Best Way To Throw Darts (Simple Steps)

When you watch professional darts players, it is almost automatic to think that you can do it just as well as they do. After all, they make it look incredibly easy!

That is until you try it out yourself. You will realize, and wonder, how these pros manage to hit the bull’s eye without breaking a sweat.

If you ask several good darts players for their tips or secrets, you will realize that one perfect way of throwing darts does not really exist. The best way to hit the target is based on some factors like which foot is more dominant, and whether you prefer leaning or not.

As you practice and improve your skills, you will find your preferences and what truly works for you.

To come up with the best way for you to throw those darts and win, you need to put these in mind.

1>Assume The Correct Stance

Something as simple as your standing position can already have a huge impact on your success at throwing darts. In fact, it is the first thing for you to learn and practice.

The first tip is to be comfortable and relaxed, so you need to find the right stance to achieve this. You can choose between 3 different positions for your feet. Your body, however, should always be aligned to the Oche (the throwing line) and not crossing it at any time!

Forward Stance

This position, with the dominant foot placed in front (the toe touching the line and pointing towards the target), is the most ideal stance for darts throwing. Still, it is not as natural a position and needs quite a bit of practice.

Make sure that 75% of the weight should be supported by the leading foot and that the other foot is behind you.

Side Stance

This is a simple position, keeping the edge of the dominant foot positioned on the throwing line while the back foot is behind it at an angle. Your elbows should also stay inwards to allow for control. To enjoy more success, line up the throwing arm with the eye.

Angled Stance

This position is somehow in between the first 2 and is a favourite of successful dart throwers. Your dominant foot should be slightly angled towards the board and the other half a foot apart. This means you are stable in the upper body and can control the throw better.

Distribute Your Weight

After you choose the right stance, it is time to practice distributing your weight. Failure to do so will lead to being unbalanced and throwing your game off. Whichever stance you end up adopting, you might find putting most of your weight on the dominant foot.

Still, you have to prevent yourself from leaning forward too much, as this can ruin your balance and even cause you to cross the line.

Align Your Body

You should aim to create a 90-degree angle between your shoulders and the board. You need to make sure your back or shoulders are not stiff, so find the position that makes you relaxed.

Work On Your Grip

While this is another thing that is down to preference, you might want to try out different techniques that could improve your darts throwing skill.

Much like with the stance, the key is to remain comfortable. You want a strong enough grip to not lose control but not too tight that you are too tense. Many beginners make the mistake of holding it too tight and ending up with strained muscles.

Believe it or not, you can miss much more quickly when your muscles are strained. If you start out with a very loose grip, on the other hand, you end up throwing the dart inaccurately and weakly.

Decide How Many Fingers To Use

Even the number of fingers you use to hold the dart can be important. Here are the pros and cons of using too many or too few fingers.

Two Fingers

This is similar to holding a pen and is a good choice if you want to avoid having too much impact on your fingers. The downside is the less control you end up with when you use only 2 fingers.

Three Fingers

When it comes to holding the dart, too much and too little can be a disadvantage. Thus, 3 seems to be a magic number. This is also how many fingers most darts players use because they have enough control to throw the dart with enough strength and accuracy.

One thing you need to practice, though, is keeping the thumb close to or behind the dart’s centre of gravity to maintain better control.

Four Fingers

The more fingers you use, the more support you have of the dart. However, the fourth finger might end up disrupting your aim.

Five Fingers

Use all fingers for ultimate control, but make sure you put the pinky either above or below the dart’s tip for more speed and precision.

Find Out Which Eye To Use

While figuring out how to hold and throw the dart is important, your eyes guide you where you need to throw. Identifying the dominant hand is easy, but you need to figure out which eye helps you aim better.

Position Your Arm

The elbow should be raised a bit before throwing so that your shoulder and hand create a 90-degree angle while you are aiming for the target on the dartboard. You will also want to position the hand close to the side of the eye to keep control of it and have the perfect line of sight.

Perfect The Release