You can average 60 all day long, hit the occasional 180, and throw consistent ton-plus visits. But if you can’t finish, none of it matters. Every darts player knows the frustration: you outscore your opponent for the entire leg, get to a double first, and then watch helplessly as they step up and take it out in two darts while you’re still jabbing away at double 16.
Doubles are where darts matches are won and lost. They’re also where most players spend the least amount of practice time, which is exactly why so many legs slip away that shouldn’t. This guide covers the technique, strategy, and psychology of finishing—because hitting doubles consistently isn’t just about aim. It’s about approach, routine, and knowing what to do when the pressure’s on.
Why Doubles Matter More Than Scoring
Here’s a stat that might surprise you. A player averaging 50 who hits 35% of their doubles will win more legs than a player averaging 60 who only hits 15%. The maths is straightforward: if you can’t finish, high scoring just means you spend more time waiting on a double while your opponent catches up.
At amateur level, the gap between scoring ability and finishing ability is enormous. Most pub and league players throw reasonably well at the trebles but fall apart when they need a double. The reason is simple: they practise scoring far more than finishing. If you spend 80% of your practice on treble 20 and 20% on doubles, don’t be surprised when your finishing lets you down on match night.
The professionals understand this balance. Luke Humphries hits around 42% of his doubles in competition. Michael van Gerwen sits at roughly 40%. These numbers might sound modest, but they’re achieved under intense pressure against the best players in the world. At club level, anything above 25% puts you ahead of most opponents. Get to 35% and you’ll win a lot of matches.
Technique Adjustments for Doubles
Hitting doubles isn’t a completely different skill from hitting trebles, but it does require some subtle adjustments. The double ring is roughly 8mm wide—about the same as the treble ring—but its position on the outer edge of the board creates different challenges.
Aiming Point
Aim dead centre of the double segment. This sounds obvious, but many players unconsciously aim at the wire separating the double from the single, or at the outer wire. Aiming at the centre gives you the maximum margin for error: roughly 4mm either side before you’re in the wrong bed.
Some players find it helpful to pick a specific spot within the double—a mark on the wire, a discolouration in the sisal, anything that gives their eye a precise target rather than a vague area. The more specific your aiming point, the more focused your throw becomes.
Power and Release
This is where many players go wrong. When the pressure’s on, the natural instinct is to grip tighter and throw harder. Both are counterproductive.
Ease off the power slightly when going for doubles. You don’t need to launch the dart with the same force you’d use for treble 20. A slightly softer throw gives the point more time to find the sisal and reduces the chance of bouncing off the wire. It also tends to produce a smoother release, which means better accuracy.
Your release should feel the same as any other throw—clean, controlled, and unforced. If anything, doubles reward a lighter touch. Think placement, not power.
Stance and Position
Most players stand in the same position for every shot, and for scoring visits that’s perfectly fine. But doubles offer an opportunity to adjust your position at the oche to improve your angle.
For doubles on the left side of the board (double 14, double 9, double 11, double 8), shifting slightly to the right of the oche can give you a more natural throwing line. For right-side doubles (double 6, double 10, double 15, double 2), moving left opens up a better angle. You’re not making huge shifts—a few inches either way—but even small adjustments can turn an awkward angle into a comfortable one.
The Straight Line Test
Stand at the oche and hold your dart up in your aiming position. Does the line from your eye through the dart point naturally at your target double? If not, shuffle along the oche until it does. You’ll be amazed how much easier doubles feel when you’re not throwing across your body.
The key is to keep these adjustments consistent. If you move to the left for double 10, do it the same way every time. Random positioning between throws introduces variables that make consistency impossible.
Know Your Doubles
Not all doubles are created equal. Each one has different characteristics based on its position on the board, what sits next to it, and what happens when you miss. Understanding these differences helps you plan your finishes more effectively.
The Halving Doubles
Double 16 is the most famous double in darts for good reason. If you miss inside and hit single 16, you’re left on 16—which is double 8. Miss that inside, and you’ve got 8, which is double 4. Then double 2. This halving sequence means a single starting score of 32 gives you up to four attempts at a double, even if you keep missing into the single bed.
Double 20 offers a similar advantage. Miss inside to single 20, and you’re on double 10. Then double 5. The sequence isn’t as long (double 5 doesn’t halve cleanly), but the first two steps are excellent.
Double 10 halves to double 5. It sits on the right side of the board at a comfortable height, and many players find it one of the most natural doubles to throw at.
