This section of our web guide focuses on the sport known as darts, in which players throw small, pointed missiles (darts) at a circular target (dartboard) fixed to a wall, the objective being to score points by hitting specific sections of the board, with the ultimate goal of reducing a starting score to precisely zero.

Still enjoyed by people around the world, darts has a history dating back to medieval Europe. Initially, it was a pastime for soldiers who would throw short arrows at the bottom of wine barrels or tree trunks to pass the time. Over the years, the game evolved into a popular pub game. By the early 20th century, standardized rules and equipment were established, and darts began to be recognized as a game of skill rather than chance.

Darts requires only a couple of essential pieces of equipment: darts and a dartboard. However, it's also helpful to have a scoresheet, a surround, and a throw line. The darts are small projectiles with pointed tips and feathers on the back.

Darts can have either soft or steel tips. Technically, the components of a dart are the barrel, the shaft, and the flight. Barrels are usually made from brass, nickel-silver, or a tungsten alloy. Cylindrical barrels are the same diameter along their entire length and tend to be long and thin, while ton-shaped barrels are thin at either end and bulge in the middle, and torpedo-shaped barrels are widest at the pointed end, tapering toward the rear.

Shafts are available in various lengths, and some are designed to be cut to size. Shafts are usually made from plastics, nylon polymers, or metals like aluminum or titanium and can be rigid or flexible.

Flights stabilize the dart by producing drag, preventing the rear of the dart from overtaking the point. Modern flights are usually made from plastic, nylon, or foil and are available in a range of shapes and sizes.

Scoresheets, or sometimes scoreboards, are used to keep track of the scores during the game, while the surround is an optional piece of equipment that fits around the dartboard to protect the wall from stray darts, and the throw line marks the proper distance from the dartboard to throw the darts.

Typically, the scoring system in darts is based on where the darts land on the board. The dartboard is divided into several sections, each with a different point value. A single area is the basic scoring area where the player scores the number shown on the board. The double ring is an outer ring that doubles the score of the section hit. The triple ring is the inner ring that triples the score of the section hit. The bullseye is the center of the dartboard, with the outer bull worth 25 points and the inner bull worth 50 points.

In popular dart games like 301 and 501, players begin with a set number of points (301 or 501), and the objective is to reduce their score to zero by subtracting the points scored with each throw.

There are several other types of dart games, however, each with its own set of rules and objectives.

In cricket, players aim to hit specific numbers (20, 19, 18, 17, 16, 15, and the bullseye) three times each, with the goal being to close all the numbers and have the highest score. Scram is a variation of cricket that uses every number on the dartboard.

In Around the World, players aim to hit each number on the dartboard in sequence from 1 to 20, while the objective in Killer is to hit their assigned number three times to become a "killer" and then eliminate other players by hitting their numbers.

Dartball is a darts game based on baseball. It is played on a diamond-shaped board and has similar scoring to baseball. Dart Golf is a darts game based on golf and is regulated by the World Dolf Federation. It is played on both special and traditional golf dartboards, with scoring similar to golf.

Fives is a regional variant played in some parts of the East End of London. The board has fewer, larger segments, all numbered either 5, 10, 15, or 20. Players play down from 505 rather than 501 and stand the farthest away from the board of any mainstream variation of the game. Haive It is popular in the United Kingdom and parts of North America. In this variation, competitors try to hit previously agreed targets on a standard dart board. Failure to do so within a single throw (3 darts) results in the player losing half their accumulated score. Any number of players can participate, and the game can vary in length depending on the number of targets selected.

Darts has grown significantly in both amateur and professional circles. In amateur play, it remains a popular pub game and social activity, with local leagues and tournaments providing opportunities for competition. In the professional realm, darts has become a highly competitive sport, with major tournaments and events held worldwide. Professional players often have custom darts tailored to their throwing style and grip.

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