I thought it was time to make a detailed guide on set up shots. I've seen outcharts and other setup charts scattered all across the internet but they're usually just a bunch of numbers with no explanation of "why" you go a certain way. Plus, after being on this forum for a year or so I'm always amazed to see the odd ways people go about taking out certain shots or setting up different shots. I suspect people do the things they do because "it works for them". They might be top players in their local leagues and are used to smashing everyone week after week. They can do no wrong. Whatever they do, they're going to win. Just doesn't matter.
But along came the innovation of online darts... All of a sudden these same players that are used to winning all the time are getting REKT. The things that they do wrong are now being exposed. The shots that have ALWAYS worked in their local area are now being exposed by better players. They're being punished by their simple mistakes. It's frustrating and they might not be aware of what's wrong because like I said above, they always win. And why change things if you always win right?
So I thought I'd piece together this guide to help player's of all skill levels be aware of the shots they make. Some of the stuff is advanced and some of it is simple. Just be aware that these combo's aren't for everyone as we all play at different levels. But as you improve, you might want to remember some of this stuff.
And remember, this isn't an outchart. That is something completely different. This is more about setting up and giving you, the player, the best chances of winning possible.
Let's start...
Section A - The Hard Stuff
315 - If you hit 6 20's a 7th 20 will do you no good. You'll be stuck on 175. Go bull last dart for the chance at 170.
312 - A 140 here won't help matters. Have a look at the bull after 2 treble 20's to leave 167 or 142.
309 left - Start on 19's. If you hit a single, go back to 20's. If you hit a treble 19 with the 1st dart stay there. Another treble will leave 195. Look at the bull last dart. Basically you're trying to hit 139 to leave 170. Keep in mind, this is for the advanced/pro player that wants to leave every possibility open.
308 - Starting with 18's? Meh. No advantage really. If you hit a treble with the first dart you're kinda screwed. You'll need 2 more trebles to leave a finish. Might as well start 20's here.
307 - Start with 20's. If you hit a treble 20 stay there. Might as well go for the 140 to leave 167. Although a cover shot on the 19's would leave an easier out of 170 it's still a huge ask. Do whatever you feel is "right"
306 - 19's to start on this one. 4 19's will leave 230. Last dart at the 20 in hopes of leaving 170. 6 19's will leave 192. Go at the bull here to leave 167.
305 - 20's. If you happen to hit 6 of them have a look at the 15 or bull for the 170 or 160 finish. Avoid the 140. You have to switch.
304 - 20's all the way with hopes of leaving 164 or 124. If the 1st dart is in the single 20 and blocks the treble have a look at 6 19's for the 170.
303 - 19's on this one. A nice 7 mark round will leave 170. If the 1st dart is laying weird in the single 19 segment go up to 20's. A 6 mark on 20's would still leave an out.
302 - You could start 18's here and look to hit 4 of them before switching back to 20's for the score of 132 and leave of 170.
301 - 20's all the way here. A 140 leaves a nice look at 161. A 180 leaves 121.
293 - Although not popular among the pro's you could look at 19's here. A 133 is much better than a 140 here.
Again, these are advanced options only^^^^. If you just started playing then don't worry about shots like this. But make sure you know them as you improve
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Section B - The Reasonable Stuff
271 - 19's here no question. 4 19's and a 25 leave 170. An easy shot compared to going 20's and needing a minimum of a 140 (7 marks) to get to an out.
266 - Start on 20's but if you hit a single drop down to 19's for the cover shot. 4 19's leave you with 170. Phil Taylor refuses to listen to this. He's ALWAYS leaving 166.
265 - 5 19's leave 170. A 133 leaves 132 and a 171 leaves 94. Can't go wrong with any of those combo's.
262 - Start on 20 but if you hit a single move over to the 18's and try to leave 170.
235 - If you hit 2 single 20's think about the bull last dart to leave 170 or 145.
234 -If you start with a single 20 and stay there there's a chance of ending up on 174. You can go for the cover shot on 19's then a last dart 25 will leave 170.