The Awkward Doubles
Double 1 — the “madhouse.” Nobody wants to be here. If you’re on 2 and miss double 1 into single 1, you bust—your turn ends immediately and your score reverts to 2. You’ve wasted your remaining darts and you’re right back where you started. It’s also an uncomfortable double to throw at, sitting right next to double 20 at the top of the board. Avoid ending up on double 1 at all costs by planning your finishes to stay on higher even numbers.
Double 5 and double 9 present a different problem. They’re on odd numbers, so missing inside leaves you needing an odd single to get back onto an even number. This adds an extra dart to your checkout. When you can, engineer your finishes to avoid these.
Double 17 sits near the bottom of the board, tucked between double 2 and double 3. It’s an unusual angle for most players, and missing inside leaves 17—an awkward number that requires single 9 then double 4, or single 1 then double 8.
Your Favourite Double
Every player has one. For some it’s double 16, for others it’s double 20 or double 10. There’s no wrong answer—your favourite double is simply the one you hit most often, and your entire finishing strategy should be built around setting it up.
If you don’t know which double you hit most reliably, pay attention during your next few practice sessions. Track your success rate on each double and you’ll quickly spot your strongest. Once you know, learn the checkout routes that land you there. If double 8 is your best, know that 76 = T20, D8, or that 16 = D8 directly.
There's No Shame in Preference
Some players feel they “should” be going for double 16 because the pros do. But the pros hit double 16 because they’ve thrown at it tens of thousands of times. If you’re more comfortable on double 10 or double 8, use them. The best double is the one that goes in.
The Art of Cover Shots
A cover shot is when your first dart at a double is thrown with a plan for what happens if you miss. It’s one of the things that separates thoughtful finishers from hopeful ones.
The simplest example: you’re on 32 and throw at double 16. If you hit it, you’ve won the leg. If you miss inside and hit single 16, you’re left on 16—which is double 8. That’s a cover shot. You’ve “covered” yourself by leaving a sensible double even on a miss.
Now consider 32 with a different approach. If you throw at double 16 and miss outside (off the board or into the surround), you’re still on 32. You haven’t lost anything. Miss inside, and you’re on double 8. Miss into the adjacent single 8, and you’re on 24—double 12. Almost every outcome from double 16 on a score of 32 leaves you in a reasonable position. That’s why it’s such a popular double.
Compare that to being on 10 and throwing at double 5. Miss inside to single 5, and you’re left on 5—an odd number with no clean double. Now you need to hit an odd single just to get back to an even number. That’s a poorly covered finish, and it’s why setting up on a halving double like 32 is so much more forgiving.
Planning Two Darts Ahead
Good finishers think about cover shots before they throw. Great finishers think two darts ahead.
If you’re on 72 with three darts in hand, there are several routes. T16, D12 is the standard two-dart finish. But what if you miss treble 16 and hit single 16? You’re on 56. That’s T16, D4—still a clean two-dart finish. Now compare the route T12, D18. Miss treble 12 into single 12, and you’re on 60. From 60, you’d need single 20 then double 20—a two-dart finish, but you’ve turned a one-dart shot into two. The T16 route covers better because even the miss leaves you in a strong position.
This kind of thinking becomes instinctive with practice. You don’t need to calculate every permutation at the oche. Just get into the habit of asking yourself: “If I miss this, where am I?” before each throw during a checkout. Over time, the best routes become second nature.
Finishing Under Pressure
You’ve been throwing brilliantly all leg. Your scoring has been strong. You’ve set up a tidy finish. And now you’re standing at the oche with double 16 staring back at you, and your arm feels like it belongs to someone else.
Sound familiar? Every darts player has experienced this. The pressure of finishing changes your physiology in ways that directly affect your throw: your heart rate increases, your grip tightens, your breathing becomes shallow, and your throw often shortens or speeds up.
Build a Pre-Throw Routine
The single most effective weapon against pressure is a routine. Watch the top professionals and you’ll notice they do exactly the same thing before every dart, whether it’s the first of the match or match darts to win a final. The routine anchors them, overriding the pressure response with a practiced sequence of actions.
Your routine doesn’t need to be elaborate. It might be: step to the oche, set your feet, take a breath, find your grip, line up, and throw. The specific steps matter less than doing them the same way every time. When pressure hits, your body falls back on the routine rather than improvising under stress.
