ORIGINAL DARTS RADAR GUIDE · UPDATED 2026-10-24
A 20-minute darts practice routine you can repeat
A short session becomes useful when you can repeat it and compare the same things. This routine separates scoring, doubles and decisions so one lucky visit does not decide whether practice felt successful.
Set up the session
Use the same board, darts and throwing line for each comparison. Keep the area clear and practise only when everyone is behind the thrower. Have paper ready. The routine below is an original practice suggestion, not a tested promise of improvement.
Minutes 0-3: settle into the throw
Throw nine relaxed visits of three darts, collecting safely between visits. Aim at a large single segment. These warm-up darts do not count towards your score. If collecting takes longer, finish the visits rather than rushing to beat the clock.
Minutes 3-9: thirty darts at one number
Aim at the 20 segment for ten visits. Count a hit whenever a dart lands in single, double or treble 20. Write the number of hits out of 30; this measures staying in the intended segment, not your three-dart average. If 20 is frustrating, choose 19 and keep that target for all comparison sessions.
Minutes 9-15: thirty darts at one double
Choose D16 or D20 and throw ten visits at that fixed double. Count exact double hits out of 30. Do not switch targets after a miss in this drill. Fixed-target practice and match finishing are different tasks; here you are measuring one repeatable skill.
Minutes 15-19: count before you throw
Start separate attempts on 40, 52, 64, 76 and 88, with one visit per score. Say your intended route before throwing. After each dart, recalculate the actual remainder. Stop an attempt if you finish or bust. Count finishes out of five and note any counting error separately. Use our calculator to check a legal route.
Minute 19-20: write one observation
Record the date, target, segment hits /30, double hits /30 and finishes /5. Note one specific observation such as drifting into 5, rather than changing your entire throw. Repeat twice more on separate days before drawing conclusions. If the session takes longer than twenty minutes, accuracy and safe collection matter more than the timer.
Make comparisons fair
Compare like with like: the same targets, number of darts and finish scores. Use the total across three sessions, not just your best result. A lower score can reflect normal variation; this routine does not establish the cause of a change.
Print your session log
Use your browser’s Print command. Keep each target and the five starting scores unchanged when comparing sessions.
| Date | Target | Segment /30 | Double /30 | Finishes /5 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ________ | ________ | ________ | ________ | ________ |
| ________ | ________ | ________ | ________ | ________ |
| ________ | ________ | ________ | ________ | ________ |
| ________ | ________ | ________ | ________ | ________ |
| ________ | ________ | ________ | ________ | ________ |
| ________ | ________ | ________ | ________ | ________ |