Your three-dart average is the most honest measure of your ability. It doesn’t lie, it doesn’t flatter, and it tells you exactly where you stand. Whether you’re averaging 35 and want to hit 50, or you’re at 60 and chasing that magical 80 mark, the path to improvement follows the same principles.
The good news? Every player can improve their average with the right approach. The bad news? There are no shortcuts. But if you’re willing to put in focused practice and make some adjustments to your technique, you’ll see results faster than you might expect.
What Is a Good Darts Average?
Before working on improvement, it helps to understand where you currently sit and what targets are realistic. Your three-dart average in 501 is calculated by dividing your total score by the number of darts thrown, then multiplying by three.
Here’s how averages typically break down by skill level:
| Level | Three-Dart Average | What It Means |
|---|---|---|
| Beginner | 30-45 | Just starting out, still developing consistency |
| Pub Player | 45-55 | Competent at local level, wins some games |
| League Player | 55-70 | Competes well in super leagues or county |
| Advanced Amateur | 70-85 | Challenging for regional titles |
| Semi-Pro/Pro | 85-100 | PDC Challenge Tour and Q-School level |
| World Class | 100+ | Elite professionals, TV tournaments |
Michael van Gerwen holds the record for the highest televised average at 123.40, set against Michael Smith in the 2016 Premier League. That’s the ceiling. For most of us, the goal is simply to keep climbing from wherever we are now.
Important note: Your average doesn’t tell the whole story. A player who averages 55 but hits 40% of their doubles will often beat someone averaging 65 who only hits 25%. Finishing matters enormously, so don’t become obsessed with your scoring average at the expense of your checkout percentage.
The Foundation: Perfecting Your Technique
Consistent technique is the bedrock of a higher average. You can’t score well if your darts are landing all over the board.
Stance
Your stance needs to be stable and repeatable. The three most common approaches are:
- Forward stance: Dominant foot forward, toe on the oche, most weight on the front foot. This is where most players start.
- Side-on stance: Body turned almost perpendicular to the board, offering a clear sight line but requiring more flexibility.
- Angled stance: A compromise between the two, with the body at roughly 45 degrees.
There’s no universally correct stance. What matters is finding one that feels natural and allows you to throw without any wobble or movement in your body. Once you’ve found it, use it every single time. Consistency comes from repetition.
Grip
How you hold the dart affects everything that follows. The key principles:
- Firm but relaxed: Your grip should be secure enough to control the dart but not so tight that your fingers turn white. Tension kills accuracy.
- Use your natural fingers: Most players use three fingers (thumb, index, middle) or four. The fingers not involved should stay relaxed and spread slightly apart.
- Keep the point up: Throughout your grip and throw, the dart’s point should remain angled slightly upward. A drooping point leads to inconsistent releases.
Experiment with gripping the dart at different points along the barrel. Some players prefer the front, others the middle or rear. Your grip position affects the dart’s balance and trajectory, so finding your sweet spot takes time.
The Throw
Think of your arm as a catapult. The elbow is the pivot point and should remain as still as possible throughout the motion. The power comes from your forearm, wrist, and fingers working together in a smooth, fluid action.
Common throwing errors to avoid:
- Elbow drop: If your elbow drops during the backstroke, your darts will often fly high or scatter unpredictably.
- Chicken wing: When your elbow moves outward during the throw, darts tend to go down and right (for right-handers).
- Rushing: Darts isn’t about power. A smooth, controlled throw beats a fast, jerky one every time.
The follow-through matters enormously. After releasing the dart, let your arm extend naturally towards the target. Your hand should finish pointing at where you aimed, with your wrist flicked slightly upward. A good follow-through prevents wobble and maintains your trajectory.
The Secret to Higher Averages: Reduce Bad Darts
Here’s a counterintuitive truth that many players miss: improving your average isn’t primarily about hitting more trebles. It’s about eliminating the really bad darts.
Consider two players:
- Player A hits 5 treble 20s in a leg but also throws 4 darts into the single 1 and single 5.
- Player B hits only 2 treble 20s but keeps every other dart in the 20 segment.