Breathe
It sounds simplistic, but controlled breathing is one of the most effective tools you have. Before stepping to the oche for a double, take a slow breath in through your nose and out through your mouth. This activates your parasympathetic nervous system, lowering your heart rate and reducing the physical symptoms of pressure.
Many players hold their breath during their throw without realising it. This creates tension throughout your upper body. Practise breathing out gently as you throw—it keeps your muscles relaxed and your release smooth.
Focus on Process, Not Outcome
“I need to hit this double” is an outcome-focused thought, and it’s the enemy of good finishing. When your mind is fixated on the result, your body tenses up. Instead, focus on the process: “Smooth throw, good follow-through.” Let the result take care of itself.
This is easier said than done, obviously. But with practice, you can train yourself to shift focus from the result to the action. One technique is to pick a specific aiming point on the double (a mark, a wire junction, a spot in the sisal) and lock onto it. Give your brain a task—aim at that spot—rather than a hope—please go in.
The Three-Dart Trap
One of the biggest mental traps in finishing is treating three darts at a double as three separate chances. This leads to a casual first dart (“I’ve got two more”), a pressured second dart (“only one left”), and a panicked third dart. Treat every dart as your only dart. Give every throw the same focus and routine.
Dealing with Missed Doubles
You will miss doubles. A lot of them. Even the best players in the world miss more than they hit. The question is how you respond.
When you miss a double, the worst thing you can do is dwell on it. The dart is gone. Replaying the miss in your head while preparing your next throw guarantees that your next throw will be affected by frustration, tension, or over-correction.
Develop a reset mechanism. Step back from the oche briefly. Take a breath. Consciously let go of the previous dart. Then step back up and go through your routine as if it’s the first dart of the visit. Some players tap their leg, roll the dart in their fingers, or close their eyes for a second. The specific trigger doesn’t matter—what matters is that it genuinely clears your mind.
Practice Routines for Doubles
If you’re serious about improving your finishing, you need to practise doubles with the same dedication you give to scoring. Here are the routines that will make the biggest difference.
Bob’s 27
The gold standard of doubles practice. Start with a score of 27 and work your way around the board from double 1 to double 20, then the bullseye. Hit the double and add its value to your score. Miss all three darts and subtract the double’s value. A positive finishing score is respectable. Anything above 200 is excellent.
What makes Bob’s 27 brilliant is that it forces you to throw at every double on the board, not just your favourites. You’ll quickly discover which doubles you hit naturally and which need work. Play it regularly and track your scores over time—the improvement is tangible.
Try it now: Bob’s 27 Practice Game
Pressure Finishing
Start on 32 (double 16) with nine darts to finish. If you check out, move to a harder starting number: 40, then 56, then 80, then 100, then 121. If you fail to check out with nine darts, drop back to 32 and start again.
This drill builds checkout knowledge and puts you under realistic pressure. Nine darts is generous for 32, but tight for 121. The escalating difficulty keeps you engaged and forces you to learn new checkout routes as the targets increase.
Around the Clock on Doubles
Start on double 1 and work your way around to double 20, then the bullseye. You must hit each double before moving to the next. Time yourself and try to beat your record.
This is a simpler drill than Bob’s 27 but equally valuable. It builds familiarity with every double on the board and develops your ability to adjust your position at the oche for different areas of the board.
Try it now: Around the Clock Practice Game
Random Checkout Practice
Use our Checkout Practice game to simulate match situations. Starting from a random or set score, work out the route and execute it. This builds both mental arithmetic and finishing accuracy under conditions that mimic real match play.
The 30-Minute Split
Structure your practice sessions with finishing in mind. If you have an hour, spend 30 minutes on scoring and 30 minutes on doubles. If you only have 30 minutes, spend 15 on scoring and 15 on finishing. The temptation is always to throw at treble 20 because it’s satisfying, but your doubles practice is what wins matches.
Track Your Progress
Keep a record of your doubles practice. Write down your Bob’s 27 scores, your checkout completion rates, and which doubles you hit most and least often. This data tells you exactly where to focus your practice time.
After a few weeks of tracking, you’ll have a clear picture of your strongest and weakest doubles. You can then adjust your checkout strategy to favour your best doubles and dedicate extra practice to your worst ones.
Checkout Strategy: Putting It All Together
Finishing well isn’t just about throwing at doubles accurately. It’s about engineering your checkout so you arrive at the right double with the best possible chance of taking it out.
