Darts is a game of precision, focus, and consistent practice. Whether you’re a beginner trying to get a feel for the sport or an experienced player looking to sharpen your skills, practicing the right drills and games can make all the difference.
With 2024 bringing more players into the darting world than ever, it’s the perfect time to dive into some of the best darts practice games to help you improve and take your game to new heights!
In this post, we’ll explore several engaging and effective darts practice games designed to enhance accuracy, consistency, and strategy. These games will not only boost your performance but also make your practice sessions more enjoyable.
1. Around the Clock
Around the Clock is a simple yet effective game for beginners – to get familiar to throwing different parts of the borad. The goal is to hit every number on the board in sequence, from 1 to 20, and then finish by hitting the bullseye. So you will not move clockwise on the board – you will jump from one place to another and constantly aim at different regions.
- Start by aiming at the number 1. There are two variations – one is you have to hit a single dart and then you can move on. A big harder version is you have to hit all three darts and only then you can move onto the next number.
- Once you hit it, move to one number higher – not clockwise or anti-clockwise.
- The game progresses until you hit the bullseye to finish. So after finishing with number 20, you move to the center of the board. Here usually it does not matter if you hit 25 or 50 – since the area is so small the goal is to hit one of the bullseyes.
Why it’s great: This game teaches players to aim at different parts of the board, improving overall accuracy and control. It’s perfect for refining your ability to hit specific targets. This is in my opinion the best practice game/drill if you are a beginner – the single areas are big enough so you can keep progressing. If you are only trying to hit doubles or triples you might get bored even before finishing the game.
It is essential for beginners to set realistic goals – otherwise the progress is not visible and you might get disheartened. If you feel like around the clock is getting a bit too easy, it is time to move on to a game called Shanghai! To learn about that game just keep reading the article and you will find it from the list.
2. 501 Double-In – the game played on Grand-Prix tournament
This variant of the classic 501 game adds a twist: to begin scoring, you must first hit a double. Once you’ve hit a double, you can start deducting points from 501 as usual. The challenge comes from having to hit a double right at the start, making it an excellent way to practice doubling skills.
- Start with a score of 501. If you want to concentrate even more on doubles you can play 301 with double-in and double-out
- Before you can subtract points, you must hit any double. Here you can choose the double you want to go after – most people either try double 20 (for maximum points) or double 16/8 since these are the doubles you want to finish with as well.
- Once you’re in, the game continues like a standard 501 game, and you must finish on a double as usual.
Why it’s great: This game focuses on the part most players struggle the most — hitting doubles. It helps you gain confidence in your ability to close out legs and make sure you won’t crumble under pressure. This is the best darts practice game if you struggle with your double percentage and want to concentrate on that!
3. Cricket
Cricket is a strategic darts game, popular in both casual and competitive settings. The game involves “closing” certain numbers (15 through 20, and the bullseye) by hitting them three times each. The first player to close all numbers and have more points than their opponent wins.
- Hit the numbers 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, and the bullseye three times to “close” them.
- Once a number is closed, you can score points by hitting it again (if your opponent hasn’t closed it yet).
- The player with the highest score after all numbers are closed wins.
Why it’s great: Cricket teaches strategy and forces you to think about both offense and defense. It also makes you focus on numbers you don’t normally target, expanding your comfort zone across the board.
Since cricket is actually quite complex game and has its own tactics, before playing it you should understand the game a bit better. To learn all the ins and outs of cricket, you can read about it in our mastering cricket article!
4. Bullseye Challenge
Aiming for the bullseye is one of the most satisfying aspects of darts, but it’s also one of the most difficult. The Bullseye Challenge is a simple yet highly effective game for improving your accuracy in the center of the board. This game is not for beginners – since the bullseye is the smallest part of the board – it is also the hardest to hit.
To play the bullseye challenge there are quite a few possibilites, but the most common one is to play for the score – so you can see improvements over time.
- Set a target for how many bullseyes you want to hit in a given number of throws, or aim to hit as many as you can in a set amount of time.
- Count both outer (25 points) and inner (50 points) bullseyes.
If you are just getting into darts and struggle with bullseye, an alternative is to just set a goal of how many bullseyes you want to hit and throw until you do. To keep score for this just count how many darts you threw – that is your score!
Why it’s great: This game hones your focus on the most prestigious scoring area in darts. By improving your bullseye accuracy, you’ll gain confidence in clutch situations during matches. This is the best darts practice game to show off in front of your friends and save you from a pickle!
5. Bob’s 27
Bob’s 27 is a highly popular practice game that focuses on finishing and doubles. Named after Bob Anderson, a darts legend, this game starts with 27 points, and the goal is to maximize your score by hitting doubles.
- Start with a score of 27.
- In each round, you throw three darts at a double, starting from double 1 and working your way up to double 20.
- Each time you hit the double, you add its value to your score (e.g., double 1 adds 2 points). If you miss with all three darts, you subtract the double’s value from your score.
- The goal is to finish with the highest score possible. If you are a beginner, you might finish the game with a negative score – no shame in that! We all started from somewhere, it can only get better from here.
Why it’s great: Bob’s 27 forces players to focus on doubles — the part of the game that wins or loses matches. It’s a fantastic way to get better at finishing, which is key to competitive success.
6. Shanghai
Shanghai is a fun game that requires you to hit a single, double, and treble of a chosen number in each round. It’s a great way to practice targeting different areas of the board and improves your ability to hit both trebles and doubles in game situations. This is a more advanced version of the game around the world – here you will also aim for the doubles and triples!
- In the first round, you throw at the number 1, trying to hit a single, double, and treble. Here the order is important as well – you have to first hit the single, then the double, and then the triple. You dont have to hit them in the same visit – when this time you only hit a single 1 then next visit starts with double 1 and so on.
- In the next round after finishing a number, you move onto the next number. The game goes on until number 20 and after that you move to bullseye – first having to hit outer bullseye (25) and to end the game you have to hit the center!
- There is a variation that if you hit all three in the same round, it’s called a “Shanghai,” and you win the game instantly. But if your goal is practice and to play through all the numbers then just keep playing!
Why it’s great: Shanghai enhances your ability to score in different parts of the board and sharpens your precision across singles, doubles, and trebles. It is the best practice drills out there – it works on your double % and at the same time average scoring power (with triples). Before playing Shanghai it is a good idea to get good at the game around the world.
Final Thoughts on Best Darts Practice Games
With the year 2024 almost over it is a great time to start improving your game for 2025! Incorporating these different practice games into your daily routine will improve you and your averages/double%.
By practicing consistently and having fun, you’ll see noticeable improvements in your accuracy, consistency, and overall performance. So grab your darts, pick your favorite practice game, and start improving today!
Good luck, and may your darts always land exactly where you aim!
