Guide to the History of Dart boards and Rules of the Game
Darts is a popular game that can be enjoyed by anyone, whether you are playing at home, in a pub, or in a tournament. But do you know how the game originated and what are the different types of dartboards? In this blog post, we will explore the history and rules of darts, and give you some tips on how to improve your skills.
The Origins of Dart boards
The first dartboards were probably made from tree trunks, which had natural rings that formed the target. The word “dart” comes from the French word dard, meaning “spear”. The word “butt”, another name for a dartboard, also comes from the French word but, meaning “target” or “goal”.
The standard dartboard that we use today has 20 numbered segments, with double and triple rings and a bullseye in the center. This design was invented by a carpenter named Brian Gamlin in 1896, who wanted to make the game more challenging and reward accuracy. However, some people dispute this claim and say that the design was already in use before Gamlin.
What dart board variations are there
There are many variations of dartboards, depending on the region and the rules of the game. For example, the Yorkshire and Manchester Log End boards have no triple ring, only double and bullseye. The Manchester board is smaller than the standard one, with a diameter of only 25 cm (9.8 in) and very narrow double and bull areas. The London Fives board has only 12 segments, with thin double and treble rings.
There are many possible ways to arrange the numbers on a dartboard, but the standard one is actually very efficient. It minimizes the chance of hitting a high score by accident, and it balances the difficulty of hitting different numbers.
What types of dartboards are there?
While researching the history of dartboards we come across many variations. Other than those mentioned above there are a number of regional or rare dartboards, some of which will crop up, if you find the chance to play darts near you on any of these please let us know in the comments.
List of types of rare dartboards:
The Norfolk dart board- A concentric ring target board. Very small diameter at 10 inches with only a 6 inch scoring area. Made from Elm.
The Suffolk dartboard- The Suffolk darts board is believed to have differed from the regular pattern in the arrangement of the numbers. Whether this means it had it’s own unique numbering system or whether perhaps it was just the same as some other board is unknown as there is no visual record.
Essex/Corringham Doubles Board- Like a Yorkshire board but with an outer bull like on a conventional regulation dartboard.
The Rochester dartboard- All black Yorkshire board of a larger size at around 41.5 cm diameter. In fact, the board’s diameter is the regular size but the scoring area is only marginally less than the board’s diameter. As there is no room to fit the numbers on the board, they are marked on the rim instead. Despite being of a different size from a regulation dartboard, the distance from the dartboard is unaffected.
Staffordshire/Burton/Tutbury dartboard- Like the Yorkshire board but with 2 boxes outside the main board (either side on the top half of the board) that score 25.
Tonbridge Sevenoaks League/Tonbridge Trebles board- Like a Yorkshire board but the Trebles are the outer ring and the doubles are triangular segments adjacent to the outer ring.
‘Club’ or ‘Tournament’ Board- Rumoured to be an extension of the Yorkshire board with small round circles for trebles. It’s locality and anything else about it at all in fact, remain a mystery as there is no visual evidence available.
The Evolution of Dartboards
Before World War I, dartboards were made from solid blocks of wood, usually elm. However, these boards had some problems. They got damaged easily by darts, especially around the treble twenty area. They also needed to be soaked regularly to keep the wood soft.
In 1935, a chemist named Ted Leggatt and a pub owner named Frank Dabbs came up with a better solution. They used sisal fibres, which are extracted from a type of agave plant, to make dartboards. They compressed small bundles of fibres into a disk and bound it with a metal ring. This new dartboard was more durable and required little maintenance. It also did not get damaged by darts; instead, the fibres parted when the darts entered the board and closed when they were removed.
Sisal dartboards are still widely used today, although they have some improvements such as electronic scoring systems and bristle coatings. They are also known as bristle boards or steel-tip boards, because they are used with steel-tip darts.
The Rules of Darts
The rules of darts vary depending on the type of game and the players’ preferences. However, there are some common elements that apply to most games.
- Each player or team has three darts per turn.
- The players take turns to throw their darts at the board from a fixed distance, usually 2.37 m (7 ft 9+1⁄4 in) for steel-tip darts or 2.44 m (8 ft) for soft-tip darts.
- The score of each dart is determined by the segment that it lands on. The outer ring doubles the score of that segment, and the inner ring triples it. The bullseye is worth 50 points, and the outer bull is worth 25 points.
- The players start with a fixed score, usually 501 or 301, and try to reduce it to zero by subtracting their dart scores from their total.
- To win the game, the player or team must reach zero exactly by hitting a double or a bullseye on their final dart. This is called “checking out”. If they go below zero or fail to hit a double or a bullseye on their final dart, their turn is over and their score is reset to what it was before their turn.
- There are many variations of games that have different objectives and rules. Some examples are Cricket, Around the Clock, Killer, Shanghai, etc.
How to Improve Your Darts Skills
If you want to play darts like a pro, you need to practice regularly and follow some tips that can help you improve your technique and accuracy.
- Hold your dart firmly but not too tightly. Use three or four fingers to grip your dart near the center of gravity.
- Aim your dart at your target with your dominant eye. Keep your elbow high and your arm straight.
- Throw your dart smoothly and consistently. Follow through with your arm and wrist. Do not jerk or snap your wrist.
- Keep your body still and balanced. Do not lean or sway. Only move your throwing arm.
- Find your preferred stance and rhythm. Experiment with different positions and speeds until you find what works best for you.
- Practice with different types of darts and dartboards. Try different weights, lengths, shapes, and materials of darts. Try different sizes, designs, and materials of dartboards. This will help you adapt to different situations and conditions.
- Play with different opponents and levels of difficulty. Challenge yourself by playing with people who are better than you or by setting higher goals for yourself. This will help you improve your skills and confidence.
Darts is a fun and exciting game that can be enjoyed by anyone. It is also a great way to improve your concentration, coordination, and mental math skills. Whether you are playing for fun or for competition, you can always learn something new and improve your game. So grab your darts and start throwing!