229, 228, 226, 225, 223 and 222 - Be aware that after 2 single 20's you will need to switch to leave an outshot.
221 - If you hit 4 20's from 221 be aware of the bullseye option with your last dart. By hitting a 25 with your last dart you are now in a MUCH better position to finish the leg. 116 is WAY better than 121 as you will possibly get a last dart at a large double instead of the bullseye.
219, 218, 213 - If you hit 2 single 20's be aware of what you do with your last dart. Try not to leave 159, 158 or 153 as they are rather difficult or impossible outs.
205, 203, 202, 201 - If you hit 4 20's use the bullseye with the last dart to get you under 100 on your next turn. Not advisable from 204 as it will leave 99.
199, 198 - Avoid the straight ton here. Why leave 99 or 98 when you can leave 100 just as easily? Play smart here. Don't make things harder for yourself.
ALL of the above shots should be learned by the intermediate to advanced player. The idea behind these shots is to give you more chances at winning using the SAME amount of skill. Some of these shots put extra darts in your hand without taking any more or less skill to hit them. Example... by leaving 100 instead of 105 puts EXTRA darts in your hand. It takes 3 darts to take out 105 no matter how good you are. It takes 2 darts to finish 100 but better yet, you can leave 40 with 3 fat singles. It's harder to leave a 1 dart finish from 105.
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Section C - The Must Learn Stuff For Any Skill Level
195 - Be aware of what you're leaving after the 1st 2 darts. If you hit 4 20's don't screw yourself by leaving 95 when you don't have to. Go for the cover shot on 19's or 18's and leave 96 or 97. Much more desirable then leaving 95.
185, 184, 183, 182 and 181 - These are ones to pay attention to if you're under extreme pressure. If you happen to hit 4 20's with the 1st 2 darts look at the bullseye with your last dart. The idea here is to get to or below 80. That way you'll more than likely get a look at a normal sized double instead of the bull on your last dart. Example... 181 left and you hit a 100. Or 181 left and you hit a 105. 76 left v 81 left. Which out is better under pressure? 76 by miles.
Also, keep the bullseye in mind if you hit 2 single 20's from anything between 181 and 185. The idea is anything 120 or below is much better than 121+. The major difference is your last dart IF you get a possible look at an out. Would you rather look at the bull, the smallest target on the board, or any of the regular doubles? Although just 1 point difference, 120 is a MUCH better out to go for than 121.
164 & 161 - With 164 left you should start on 19's as MvG does. Reason being is he's looking for 57-57-bullseye. But the bigger reason for going 19's is it's easier to set up the next shot if you hit a single 19. How many times have we seen MvG go 19-20-25 to leave 100? Compare that to other players who start on the 20's and leave 104 after hitting 60. 104 v 100? Easy pick there.
Also pay attention with 161 left. If you hit 2 single 20 don't be afraid of going at the bullseye with the last dart. 96 is a MUCH better out than 101. The idea with both of these is to leave a possible 2 dart finish compared to a 3 dart out.
163, 162 - Same as above. If you hit 4 20's with the 1st 2 darts look at the bull on the last dart. If you get yourself to 58 or 57 you improve your chances to win by 50% compared to leaving 63 or 62. Extra darts in your hands folks, extra darts!
159, 158 - Be aware here. Kinda stupid to be left with this finish anyway so now's the time to make up for it. If you hit 2 single 20's DON'T go 20's with your last dart! There's no reason in the world to leave 99 or 98 when you don't have to. Go for the cover shot and leave a tidy 100. This gives you easier options for a finish.
155 - Be aware of just pounding 20's here. Hit a 60 and leaving 95 isn't desirable. Go for a cover shot on 19's to leave 96 instead. Or if you're feeling it have a look at the bull to leave 90. But that shot carries some risk at this point. In fact, ignore the "feeling it" comment. When players think they are "feeling it" that usually means risk is involved. Combine that with pressure and the results can be costly. Play safe here and leave 96.
