Click here to learn about different techniques for aiming your darts.Or check out the Performance Tips section for additional information on the game of darts.
Practice guidelines for darts.
Practice techniques for the game of darts.
Practice makes perfect. That is as true for darts as it is for any other sport. If you want to play consistent and competitive darts you need to practice as often as possible. Some people recommend shooting at least one hour per day. However the amount of time you practice is irrelevant. How you go about practicing and sticking to a schedule are the two most important aspects of practicing. Here are a few pointers to consider.
Take it seriously. A practice session is not time spent throwing a few darts with friends, dart practice is serious business. You should approach practicing just like you would a match. Make sure to stay focused and work on a specific goal for each session. This is where the amount of time you spend practicing becomes irrelevant. If you set specific goals for each practice session then once you achieve those goals you can stop practicing. It isn’t about quantity, but rather quality of practicing.
Simulate a high-pressure environment. One of the best things you can do when practicing is to try to simulate the high-pressure situation of a real match. You can do this by shooting with someone who is also serious about practicing. You can also create pressure situations by using the clock. For example, give yourself 10 minutes to shoot as many double 20s as possible. Keep track of your high number and try to beat it. You can also replay an old match you lost, trying to change the outcome by shooting differently.
Focus on your weaknesses. You know where you are weak. If not, pay attention to what happened to you the next time you lose. Did you take too long to close out your ’01 game? Did you choke on your out shot? Whatever your weakness, choose practice games that help you. Click here for a list of great pratice games. For example, the game of 21 is great for Cricket practice. If you need work on your outs, try a game called 170. You need 170 points to finish and you count the number of darts to do it. The fewer the darts the more points you get. It starts with a three dart finish worth five points and decreases by one point for each additional dart, including negative points. The first one to close out 170 stops the round. The first one to 15 points wins the practice session.
Change things up & keep track of your progress. Let’s face it, practicing can get boring. The excitement of a match is what makes the dart game so intriguing. You can help stop practice from being a chore by changing your surroundings. Maybe you could practice where you just had a close match? Or go to a friend’s house to practice. Another great idea is to throw at a popular dart bar and challenge one of the local throwers, but use it as a practice session by focusing on your weakness throughout the match. The other important thing to remember is to keep track of your practice routines. Write down your results after you practice and track your progress. This can also help to reveal parts of your dart game that need special attention if you aren’t progressing over time.