Guide
Training Doubles
Why the Double is the most important field in darts and how to hit it reliably
Scoring gets you to 40 remaining, but only the Double wins the Leg. If you only throw at the 20 at home, you'll lose Legs with 60 left at the club against opponents with a worse Average. This guide gives you the drills and the mindset for reliable Checkouts.
Why Doubles decide games
A Double field is about eight millimetres high. If you hit it with one of three darts, you finish most Legs; if you need six darts for it, you hand your opponent two visits. In leagues and tournaments it's almost always the players with the better Double rate who win, not the ones with the higher scoring.
The favourite Doubles
Most players build their game around D20, D16 and D8: 40, 32 and 16 are the standard remaining scores, and their halves are Doubles again. A missed D16 that lands in the single 16 leaves 16, so D8. Learn these three fields until you hit them under pressure, then add D10, D18 and D12.
Drills
- Double clock: from D1 to D20 in order, counting darts; target under 100 darts.
- Bob's 27: three darts per Double starting from 27 points, hits add up, missed rounds subtract.
- Series of three: hit D20, D16 and D8 three times in a row each; miss and you start over.
- Setup drill: draw remaining scores from 61 to 99 and finish them with three darts; say the route out loud before you throw.
- Pressure: only end a double drill once the last Double goes in with the first dart.
Mistakes on the Double
- Going for the Double too early: with 50 left, 10 and D20 is safer than Bull
- No plan after a miss: know before the dart what's left if it lands in the single
- Odd remainders: 37 is no one-dart Checkout; 5 and D16 or 1 and D18
- Fear of the Double: the throw stays the same as on the 20; only the target moves
Doubles under pressure
The Double goes in during practice because nothing is at stake. Simulate pressure: play against yourself with a forfeit (ten press-ups for every missed Double), set yourself a time limit or play online against real opponents, where every Double decides a Leg. The more often your pulse is up on the Double, the more normal the situation becomes.
Double chains for advanced players
- Double round the clock backwards: D20 down to D1 with as few darts as possible
- Bogey training: play down from 169, 168, 166, 165, 163, 162, 159 so that a two-dart finish is left
- Bull finish: check out 50 ten times, with Bull or via 18 and D16
- Last Double: practice only ends when your favourite Double goes in three times in a row
Frequently asked questions
Which Doubles should I learn first?
D20, D16 and D8. Their remainders 40, 32 and 16 are standard, and halving them gives you Doubles again.
How often should I practise Doubles?
At least ten minutes in every session. Doubles decide Legs, scoring only sets them up.
What do I do with an odd remainder?
First set yourself up on an even number with a single: 37 = 5 and D16, 41 = 9 and D16, 45 = 13 and D16 or 5 and D20.
Which drill is best?
The Double Clock for coverage, Bob's 27 for pressure, the series of three on D20/D16/D8 for reliability.
Every Checkout with every route
High finishes from 100 to 170 on DartCloud.
Checkout table
All checkouts from 170 to 100 with every route.
Next tournaments with registration
Tournaments with DartCloud registration coming up next.
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