How to get better? Well, you're in a singles league that is stats driven, so let's use some stats :)
Play 6-7 practice games (from SEWA Darts) each and every week and add up your weekly totals from each one and compare against yourself with charts and graphs, but the key part is to compare your stats in each game to set number from a known skill level player.
Maybe you think your scoring needs improving, but really it's your setup shots, or your doubles (I think we ALL need to get better there!!), but if you focus on the areas where you are furthest away from the better player, then that brings you closer in skill level overall. Not saying to focus only on one thing, but less emphasis and more emphasis on certain parts.
Now, you're not to do these sorts of things while you're playing, but during practice and just track things and then do the analysis afterwards.
There are all sorts of drills you can do away from the tracking games that can help improve the specific items you're trying to work on: Grouping, Dart Math, Singles Accuracy, consistent release, Focus, etc. Then you apply those with the practice games. Then when you're playing in an actual match, the skills you've been practicing should manifest themselves.
Warmup, some people need more some need less. I have found that if I warm up decently, my self criticism tends to be less when playing. Try this as a warmup:
- 5-7 Minutes just loosening up your arm throwing at the bull
- 3-5 minutes throwing at the Triple 20
- 6 darts at each of the cricket numbers (20, 19, 18, 17, 16, 15, Bull) along with any other triples you tend to use for setup shots. For me it tends to be 14, 13, 10, and 8.
- Doubles breakdown. 3 darts at each of the main doubles and each of their breakdowns
- 40-20-10
- 36-18
- 32-16-8-4-2
- 28-14
- 24-12-6
- Bull
Play these games at least once a week and track the stats/progress.
Bob's 27:
- Start at 27 points, throw all 3 darts at each double 1->Bull.
- If you hit a double, add that double's value to your total for each you hit.
- If all 3 darts miss, subtract that double's value from your total.
- NOTE: when I was starting out I would let my score go negative, just to complete and throw at all the numbers; for me it was still good doubles practice
- Perfect Score: 1437
100 darts at 20's.
- 3 for a triple, 2 for a double, 1 for a single.
- Yes, 33 turns of 3 darts, then 1 turn of 1 dart
- Perfect Score: 300
50 darts at Bulls:
- 2 for a double, 1 for a single.
- Perfect Score: 100
aRound The World (RTW).
- Go from 1->Bull and count the number of each number hit.
- Throw all 3 darts at each double, then move on to the next number
- 3 for a triple, 2 for a double, 1 for a single.
- Perfect Score: 186
Blackhorse RTW.
- Throw at each double, D1 to DB.
- Score 1 point for a hit.
- Score 2 points (instead) if it would have been a successful out - ie no 'scoring' dart before you hit the double.
- No penalty for missing a double. If you miss all three at one double, next round go to the next in order.
- If you hit the double before the third dart, move to the next number, in order, like RTW or Bob's. Do not throw at a double already hit.
- These are 'bonus' darts, if you hit the double, move one, if the turn ends without hitting the double, start on that same double on the next turn.
- Throw a total of 63 darts
- If you hit enough doubles to have gone RTW before the 63 darts, continue around in order for a second time.
- Perfect Score: 126
Cricket Count Up
- Similar to Around the World, but just using the Cricket Numbers
- 3 darts at each number 20, 19, 18, 17, 16, 15, Bull
- 3 for a triple, 2 for a double, 1 for a single.
- Perfect Score: 60
Catch 40
- Throw your darts at the outs from 61-100
- 2 darts=3 points, 3 darts=2 points
- 4-6 darts = 1 point
- exception: 99! 3 darts = 3 points. 4-6 darts = 1 point
- BUSTS, count as 3 darts
- Continue your score after 3 darts if you don't hit the out
- Maximum of 6 darts at each out
- Perfect Score: 120
- NOTE: 3 time World Champion John Part created this game
Now, just playing these games will improve your game as each one focuses on a various aspect of the game: scoring, doubles, setups, moving around the board, outs, etc. NOTE: I cannot take credit for these games, these come from the forums at www.sewa-darts.com
Did you notice that playing legs of 501 wasn't in there?? That's applied practice, just like playing a casual round in golf, but that's not range time practice working on specifics.
Here are some targets for a semi-decent player and for a World Class player you can use to determine where abouts you are.
| Game | Division 1 player | World Class player |
| Bob's 27 | 481 | 874 |
|---|---|---|
| 100 at 20's | 143 | 201 |
| 50 at Bulls | 45 | 65 |
| RTW | 86 | 129 |
| CCU | 37 | 46 |
| BlackHorse RTW | 40 | 60 |
| Catch 40 | 38 | 72 |
A different way of looking at the dartboard can also help when calculating outs.
A percentage shot version of the outchart can also help. Learn the math as opposed to always needing to look at an outchart
Outchart from 231-409 for those particular setup shots that are a little different.
Other practice routines/games
121Brian's Triples RTW
Three in a a bed (Bound to be many variations of this out there, but here's mine)
Blackbelt Doubles
Golf
For advanced players, give this one a try.
Frustration or Murder