150, 148, 146, 142 - These are outshots where great local, pub level players tend to switch to different targets "just because". If you throw a perfect treble 20 right down the middle don't switch! Stay on the 60 bit and plug it with your second dart. You just threw a perfect 60 so why would you move? I know common sense dictates that from 150 you would go 60, 54, 36 out. Or 146 you would go 60, 54, 32 out. But throw that out the window if the 1st dart is perfectly in the 60.
I've also seen great players mess around with 142. They throw a perfect treble 20 only to switch to the smallest target on the board, the bull. That might be a great choice if the opponent is back on 346 but in a tight match, stay on 20's or at least go treble 14. No bull on the 2nd dart whatever you do!
141 - Be aware of what you do with your last dart here. 2 single 20's leaves 101. If you follow it with a 3rd 20 you left yourself 81. If you hit a single 20 followed by a treble you're now sitting on 61 with one dart left. The best option in both cases is to look at the bull with your last dart. Instead of 81 you can leave 76. And instead of hitting any preferred single on the board from 61 you can hit a 25 or 50 and leave yourself 2 darts at a double next turn.
140 - Under NO circumstance should your 3rd dart be anywhere near the treble if you already scored 80 points. Aim high. Preferably near the double. I've busted 140 more than my fair share of times in my life. I learned from my mistakes though. * For the advanced player you can consider going 60, tops, tops if the mood strikes.
138 - You don't have to go 19's here but imo it's the better choice. 2 trebles leaves a nice 24. 2 singles and you go back up for cover on the 20's to leave 80 or 40. Totally up to the individual here. Just try not to leave yourself 38 in a tight match. That would be making things harder than they need to be. Your goal as a dart player is to make things as easy as possible. So the only way to avoid leaving 38 is by going 19's.
137, 134, 131 - For the advanced level player there is nothing wrong with the option of leaving tops, tops finish. Treble 19, 18 or 17 to start. Under pressure with the match hanging in the balance it's something to consider. For intermediate level players thinking "that's an impossible shot" it's actually an easier shot than it sounds.
135 & 132 - This is one of those outs that does my head in. I see INCREDIBLE players going for the bull when they are miles in front. Even if the opponent is breathing down your neck think about setting it up instead of going for the hero finish. Think strongly about it. Leave a nice 40 from 135 or a beautiful 32 from 132. That puts a load of pressure on the opponent to make a big shot. I can't tell you how many times I've seen great players fluff their lines up from 135 and 132 trying to play the hero. Again, avoid the bull unless you are forced to go that route with the opponent on an easy finish.
133, 131, 129 - Seems like we're always ending up on these bogey numbers. Best thing I can recommend is try not to leave them in the 1st place. Always be aware of what your last dart is going to leave. Nobody wants to be left on these 3 numbers. Although 129 is the best of the bunch, I'd personally rather have 130 left. Nothing worse than leaving 129 and hitting treble 19 with the 1st dart. Always makes a mess of things. Now you have to hit another treble making your 129 equally as hard as a 136-160 finish.
128, 126, 125, 123, 122, 119 - Don't start on 20's! A single 20 will mean you cannot possibly finish the leg and your turn is all but over.
125 - You'll see pro's start on the bull. A perfect option. However, for the intermediate player you might want to consider 15's. It's much easier to hit a single 15 then a bull. A single 15 leaves 110. A treble 15 leaves 80 which could be 2 tops. Again, it's an easier shot than it sounds. Going bull and missing completely pretty much ends all hopes unless the dart hits a single 18 or 15.
121 - Okay, the match hangs in the balance and you've just pegged the treble 20 first dart. Don't, I repeat, DON'T be a greedy dart player and go for for a treble 11 or 25. If the opponent is on a 1 dart out you're only going to get one shot to win anyway. Play safe and go for a fat 11 to leave bull. The point here is to at least give yourself a chance. If you miss the bull and go on to lose deal with it. You had your chance. But it's a lot easier to deal with that loss if you at least had a dart to win. Imagine going high or low on the 2nd dart at treble 11 and missing completely leaving no out. Or going at the 25 and missing completely or being too accurate and hitting a bull. I've done it before and losing like that hurts MUCH worse than having your chance and losing.