Player B will often have the higher average because they’re not haemorrhaging points on wayward throws. Consistency beats occasional brilliance.
This is why practice should focus on:
- Keeping darts in your target segment - Even hitting single 20 repeatedly is far better than scattering around treble 20.
- Minimising disasters - Those darts that miss everything and land in single 1 or single 5 destroy your average.
- Building muscle memory - A repeatable throw produces repeatable results.
Practice Routines That Actually Work
Aimless practice is wasted practice. Every session needs structure and purpose. Here are proven routines used by players at all levels:
For Scoring Improvement
Treble 20 Challenge Throw 30 darts at treble 20 and count how many hit the target. Track this number over time. A beginner might hit 2-3, a good pub player 6-8, and an advanced player 10+. Focus not just on hitting trebles but on keeping misses within the 20 segment.
Try our Treble 20 Challenge to track your progress automatically.
100+ Drill Simple but effective: throw three darts and see if you score 100 or more. Track your success rate. This drill teaches you to recover from a poor first or second dart and maintain scoring pressure.
For Doubles Practice
Bob’s 27 Start with 27 points. Beginning at double 1, throw three darts at each double in sequence up to double 20, then the bullseye. Hit a double and add its value to your score. Miss all three darts and subtract the double’s value. Finishing with a positive score is respectable; scoring over 100 is excellent.
Our Bob’s 27 game tracks everything for you and lets you compare sessions.
Doubles Round the Clock Simply hit each double from 1 to 20 in order. Time yourself and try to beat your record. This ensures you practise all doubles, not just your favourites.
For Match Simulation
15-Dart Legs Try to complete a leg of 501 in 15 darts or fewer. This simulates match pressure and forces you to score heavily while maintaining accuracy. Even if you don’t hit the target, tracking how many darts each leg takes is valuable data.
How Much Practice?
Quality beats quantity. Twenty minutes of focused, deliberate practice every day will improve your game faster than three hours of casual throwing once a week. The key is consistency and purpose.
As PDC professional Justin Pipe advises, practice should be enjoyable, not a chore. Keep sessions varied and challenging. The moment you’re just going through the motions, you’ve stopped improving.
Equipment: Does It Really Matter?
The right equipment won’t make you a better player overnight, but the wrong equipment can hold you back. Here’s what to consider:
Dart Weight
Most beginners do well with darts between 22-26 grams. Heavier darts (24-30g) require less force but more control, while lighter darts (18-22g) suit players with a faster, harder throw.
If you’re unsure, start in the middle (around 23-24g) and experiment from there. Many dart shops will let you try different weights before buying.
Flights and Stems
These affect your dart’s trajectory more than most players realise:
- Larger flights provide more stability and lift, helping darts with a tail-down tendency.
- Smaller flights reduce drag for a faster, flatter throw and allow tighter grouping.
- Longer stems create a higher, looping arc suited to softer throws.
- Shorter stems produce a more direct flight path for harder throwers.
There’s no universal best setup. Experiment with different combinations until you find what suits your throw. Even small changes can make a noticeable difference.
Read our guides on flight types and stem lengths for more detail.
Barrel Shape
Front-weighted barrels suit players who grip near the point. Rear-weighted barrels work better for those who hold further back. Centre-weighted barrels offer a neutral balance. Our barrel shapes guide explains the differences in detail.
If you’re still using brass darts, upgrading to tungsten should be a priority. The slimmer profile of tungsten barrels dramatically improves your ability to group darts tightly.
The Mental Game: Often Overlooked, Always Important
Darts is won and lost in the mind as much as in the throw. The best technique in the world won’t help if your head isn’t right.
Focus and Concentration
Distractions are everywhere: crowd noise, your opponent’s performance, the pressure of the moment, your own thoughts. Learning to block these out and focus entirely on the target is a skill that improves with practice.
Techniques that help:
- Pre-throw routine: Develop a consistent sequence of actions before each dart. This might be a certain number of practice motions, a specific breathing pattern, or a mental cue. The routine anchors your focus.
- Visualisation: Before throwing, picture the dart hitting the target. See the trajectory, imagine the sound of it landing. Athletes across all sports use this technique.
