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Area Needed

First of all it is important to establish the correct dimensions for play, you don't want to throw from the other side of the room (unless you're an Olympic javelin thrower).

The Oche (pronounced like hockey without the h thought to be from the French to cut a notch') is the name for the playing area.

The standard height from the floor to the centre of the bullseye (centre of the board) is 5 feet 8 inches.

The length along the floor from the front of the board to the toeline or throwing line should measure 7 feet 9.25 inches. If you want to be really accurate the centre bullseye should now measure 9 feet 7.5 inches, on a diagonal line to the back throwing line.

Professional tournaments and league teams used a raised oche (1.5 inches above the floor and 24 inches wide), however if you're playing at home you might want to mark out the area with tape or position something to show where the throwing line is.

Wall Materials

It is important that the board is fitted safely and correctly to the wall. Most boards come with three metal clips placed on the reverse. The top clip behind the 20 at the 12 o' clock position will fit over the screw on the wall, while the other two clips should fit flush against the wall to ensure a flat playing surface.

To attach the screw ensure there are no wires in the wall and drill a hole slightly smaller than a raw-plug and screw in the accompanying screw that comes with the board (into the raw plug). Simply place the clip over the screw and adjust until the 20 is in the 12 o' clock position.

Some dartboards come with a cabinet fitted around them (like you might see in a bar), which can help to protect the wall if you miss! They sometimes have chalkboards to allow you to keep score while playing.

If you don't want to get into trouble with your significant others it's advisable to mount a wall covering. A simple piece of MDF (medium density fibreboard) cut at a hardware store to your specifications and screwed in place, should suffice.

Safety First

If possible it's best to place the throwing area away from small children and anyway where someone could walk into the path of a dart, especially near windows! Also because of bounce-outs' (when the dart clips the wire) it's probably best to play away from the antique vase in the corner.

Learn more about this author, Christopher Chatterton.
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