120 - A simple one right? Of course. But I've seen a few players make a mistake with 120. Starting on 20's is a no brainer. Follow it with another single leaves 80. This is where I've seen players go 16's with the last dart. Basically they just tossed a free dart right out the window. Here's why. They went at 16's with the last dart in hopes of leaving 32. Sounds like a smart thing to do until you hit a single 16. Now you've just left 64. You could have stayed on the 20's and left 60. Guess what 60 gives you? 2 darts at a double that's what. Or 50% darts at a double more than leaving 64. Don't go 16's with the last dart!
118 - I've seen temptation to go 18's here. Don't do it. A treble leaves 64. Which then leaves 14 for the bull. If you're under pressure and the match is on the line go 20's. It takes the same EXACT talent/ skill to hit treble 20 and a single 18 to leaves tops. The major difference is the size of the last double. Bull v tops. Again, and I can't stress this enough, don't make things harder than they need to be.
116 - Much debate here. Do I go 20's or 19's? Does it matter? I say yes and here's why. The opponent is sitting on 32. You have 116. You go 20's. A single 20 to start followed by a treble. "Yes!" you say to yourself. Only to bottle it and throw the last dart inside of the double 18 to leave 18. The opponent steps to the line and misses 3 clear giving you another turn. THIS is where the 20's choice matters! You now have 18 left. Your 1st dart goes inside leaving 9. A simple single 1 fixes things leaving 1 dart at double 4. Now hold on a minute!! Let's back this up.
116 and you go 19's. Using the same exact scenario as above you miss low with your last dart leaving 20. The opponent misses. You get another turn. Ask yourself, is 20 a better out than 18? If you come inside on double 10 you still have 2 darts left in hand for a double. Not the case with 18 left. The difference is minor. Does it matter? Possibly.
115 - Uhhggg. I hate this one. 20's are no fun as a single leaves 95. A miss wide left still leaves an out though. Sometimes I'll go bull but not when an opponent is on a very easy out.
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Section D - The Stuff You Have To Know
For the rest of these outs there is much debate from forum to forum. I'm not going to step in and say this is the way you HAVE to go. But what i'm going to type is the best way to go with the least amount of risk involved in case you miss with the 1st dart. Just a reminder to what I typed to start this thread. You might be successful in your local leagues and do well in local luck of the draws playing the way you play. You have no incentive to play at a higher level because you always win. So playing correctly really doesn't matter. But if you intend to take that game online or branch out and play high level tournaments then you better rethink the way you go about doing things. That being said, let's continue...
114 - Going 19's is the only way to ensure a safe shot if you miss wide left. Problem is it leaves 95. 18's is another option. A treble leaves 60 and a miss low into the 4 keeps you alive. Best thing I can say about 114 is go 20's and don't miss with the 1st dart. Easier typed than done though. It's a totally debatable number on which way to go. No clear right or wrong here.
113 - 20's all the way. If you hit any treble next to the 20 you still have an out.
112, 111, 110 - 20's here to start
109 - 20's is the preferred shot if you miss to the left. It's really the only safety shot in case of a miss.
108 - Many pro's go 19 here. 4 19's leave 32. Also a miss wide left keeps you alive. 18's would be the ultimate safety shot. A miss high or low keeps you alive. If I was in the biggest match of my life and nerves were an issue I'd go 18's and hope for the best. Caution on treble 1 though. Ruins the fun.
107- 19's provide a safety net to the left and right in case of a miss. Avoid 20's here as a miss into the 5 or 1 will end your turn.
106- 20's is the place to start
105 - 20's here also. A miss on either side and you're still alive. Just stay out of the treble 1. Also, don't be afraid to go at the bullseye with the last dart if you hit 2 single 20's. A 25 will leave 40 and a bullseye will leave 15.
104 - 19's or 16's to start. The reason being is a miss in any direction still leaves hope. Avoid 20's at all cost if the match hangs in the balance. A 5 or 1 will ruin your day.
