There are two things you need to play a game of darts. You need a set of darts and a dartboard, everything else is optional and it's also important to have a well-lit space.
There are different styles of dartboard and darts available but the most popular are bristle dartboards and steel tip darts. If you want to play darts like the players in the PDC, this means getting a set of steel tip darts and a bristle dartboard.
One of the common mistakes beginners make when playing darts, is having their bristle dartboard set up in the wrong way. If you fail to set up your dartboard correctly, every time you play on a dartboard elsewhere, it will feel differently and that’s not a good way to practice.
Before attaching the dartboard to the wall, make sure you are using a space where the floor is flat. If the floor slopes away from the dartboard, this means the distance at which you are throwing is wrong. Furthermore, you should never set up a dartboard where there are windows or valuable items.
This first thing you must be aware of when setting up a dartboard correctly, are the measurements. There are three main measurements to look out for.
Firstly, the dartboard must be mounted at the correct distance from the floor. The official measurement for a bristle dartboard is 5 ft 8 inches high (173 cm) from the floor to the bullseye (the center of the board).
Therefore, the mounting bracket should be positioned so that the dartboard is located at this distance in relationship to the ground.
When attaching the dartboard to the wall, make sure it is flush against the wall and not leaning forward in any way. If the dartboard is leaning forward, this will make the measurements inaccurate and you will find the dartboard wobbles when you throw darts. It must be flat and secure, so it doesn’t move or fall forward.
The second measurement you need to check is from the front of the dartboard to the oche, which is where you will be throwing your darts. The simple way to do this is to purchase a dart mat, that has the measurement already printed on it. All you need to do is lay the dart mat on the floor according to the instructions.
The other good thing about a dart mat is that it protects the floor and this is important when using steel tip darts. Bounce outs are inevitable and if you don’t want your steel tip darts to cause holes in the floor, you should buy a dart mat.
However, if you don't want to buy one simply measure 7 ft 9¼ inches (237 cm) from the front of the dartboard, along the floor and mark this distance with a line.
Finally, to check you did everything correctly, use a tape measure to verify the measurement from the bullseye down to the oche. The distance should be 9 ft 7 and 3/8 inches (193 cm) and if it does, you are now ready to play darts.
Keep in mind, these measurements are for a bristle dartboard and steel tip darts, for any other form of darts they may be different.
If your dartboard isn't correctly mounted, now you know what to do. You will see a huge difference in your darts game once everything is set up correctly!
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