Proper Technique of Playing Darts

While coordination and fine motor control are important natural abilities for the darts player, proper technique is crucial to maximizing a player's potential. Darts technique has three primary components—the stance, the grip and the throwing motion. By optimizing each of these components, a player can make the most of his natural ability.

Throwing Stance
The correct throwing stance begins with an acceptable shoulder angle. Ideally, the shoulders should be parallel to the surface of the dart board, although most players find that angles of between 50 and 80 degrees provide the most comfort. The angle of the feet should closely match the angle of the shoulders. The player's front foot should bear the brunt of her weight, while the rear foot should be used for balance. A degree of forward lean will minimize the distance between the player and the board, but lean should be used with moderation, because greater lean coincides with diminishing stability, and can result in back injuries. The balance foot (rear foot) should rest on its toes. The player's back should remain straight, not arched or hunched.

Gripping the Dart
Gripping styles vary from player to player, but there are certain fundamental aspects of the grip that should apply to every variation. The dart should be held between the fingertips and the thumb, with the thumb resting slightly behind the dart's center of gravity, and as many as four or as few as two fingers in contact with the dart. The number of fingers used should vary based on the length of the dart's barrel, with longer barrels requiring extra fingers. The dart should not slip or wobble between the fingers, but the fingers should not be tensed to an uncomfortable degree. Unused fingers should not be placed in a partial fist shape, as this is likely to disrupt the throwing motion, but rather fully extended or placed in the same position as the fingers touching the dart.

Throwing Motion
The shoulder should not change position during the throw; only the arm should move. The elbow should remain fixed during the pull-back motion prior to the throw, but should elevate slightly during the positive throwing motion. Depending on the player's level of experience, the wrist can either be snapped forward or remain fixed during the throwing motion. Snapping the wrist can be a source of error for novice players, but advanced players will gain acceleration and thus accuracy by snapping the wrist at the point of release. When aiming, the player should form a straight line from his eyes through the dart and to the desired target on the board. After a controlled pull-back, the player should accelerate smoothly through the motion, releasing the dart just before the motion reaches its peak height, and following through with a straight arm pointed at the desired target.

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