Leave Yourself on Even Numbers
This is the most basic rule of finishing, but it’s remarkable how many players ignore it. An odd number below 40 means you can’t throw at a double—you need to hit an odd single first to get back to an even number. Every time you leave an odd number, you’re adding an extra dart to your checkout.
When you’re in the scoring phase and your remaining total drops below 170, start thinking about what you’ll be left on. If you’re on 85, hitting single 19 leaves you on 66 (two-dart finish via T10, D18 or T16, D9). Hitting treble 19 leaves you on 28 (D14). Both are better than hitting single 20, which leaves 65—an odd number that requires extra work.
Set Up Your Favourite Double
If you know you’re strongest on double 16, work backwards. You want to leave 32. From 92, that’s treble 20, double 16—a clean two-dart finish. From 52, it’s single 20 to leave 32. From 48, single 16 leaves 32. The principle is simple: whenever you have a choice of checkout routes, pick the one that lands you on your best double.
Check our checkout chart for the standard routes, then adapt them to favour your best double where the alternative route is equally viable.
Don’t Be Afraid of the Bullseye
The bull (double 25) is a legitimate finishing double that many amateur players avoid entirely. It’s worth 50 points and is essential for high finishes like 170 (T20, T20, Bull), 167 (T20, T19, Bull), and 164 (T20, T18, Bull).
Even on lower finishes, the bull can be useful. On 50, you can go Bull instead of single 18, double 16 or single 10, double 20. If your bull throw is reasonable, the single-dart checkout is often the better option.
The key to hitting the bull is the same as any other target: aim at a specific point (the centre), use a smooth throw, and don’t overthink it. Many players psych themselves out because the bull “feels” harder than a double, but it’s actually a larger target than most individual doubles.
Common Checkout Routes Worth Memorising
You don’t need to memorise every checkout in the book, but having the most common ones locked in your mind speeds up your decision-making and reduces hesitation at the oche.
One and two-dart finishes you’ll see constantly:
- 40: D20 (one dart)
- 36: D18 (one dart)
- 32: D16 (one dart)
- 100: T20, D20
- 96: T20, D18
- 81: T19, D12
- 80: T20, D10
- 76: T20, D8
- 72: T16, D12
- 64: T16, D8
- 56: T16, D4
Three-dart finishes worth knowing:
- 121: T17, T10, D20 (or T20, T11, D14)
- 110: T20, S10, D20 (or T20, Bull)
For the full breakdown, see our complete checkout chart.
Common Finishing Mistakes
Throwing Too Hard at Doubles
Under pressure, players tend to throw harder. But power is the enemy of precision on doubles. The extra force tightens your grip, shortens your follow-through, and increases the chance of a wire bounce-out. Doubles reward a smooth, controlled throw with a gentle release.
Not Adjusting Position
Standing in the same spot for every double means you’re throwing at difficult angles for half the board. Get comfortable moving along the oche. A few inches either way can transform an awkward cross-body throw into a natural, comfortable one.
Ignoring Cover Shots
Throwing at a double without thinking about what happens if you miss is wasteful. Always throw with a plan. If your first dart misses, where will you be? If the answer is “on an odd number with no clean route to a double,” you might be aiming at the wrong target.
Spending Too Long on One Double
If you’ve missed double 16 four times, it’s not your day on that double. Move to a different one. Reset your angle, reset your mind, and throw at double 8 instead. Stubbornly hammering away at the same double when it’s not going in is one of the most common mistakes in amateur darts.
Only Practising Your Favourite Double
It’s natural to gravitate towards the doubles you’re already good at, but this creates a dangerous dependency. If your favourite double isn’t going in during a match, you need reliable alternatives. Make sure your practice covers the full range of doubles, not just your top three.
The Mental Game of Finishing
Finishing in darts is at least 50% mental. Your arm knows how to hit a double—you’ve done it thousands of times in practice. The challenge is letting your arm do its job when your brain is screaming about how important this dart is.
The best finishers treat every double the same. First dart of a practice session or match dart in a final, the routine is identical, the throw is identical, and the mental approach is identical. They’ve practised so much that the physical act of throwing at a double is automatic, freeing their mind from interference.
You can develop this too. It takes time and deliberate practice, but every session spent on doubles builds the neural pathways that make finishing feel automatic rather than anxious. The more doubles you throw in practice, the less significant any individual double feels in a match. It becomes just another throw.
And when you do miss—because you will, often—remember that every professional misses too. The difference is they step back up and throw the next dart as if the miss never happened. That’s the mindset to aim for: short memory, total focus, complete trust in your throw.