this, each player takes turns throwing three arrows per round and tries to score as many points as possible. The maximum with three arrows is 180 points (3x the triple 20) per round. So you will need at least nine throws and therefore three rounds to get to zero points.

How many points can you score and how?

• The bull's eye in the center of the disc is the double of the ring (the bull or single bull) that surrounds the bull's eye. The single bull is worth 25 and the bull's eye is worth 50 points.
• The segments give as many points as indicated on them.
• Each segment is interrupted by its triple ring , which triples the specified point value. So Triple-20 is worth 60 points, which is the highest possible score you can get with an arrow (sorry, Bull's Eye).
• The double rings, in turn, are located at the very outside, on the edge of the field. They double the respective numerical value. So Double-20 is worth 40 points. The double rings are important in professional tournaments and serious darts matches because they are the only way you can get to zero points in accordance with the rules.

The “double out” rule applies to professionals and all ambitious players. This means that you only win a game if you hit a double field with an arrow and thereby reduce the score to exactly zero. So let's say you still have 20 points in your account. Now in the “Double Out” you have to hit the double ring of 10 (i.e. 2x10) to win. “Double Out” is so tricky because the double ring only borders a point segment on one side. On the other side, the black nothingness of the target ring awaits – and with it a missed throw. By the way: The bull's eye in the middle of the disc is the double of the green ring around it, which is called the bull. A hit in the bull's eye is considered a double out.

With a “Single Out”, a simple segment hit is enough to complete the game. So in our example with 20 points, you would have to hit the 20 segment field to win.

If you are still inexperienced, it is better to play with the “Single Out”. The “double out” is hairy - and often makes incredible comebacks possible because the leader simply doesn't want to hit the double. This often makes matches very long.

Why darts can promote concentration and mental strength in everyday life

Darts is all about mental strength, precision and hand-eye coordination. Anyone who believes that darts isn't a sport at all should tell that to chess players or archers. The best news: Many of the aspects that characterize darts and make them so challenging also have a positive effect on our everyday lives.

Playing darts: mental training and concentration exercise

When playing darts, you usually play 1 against 1. And actually also against yourself. Every throw counts, every distraction has to be ignored, it's about always approaching the throw with the same technique, aiming at the target calmly and with great concentration and also to hit under maximum pressure. Without mental discipline you won't get far in darts. If you train your mental discipline, you get used to concentrating on the same processes over and over again, stepping to the throwing line with a broad chest and winning. Relaxation exercises such as autogenic training can help you develop inner peace and you can also train your concentration like a muscle. Whether it's highly complex concentration games on the PC or cell phone, laying puzzles, professional coaching or throwing dart after dart at the dartboard again and again with great mental stamina during training: practice makes perfect.

And mindfulness and focus will help you win not just at darts. They can also help in everyday life to react to pressure situations more calmly and confidently. Once you have tested yourself against an opponent in front of an audience (no matter how small), you will know how much mental strength darts can demand from you in competition.

The perfect training for lectures, job applications, stress at work or personal conflicts - if you regularly hit the triple 20 at a darts tournament, with a little training you won't be so easily disturbed in everyday life. By the way: You can also benefit from the things that darts can teach you in other sports such as tennis or golf.

Sports nutrition for darts players – for brain and hand

Dart matches and dart training are tiring. The eyes, the arms and the hands, your brain and so many other elements have to perform at their best throughout an entire match or training session. You burn energy. And once this is gone, concentration, strength and mental and physical endurance can become difficult. With quickly available carbohydrates, which are contained in our liquid gels , energy bars , energy* gums or iso drinks , for example, you can replenish your energy stores even during the match.

Darts for beginners and advanced players: This is how you can improve your game

• First things first: play the game. Whether you play regularly with friends, join a darts club or look for a personal darts coach: only those who practice will get better. Also look around on the Internet or in the darts club for opportunities for professional mental training.
• Be sure to take a look at the icons of the sport. The point here is not to copy their technique, but rather to closely observe how they approach things mentally, how they carry out their processes and rituals and dominate a match.
• Learn arithmetic. Sounds stupid, but it's so important. How many points do I still need, how can I finish as quickly as possible, which intermediate results do I want to avoid? Only if these and many other aspects have become second nature to you will you not have to deal with them and distract yourself during a game.
• Find your equipment and your style. Try different arrows or arrow components Whether length, weight or width: there are endless possibilities here. And one of them is guaranteed to be made for your hands. Also, pay attention to how you throw. Find a consistent process here, your technique. We remember: mental and physical discipline, concentration and endurance will allow you to win in the end. And who knows? Maybe we'll see you in the Darts World Cup final at some point?

 

*Contains carbohydrates.

A varied, balanced diet and a healthy lifestyle are important.

SOURCES

https://www.pdc.tv/players/rules-darts

http://www.thedra.co.uk/

PHOTO CREDITS

all images: @iStock