Certainly, a darts checkout chart can be useful for those who struggle with maths, but others frown upon them. In many cases, there is only one three-dart checkout option. While others, there can be many. For seasoned darts players, I would expect them to reel off checkout combinations as fast as they can click their fingers, and good players will do this without hesitation even if the first part of their throwing combination goes wrong and they have to recalculate their throw. Indeed if you want to be taken seriously in the sport, you need to know your maths and be quick to calculate and adjust. Those who fail to master combination checkouts tend to have to delay their throw, and this can affect the outcome negatively. However, most pubs and clubs will provide a checkout chart for players to use.
Checkout Charts are, in the main, just a guide and usually, as illustrated here, provide only one option. This isn’t always the best way to throw.
Usually, as again shown here, the combination checkouts use the treble twenty more than any other treble; why?
This is because you are most likely throwing for this area more often than not. Hence, your play may dictate that you are more likely to hit this treble more consistently than others. People will say this isn’t how the professionals play, and this isn’t always how I play.
The Checkout Chart is just a guide for those who need help. I would expect more experienced players to have their own combination shots.
Knowing the out shots and, more importantly, the bogey numbers is essential when playing darts. Numbers less than the highest outshot of 170 that can not be finished with three darts are known as bogey numbers. Hence, try not to leave yourself on these numbers: 169, 168, 166, 16, and 159.
If your score is down to 259, hitting a straight hundred would leave a 159 bogey number, meaning it will take at least four darts to finish rather than three. On the other hand, hitting ninety-nine would leave 160, which is a three-dart checkout.
Seeing a double, double finish in darts has become more common. Once frowned upon in the English pub for ‘show-casing.’ The double-double makes sense when a combination of a treble and a double is required. For example, 76 can be checked out in many ways: treble twenty, double eight is the most common way when three darts are in hand. Hitting a single twenty leaves 56 a single and a double, 20 double 18, single 16, double 20 (double-top), but with two darts in hand, missing the treble twenty and hitting the single, there is no way to finish.
Throwing for 76 with two darts in hand, some consider double 18 (36) and then double 20. The reason is the double is bigger than the treble and, therefore, should be easier to hit. The downside is you risk missing the double and score nothing.
The checkout chart is free to download and use in your home, club or bar. If players start to question the checkouts, then this is good, as they are learning the game has more to it. However, the checkout chart can be extremely useful for those new to the sport and who require a little help.
Referees’ are to ensure the game is played according to rules. In many cases, they also double up as the caller and marker of the game. Players are also required to mark games when necessary.
When in play, a player may ask the referee how much they have scored and what remains. The referee is obliged to provide these figures. However, the referee is NOT allowed to provide a combination outshot or state you now require double eighteen, for example. They will say you require 36!
I write several dart websites, both informational sites and some pro-player websites. Each website has its own target audience, and content varies accordingly. On this website, I provide one checkout in English. However, knowing that my websites tend to have a worldwide audience, I also provide a checkout chart in 48 languages. Should you wish to download a Checkout Chart in your own language, please visit the Darts501.com Checkout Chart Page.
Please note the checkout chart on this page and Darts501.com are for personal use only. You can display the chart in a social venue such as a club, pub, bar, or other social venue. You are not permitted to republish or redistribute the charts.
Many downloading this chart also look to determine how dart averages are worked out. In basic terms, the total amount a player has scored is divided by the dart thrown.
A player may win or lose a darts leg, but the same principle applies. Here is an example: A best of five 501 legs and a player won 3-2, so what is their average?
Here is how it is worked out.
Leg 1,2 and 5 they won, so they scored 3 x 501 = 1503
They lost legs 3 and 4 but hit (501-72) 429 in leg 3, and in leg 4 they achieved (501-102) 399 = 828
They scored a total of 2331 and threw a total of 19+20+18+18+15 darts= 90
Therefore, their average per dart equals 2331/90 = 25.9.
But in darts, the average is expressed as a throw of 3 darts, hence 25.9 x 3 = 77.7
In some matches, the first nine darts are shown as an average. The first nine-dart average shows the main scoring power of a player, and from this point onwards, a player may be able to check out the leg, reducing their overall average.
Darts is an excellent way to learn basic arithmetic. If you would like to know more about darts and maths and how the game has in the past been adjusted to help school children, visit my Darts and Maths page on the Darts501.com website
Websites of interest: Darts501 | Darts01 | Darts-UK | Trina Gulliver MBE | Mark McGeeney | bookiesbonuses.com