How to throw darts: stance, grip, aim, release and follow-through

TUREFF• •0

There is no single correct way to throw a dart, and top players throw in surprisingly different styles. What they share is repeatability: the same stance, grip and motion every time. These fundamentals give you a starting point. Change what does not suit you, but keep whatever you settle on consistent.

Stance

Most right-handed players stand with the right foot forward (left foot for left-handers), toes near the oche.
A common starting position is side-on, with the front foot angled roughly towards the board or slightly across it. Some players stand square on; many end up in between.
Put most of your weight on the front foot, but stay balanced. You should be able to hold your stance without wobbling.
Lean slightly forward if you like, but do not move your body during the throw. Only the throwing arm should move.

Find the spot on the oche where your throwing arm lines up with your target, and stand there every time. Many players line up on the 20 and adjust only a little for other targets.

Grip

Hold the dart around its centre of gravity, the balance point of the barrel. Balance it on a finger to find it.
Most grips use three or four fingers: the thumb on one side, the index and middle fingers on the other, sometimes a third finger guiding the front.
Grip firmly enough to control the dart, not so hard that your fingertips go white. Tension in the hand makes the release jerky.
The point should face up slightly or straight at the board, never downward.

Try several grips and stay with the one that groups best after a few sessions, not the first one that feels comfortable.

Aim

Line up the dart, your eye and the target. Many players aim with the dart roughly in line with the dominant eye.
Look at the exact spot, not the general segment. A small point, such as one particular hole or the wire beside treble 20, gives tighter groupings than "the top of the board".
Keep your eyes on the target throughout the throw, not on the dart.

The throwing motion

Set-up: raise your arm so the upper arm is roughly level with the floor and still. The forearm and dart point at the target.
Draw back: bring the dart back towards your face, moving only the forearm. The elbow stays as still as you can keep it.
Accelerate forward: move the forearm smoothly forward. Your elbow will rise naturally near the end; that is fine.
Release: let the dart go as your arm extends, without flicking or pushing it.

Think of it as a smooth push and release, like throwing a paper aeroplane, rather than a hard throw.

Follow-through

After release, keep your arm extended with your hand pointing at the target, even for a second. Pulling the arm back immediately or dropping it tends to cut the throw short and pull darts off line. A good habit is to finish with your hand at the target until the dart lands.

Common problems

Darts dropping low: often a short follow-through or releasing too early. Extend fully.
Darts drifting left or right: usually the elbow moving sideways, or the body turning. Check your arm is in line with the target.
Darts at odd angles in the board: grip or release not consistent; the point should go in roughly the same way each time.
Wide spread on good and bad days: tension. Breathe out before you throw and loosen the grip.

How to work on it

Throw slowly at first. Speed comes from rhythm, not effort.
Film a few throws from the side on your phone. Elbow movement and body sway are obvious on video and hard to feel.
Change one thing at a time, and give it a few sessions before judging it.

What does your throw look like, and what is the one fault you keep fighting? Share it in the comments; someone has probably fixed the same thing.