103 - Safest bet is 19's as a miss to the right or left keeps you alive.
102 - 20's here. But here's what you DON'T do with the 2nd dart. Don't go bull to leave 32. If the opponent is on an easy out go for treble 14. It's a MUCH bigger target. I've also started a 102 outshot with treble 1. Nothing ruins your day more than that. Be aware of it.
101 - There's many safety shots here. Both sides of the 20 and 19 are safe. Do whatever the voice in the back of your head tells you to do here.
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The New Stuff
The rest of the outs are fairly simple to learn and I want to avoid talking about "how do you go on this out" or "how do you take out (insert number here)". Instead I want to focus on something else. Something that's not talked about very much. But it's knowing when to go for an out and when to setup the shot. The difference it can make to your overall game is massive. Here goes...
For matter of reference let's pretend your favorite professional player is sitting on 153. You're sitting on 84 and have the throw. 1st dart everyone would mostly agree you start on 20's. If you hit a treble then all is good. 2 darts for 24 right? But this is where my way of playing has changed. And it's changed for the better. Much better. If I hit a single 20 from 84 I'm left with 64 and 2 darts in my hand. Common sense would tell you to go 14 to leave a shot on bull right? Well hold on just a minute. Stop right there. THIS, this is where I've completely changed the way I play with great success. I will STILL try and take out the 64 but I'll go 16's. If I hit a single I'll go 16/8 pie to leave a solid 1 dart out. I've set myself up.
Basically I'm doing a couple things here. Firstly I'm trying my best to win. Secondly I'm firmly telling the opponent "you can't hit 153 and you won't hit 153". Which in all reality they won't hit. I don't care how good the player is, you simply ain't hitting a 153 on me after I passed on the bull. Let's face it, one example from 1983 where Bristow passed on the bull isn't going to change things. In fact I can only think of 2 other examples in the last 30 years where a player passed on the bull and was made to pay. And these are the very top, top professionals.
So what if I pass on the bull, what makes you think Joe Smoe from local league is going to smash home a 153? What about a 50 avg player on WDA or Prodarter? They don't stand a chance. Sounds a bit harsh right? But the odds are with you, they simply won't finish from 153. They wont, I won't. I promise.
So if they absolutely won't finish, why on earth are you going the bull route from 84 when you will get another turn 99.99% of the time? It's in your favor to just set yourself up. Give yourself 3 clear darts at your favorite double on the next turn. You might even still finish the leg while setting up. A treble 16 would leave 16. You might even set yourself up perfectly only to miss all 3 darts on your next turn and lose the leg. It happens. But the point is, you gave yourself the most darts possible at a double.
When I first started playing online I would ALWAYS go for the finish! Always! Didn't matter if the opponent was on 32, 147 or back on 346. What I discovered is more times then not I would leave 25 or miss the 25/bull completely. I'm a fairly handy player at times but it dawned on me one day when I stepped to the oche with 25 left and the opponent just missed wildly from a huge out, "why on earth am I making things harder on myself?" From that point on I started testing the waters and setting myself up all the time.
I discovered a few things....
1. Nobody ever, not once, made me pay by taking out a huge finish. Sure, players have smoked huge outs on me all the time. But NEVER ONCE when I passed on the bull route. I repeat, never once was I made to pay and I'm talking about nearly 1000 matches.
2. There was MUCH less pressure on me when I stepped to the line looking at my preferred double vs 25 or some other random number.
3. This ones a bit hard to explain but... When I won legs because of setting up on a preferred double it developed rhythm and confidence that carried over into the next leg. String a few of those legs together and you feel like you can't miss.
4. Some opponents will be thrown completely off by this. Basically you're telling them they won't hit the big outshot. But guess what? You're just being truthful. I don't care how good someone is, nobody can hit big shots on command.
Some things to keep in mind regarding this sort of play. If something major hangs in the balance, like a World Championship final, it's best you go the bull route. Or if it's the final leg of a huge league match and you need the win for your team. Ya better go for the bull. It would be awfully hard to live it down in the exceedingly rare cases where someone might hit a big finish when you passed on the bull. But in 99.99% of all scenario's it's a safe bet to just set yourself up. This is all part of knowing when to take your chances and when to play safe. Forget the opponents feelings, you're trying to win right? Let the odds work FOR you, not against you.
