How to Throw a Dart: A Beginner's Guide That Actually Helps

Throwing a dart well is not about strength, and it is barely about talent. It is about doing the same simple thing the same way every time. Here is the beginner's version that actually helps, without the jargon.

1. Stance: get comfortable, then stop moving

Stand side-on to the board with your throwing side forward, front foot flat against the oche (the throw line, 7ft 9.25in from the board). Put most of your weight on that front foot. Your back foot is just for balance. The golden rule: once you're set, nothing below your shoulder should move.

2. Grip: hold it like a pen, not a hammer

Use three or four fingers, relaxed, roughly at the dart's balance point. If your knuckles are white, you're squeezing. The dart should rest in your fingers, tip angled slightly up.

3. The throw: elbow still, hand through the target

1. Raise the dart so it sits in your eyeline between your eye and the target.
2. Pull back smoothly from the elbow. Your upper arm stays still.
3. Accelerate forward and release when your hand is moving at the target.
4. Follow through so your fingers finish pointing where you aimed. If your hand drops to your hip, the dart went low before you did.

The three beginner mistakes

• Throwing too hard: it's a flick, not a fastball. The board is soft; the pros throw gently.
• Moving the whole body: lunging adds power and removes accuracy. Statue below the shoulder.
• Aiming at 'the board': pick one bed. Aim small, miss small.

A practice routine that works

Ten minutes a day beats two hours on a Sunday. Throw at 20s until boredom, then play round-the-clock (1 to 20, one hit each). When you can finish round-the-clock in one session, start practising doubles - that's where legs are won.

Then throw them somewhere that matters

Every Throwdown night has practice boards open from doors at 6pm, and pros and creators wandering past who've forgotten more about throwing than most of us will learn. Nail your routine, then come and test it in a room with walk-on music - and if you fancy it, enter the £200 9-dart challenge while you're there. Decent darts and cases are in our shop when you're ready to own your own set.

Throw at a Live Darts Night