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Setting up an ideal area to play darts is a science, as well as an art. Your dart playing area should be aesthetically pleasing, as well as functional. Additionally, it must follow the official guidelines defined for the game.

The location of the dartboard is critical. There needs to be enough space to play a game of darts, meaning that the middle of a living room where people are trying to watch television probably won't work. A busy hallway is also not a very good idea. One of the goals of proper placement is to be sure that no one ends up with a dart sticking out of their neck. While it might be an interesting fashion statement it's also rather painful.

Make sure that the wall is perfectly flat otherwise the dart board will swing. Ideally, you should fix a backboard behind the dart board to protect the wall from your friends who couldn't hit a Mack Truck with a beach ball from two feet away. Even better invest in a stylish dart board cabinet. These look great and offer perfect storage for the dartboard, darts and accessories.

Also, you may want to consider purchasing a dart mat, which will protect your flooring from your weak friends, who can't manage to get the darts to reach all the way to the dart board. Also if the dart board is in the basement, the dart mat will protect the dart shafts from the concrete floor.

And finally official rules as agreed upon by the WDF (World Darts Federation) and the ADO (American Darts Organization) define certain guidelines when it comes to the proper placement of a dart board. The appropriate height should be exactly 5 feet 8 inches from the very center of the bull's eye to the floor. The dart mat will measure out the appropriate distance players should stand from the dart board, which is exactly 7 feet, 9.25 inches. If you don't have a dart mat, then you'll need to use tape or chalk to mark off the line on the floor.

Once you have your dartboard safely hung, a scoreboard posted beside it, and all walls and floors protected from any damage you can then start to decorate your dart board bull's eye with various decorations that will motivate you to improve your aim. Try pasting a tiny photo of your ex-boyfriend over the tiny circle of the bull's eye. Better yet, attach a profile or your boss to the center of the board. You will soon find that you've developed into a professional dart player in half the time it would take a mere mortal. And best of all you'll have fun doing it.

Learn more about this author, Ryan Dube.
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