Hobbies And Interests
Practice Your Aim
There are many different games that can be played with a standard dartboard. None of them offer as much comprehensive aim practice as "Around the Clock," which requires that the players hit each number on the board in sequence. The game has no score; the winner is the first player to land a dart in the last area in sequence.
The game is fast-paced and highly adaptable; once all players are comfortable with hitting the single-scoring areas, they might try to hit only the double or treble rings, or go out by hitting the bull rings. Games can be very short, taking less than 15 minutes if all the players are skilled dart players. Concentrating on each number in sequence will improve your aim. You can improve troublesome shots while enjoying a competitive dart game, as opposed to practicing alone.
Learn to Throw
Beginners tend to make the mistake of overthrowing their darts. Throwing darts too hard can spoil your aim and is dangerous. Some dartboards include a cage that separates scoring areas. When a dart strikes this cage, it can rebound and possibly strike you. Practice throwing your darts with just enough force to hit the board accurately. If your darts land short or drop, throw them harder; if they are becoming wedged in the board's backing, you are throwing too hard.
Choose Wisely
Darts are like bowling balls; weight makes all the difference. Some players like to throw a heavy dart, some enjoy a lighter dart. Try darts of various weights and materials to find your preference.
Be sure to maintain your darts; sharpen the tips as they become blunt and keep spare flights at hand. Flights are the plastic wings on the back end of your dart. They can become worn with repeated use and occasionally require replacement. Damaged flights will affect the performance of your darts.
Play All Games
There are many variants on the theme of throwing darts at the board. Each game will challenge you in a different way, so be sure to expose yourself to as many playing styles as you can. "Around the Clock" is a good game to start with, as your skills will increase more quickly than with games that eliminate certain other scoring areas of the board, but don't neglect to learn the rules of other games.
Pay Attention
A dart player should always be aware of his surroundings. There are many people who do not think twice about walking between a dart thrower and the board, especially in bars or pubs. It is important to concentrate on the dartboard, but not to the extent that you forget the rest of your playing area.