Whether you’re a complete beginner or a club player looking to sharpen your game, these ten tips will help you throw more consistently and score more points. They’re practical, proven, and used by players at every level of the sport.
1. Perfect Your Grip
One of the most common mistakes beginners make is gripping the dart too tightly. If your fingers are turning white or you’re struggling to release smoothly, you’re holding on too hard. The dart should rest in your fingers with just enough pressure to maintain control during the throw.
Most players use either a three-finger grip (thumb, index finger, and middle finger) or a four-finger grip for additional support. Experiment with both and see which feels more natural. The key is consistency: once you find a grip that works, stick with it.
2. Establish a Solid Stance
Your stance is the foundation of your throw. Stand with your dominant foot forward (right foot for right-handers), toe touching the oche. Place around 70% of your weight on your front foot and lean slightly towards the board. Your back foot provides balance but shouldn’t carry much weight.
Keep your body still during the throw. Any swaying or shifting will affect your accuracy. If you find yourself moving, widen your stance slightly for better stability.
3. Focus on Follow-Through
A proper follow-through is crucial for accuracy. After releasing the dart, let your arm extend naturally towards the target with your wrist flicking upwards slightly. Your arm should end up pointing directly at where you aimed.
Think of it like throwing a paper aeroplane: you wouldn’t stop your arm dead after releasing it. The same smooth, flowing motion applies to darts. A good follow-through prevents the dart from wobbling and keeps your trajectory consistent.
4. Keep Your Elbow Still
Your elbow acts as a pivot point during the throw. It should remain relatively fixed, with the motion coming from your forearm and wrist. If your elbow drops or moves sideways, your darts will scatter across the board.
One helpful exercise is to practise throwing while standing side-on to a mirror. Watch your elbow throughout the motion. It should stay at roughly the same height from start to finish.
5. Practise with Purpose
Throwing darts at the board with no specific target is a waste of practice time. Every session should have a goal. Work on doubles for fifteen minutes, then spend time on trebles. Play practice games like Bob’s 27 or Around the Clock to add structure.
Short, focused sessions beat long, aimless ones. Twenty minutes of deliberate practice each day will improve your game faster than three hours of casual throwing once a week. Try our practice games to add structure to your sessions.
6. Find the Right Equipment
Using darts that don’t suit your throwing style makes improvement harder. Most beginners do well with darts weighing between 20 and 24 grams. Lighter darts require more force, while heavier darts need less but demand more control.
Try different barrel shapes, grip patterns, and stem lengths until you find a combination that feels right. If you’re still using brass darts, consider upgrading to tungsten – the slimmer barrels make a real difference to your grouping. What works for Phil Taylor won’t necessarily work for you. The best dart is the one you throw most consistently.
7. Slow Down Your Throw
Rushing is a common problem, especially under pressure. A quick, jerky throw rarely produces good results. Take a breath before each dart, settle into your stance, and focus on the target. The extra second or two makes a noticeable difference.
Watch the professionals on TV. They never rush. Each dart follows the same deliberate rhythm, regardless of the score or the stakes.
8. Aim Small, Miss Small
Instead of aiming at the treble 20 bed in general, pick a specific spot within it. The left edge, the centre, or the right side. Aiming at a smaller target increases your focus and often improves accuracy even when you miss.
This principle applies everywhere on the board. When going for double 16, don’t just aim at the red section: pick a point within it and commit fully to hitting that exact spot.
9. Play Against Better Opponents
You learn more from losing to a strong player than from beating a weak one. Better opponents force you to raise your game, expose your weaknesses, and show you what’s possible. If you only ever play people at your own level, improvement slows.
Join a local league if you haven’t already. The regular competition and exposure to different playing styles will accelerate your development.
10. Work on Your Mental Game
Darts is as much mental as physical. Negative thoughts after a missed double or a bounceout will affect your next throw. Learn to reset quickly, stay in the moment, and focus only on the dart in your hand.
Breathing exercises help. A slow exhale before throwing calms your nerves and steadies your arm. Many professionals have pre-throw routines that serve exactly this purpose: to clear the mind and focus attention.
Putting It Into Practice
These tips won’t transform your game overnight, but they will if you apply them consistently. Pick one or two to focus on each week. Once they become habitual, move on to the next.
Track your progress by keeping a practice diary or recording your scores in games like Bob’s 27. Seeing improvement over time is motivating and helps identify areas that need extra work.
Remember, every professional started as a beginner. The difference between good players and great ones often comes down to the quality and consistency of their practice. Put the time in, stay patient, and the results will follow.
Ready to improve? Start with our Treble 20 Challenge to work on your scoring, then use Bob’s 27 to sharpen your doubles.