Like most pub games, darts is deceptively simple. You throw the darts at the board, tally up the points, and that's it... right?

Nope. Real dart games - leagues and professional play - involve a lot of skill, patience, and practice. In order to get better at darts, you'll need to learn the strategies of the games you play and practice hitting certain positions on the board consistently.

* Accuracy - Practice Makes Perfect *

They key to darts is accuracy and reliability. If you can consistently hit the spot that you're aiming for, you can focus on strategy... and eventually win.

To become more accurate, you'll need to practice. Here are a few drills to help.

* Round the World *

This simple drill is a fun way to pass the time. It'll help with just about any dart game you play. The objective is to move around the board, hitting each number in succession.

First, throw three darts at the number one. If at least one of those darts hits, then during the next set aim for number 2. If one of those darts hits the number 2, you move on. So on and so forth.

If in any set of three darts you completely miss the target... start over.

You can also keep score (count the number of on target darts) to compare your performance with other practice sessions and see if you're getting better.

* Doubling Out *

This is particularly helpful for 501 and 301. At some point, you need to hit a double to end the game. If you play strategically, that'll usually be a Double 20, Double 16, Double 8, Double 4, Double 2, or Double 1.

Start with the Double 20. Throw a set of darts at the target. If one hits, move on to the next target. If not, start over from the beginning.

It can be frustrating at first, but you'll improve over time. It's better to be frustrated during practice than when you're playing a game of 501 in front of a crowd.

* Speed Cricket *

This drill will help improve your cricket game. The objective is to complete a game of cricket - without worrying about scoring - as quickly as possible.

You have seven targets - the 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, and Bullseye. As in regular cricket, you need to hit each one three times to close it out. Count Doubles and Triples as normal. Remember, the inside center ring is worth 2 Bullseyes.

Keep track of the number of throws it takes to complete, so that you can track your progress. As you become more accurate, you should be able to finish quicker.

If you're perfect, you can complete the drill in eight throws. Good luck with that one!

* Keep Practicing! *

The only way to get better at darts is to become consistently accurate. To do that, you need to practice. Plain and simple.

Learn more about this author, B. Rock.
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