- Breathing: A slow exhale before throwing calms nerves and steadies your arm. Many professionals incorporate deliberate breathing into their routine.
Dealing with Pressure
Performance anxiety is one of the biggest obstacles in darts. When the pressure mounts, technique often suffers. The key is shifting focus from outcomes to process.
Instead of thinking “I need to hit this double to win,” focus on the mechanics: stance, grip, smooth throw, follow-through. You can’t directly control whether the dart hits, but you can control whether you execute properly.
Bouncing Back
Every player misses. The difference between good players and great ones is how quickly they recover. A missed double shouldn’t affect your next throw, but for many players it does.
Practice resetting mentally between darts. Acknowledge the miss, let it go, and approach the next dart with a clear mind. Dwelling on mistakes only leads to more mistakes.
The Zone
You’ve probably experienced it: those moments when everything clicks, you can’t miss, and the target seems enormous. This state of flow is what every player chases. While you can’t force it, you can create conditions that make it more likely:
- Eliminate distractions
- Trust your technique
- Stay in the present moment
- Don’t overthink
Tracking Your Progress
What gets measured gets improved. Keeping records of your practice and match performance helps you identify patterns and areas needing work.
Key metrics to track:
- Three-dart average - Your overall scoring ability
- First 9 average - How well you start legs
- Double percentage - Crucial for finishing
- Checkout success rate - Particularly from common finishes like 40, 32, 24
- Darts per leg - A good overall measure of efficiency
Many apps can track these automatically. Even a simple notebook works. The important thing is consistency in recording and reviewing your data.
Common Mistakes That Kill Your Average
Avoid these pitfalls that hold many players back:
Throwing Too Hard
Darts isn’t about power. The board is only 7 feet 9 inches away. A smooth, controlled throw is far more accurate than a forceful one. If you’re throwing hard, you’re probably tensing up and reducing your accuracy.
Inconsistent Routine
If you approach each dart differently, your results will be different. Every element—stance, grip, aim, throw—should be the same every time. Consistency breeds consistency.
Neglecting Doubles
Many players spend 90% of their practice on scoring and 10% on finishing. Then they wonder why they can’t close out legs. Doubles deserve at least equal attention. A 60 average with 40% doubles will beat a 70 average with 20% doubles.
Playing Tired
Fatigue affects concentration and technique. Short, focused practice sessions beat marathon throwing sessions. Know when to stop.
Comparing Yourself to Professionals
Watching Michael van Gerwen average 110 on TV is inspiring but potentially demoralising. Remember that these are the best players in the world who’ve been practising for decades. Focus on your own improvement, not on matching the elite.
Setting Realistic Goals
Improvement takes time. Setting unrealistic targets leads to frustration and can actually harm your game. Use these guidelines:
- Short-term (1-3 months): Focus on technique consistency and building good habits. A 5-point average increase is realistic with regular practice.
- Medium-term (3-12 months): Aim for a 10-15 point improvement. This is when muscle memory really develops.
- Long-term (1+ years): Significant jumps become possible with dedicated practice. But even professionals took years to reach their level.
Former professional and pundit Paul Nicholson offers wise advice: don’t obsess over averages. Focus on winning matches. “The average is just a reflection of what you’ve done, not a reflection of what you can do.” Keep practising, keep competing, and the numbers will follow.
Putting It All Together
Improving your darts average isn’t complicated, but it does require commitment. Here’s the summary:
- Master the fundamentals - Stance, grip, throw, follow-through. Get these right and build from there.
- Reduce bad darts - Consistency matters more than occasional brilliance.
- Practice with purpose - Every session should have specific goals.
- Find the right equipment - Experiment until you find what works for your throw.
- Develop your mental game - Focus, routine, and resilience separate good players from great ones.
- Track your progress - What gets measured gets improved.
- Be patient - Sustainable improvement takes time.
The players you see on TV didn’t get there overnight. They’ve thrown millions of darts over many years. The journey from a 40 average to 60, or from 60 to 80, takes dedication. But with the right approach, every player can improve.
Ready to start? Try our practice games to add structure to your sessions, or read our other guides on technique and checkout strategy.