Hope this helps a few players that want to take their game to the next level. Feel free to add or comment. Guests cannot see images in the messages. Please register at the forum by clicking here to see images.
But along came the innovation of online darts... All of a sudden these same players that are used to winning all the time are getting REKT. The things that they do wrong are now being exposed. The shots that have ALWAYS worked in their local area are now being exposed by better players. They're being punished by their simple mistakes. It's frustrating and they might not be aware of what's wrong because like I said above, they always win. And why change things if you always win right?
So I thought I'd piece together this guide to help player's of all skill levels be aware of the shots they make. Some of the stuff is advanced and some of it is simple. Just be aware that these combo's aren't for everyone as we all play at different levels. But as you improve, you might want to remember some of this stuff.
And remember, this isn't an outchart. That is something completely different. This is more about setting up and giving you, the player, the best chances of winning possible.
Let's start...
Section A - The Hard Stuff
315 - If you hit 6 20's a 7th 20 will do you no good. You'll be stuck on 175. Go bull last dart for the chance at 170.
312 - A 140 here won't help matters. Have a look at the bull after 2 treble 20's to leave 167 or 142.
309 left - Start on 19's. If you hit a single, go back to 20's. If you hit a treble 19 with the 1st dart stay there. Another treble will leave 195. Look at the bull last dart. Basically you're trying to hit 139 to leave 170. Keep in mind, this is for the advanced/pro player that wants to leave every possibility open.
308 - Starting with 18's? Meh. No advantage really. If you hit a treble with the first dart you're kinda screwed. You'll need 2 more trebles to leave a finish. Might as well start 20's here.
307 - Start with 20's. If you hit a treble 20 stay there. Might as well go for the 140 to leave 167. Although a cover shot on the 19's would leave an easier out of 170 it's still a huge ask. Do whatever you feel is "right"
306 - 19's to start on this one. 4 19's will leave 230. Last dart at the 20 in hopes of leaving 170. 6 19's will leave 192. Go at the bull here to leave 167.
305 - 20's. If you happen to hit 6 of them have a look at the 15 or bull for the 170 or 160 finish. Avoid the 140. You have to switch.
304 - 20's all the way with hopes of leaving 164 or 124. If the 1st dart is in the single 20 and blocks the treble have a look at 6 19's for the 170.
303 - 19's on this one. A nice 7 mark round will leave 170. If the 1st dart is laying weird in the single 19 segment go up to 20's. A 6 mark on 20's would still leave an out.
302 - You could start 18's here and look to hit 4 of them before switching back to 20's for the score of 132 and leave of 170.
301 - 20's all the way here. A 140 leaves a nice look at 161. A 180 leaves 121.
293 - Although not popular among the pro's you could look at 19's here. A 133 is much better than a 140 here.
Again, these are advanced options only^^^^. If you just started playing then don't worry about shots like this. But make sure you know them as you improve
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Section B - The Reasonable Stuff
271 - 19's here no question. 4 19's and a 25 leave 170. An easy shot compared to going 20's and needing a minimum of a 140 (7 marks) to get to an out.
266 - Start on 20's but if you hit a single drop down to 19's for the cover shot. 4 19's leave you with 170. Phil Taylor refuses to listen to this. He's ALWAYS leaving 166.
265 - 5 19's leave 170. A 133 leaves 132 and a 171 leaves 94. Can't go wrong with any of those combo's.
262 - Start on 20 but if you hit a single move over to the 18's and try to leave 170.
235 - If you hit 2 single 20's think about the bull last dart to leave 170 or 145.
234 -If you start with a single 20 and stay there there's a chance of ending up on 174. You can go for the cover shot on 19's then a last dart 25 will leave 170.
229, 228, 226, 225, 223 and 222 - Be aware that after 2 single 20's you will need to switch to leave an outshot.
221 - If you hit 4 20's from 221 be aware of the bullseye option with your last dart. By hitting a 25 with your last dart you are now in a MUCH better position to finish the leg. 116 is WAY better than 121 as you will possibly get a last dart at a large double instead of the bullseye.
219, 218, 213 - If you hit 2 single 20's be aware of what you do with your last dart. Try not to leave 159, 158 or 153 as they are rather difficult or impossible outs.
205, 203, 202, 201 - If you hit 4 20's use the bullseye with the last dart to get you under 100 on your next turn. Not advisable from 204 as it will leave 99.
199, 198 - Avoid the straight ton here. Why leave 99 or 98 when you can leave 100 just as easily? Play smart here. Don't make things harder for yourself.
ALL of the above shots should be learned by the intermediate to advanced player. The idea behind these shots is to give you more chances at winning using the SAME amount of skill. Some of these shots put extra darts in your hand without taking any more or less skill to hit them. Example... by leaving 100 instead of 105 puts EXTRA darts in your hand. It takes 3 darts to take out 105 no matter how good you are. It takes 2 darts to finish 100 but better yet, you can leave 40 with 3 fat singles. It's harder to leave a 1 dart finish from 105.
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Section C - The Must Learn Stuff For Any Skill Level
195 - Be aware of what you're leaving after the 1st 2 darts. If you hit 4 20's don't screw yourself by leaving 95 when you don't have to. Go for the cover shot on 19's or 18's and leave 96 or 97. Much more desirable then leaving 95.
185, 184, 183, 182 and 181 - These are ones to pay attention to if you're under extreme pressure. If you happen to hit 4 20's with the 1st 2 darts look at the bullseye with your last dart. The idea here is to get to or below 80. That way you'll more than likely get a look at a normal sized double instead of the bull on your last dart. Example... 181 left and you hit a 100. Or 181 left and you hit a 105. 76 left v 81 left. Which out is better under pressure? 76 by miles.
Also, keep the bullseye in mind if you hit 2 single 20's from anything between 181 and 185. The idea is anything 120 or below is much better than 121+. The major difference is your last dart IF you get a possible look at an out. Would you rather look at the bull, the smallest target on the board, or any of the regular doubles? Although just 1 point difference, 120 is a MUCH better out to go for than 121.
164 & 161 - With 164 left you should start on 19's as MvG does. Reason being is he's looking for 57-57-bullseye. But the bigger reason for going 19's is it's easier to set up the next shot if you hit a single 19. How many times have we seen MvG go 19-20-25 to leave 100? Compare that to other players who start on the 20's and leave 104 after hitting 60. 104 v 100? Easy pick there.
Also pay attention with 161 left. If you hit 2 single 20 don't be afraid of going at the bullseye with the last dart. 96 is a MUCH better out than 101. The idea with both of these is to leave a possible 2 dart finish compared to a 3 dart out.
163, 162 - Same as above. If you hit 4 20's with the 1st 2 darts look at the bull on the last dart. If you get yourself to 58 or 57 you improve your chances to win by 50% compared to leaving 63 or 62. Extra darts in your hands folks, extra darts!
159, 158 - Be aware here. Kinda stupid to be left with this finish anyway so now's the time to make up for it. If you hit 2 single 20's DON'T go 20's with your last dart! There's no reason in the world to leave 99 or 98 when you don't have to. Go for the cover shot and leave a tidy 100. This gives you easier options for a finish.
155 - Be aware of just pounding 20's here. Hit a 60 and leaving 95 isn't desirable. Go for a cover shot on 19's to leave 96 instead. Or if you're feeling it have a look at the bull to leave 90. But that shot carries some risk at this point. In fact, ignore the "feeling it" comment. When players think they are "feeling it" that usually means risk is involved. Combine that with pressure and the results can be costly. Play safe here and leave 96.
150, 148, 146, 142 - These are outshots where great local, pub level players tend to switch to different targets "just because". If you throw a perfect treble 20 right down the middle don't switch! Stay on the 60 bit and plug it with your second dart. You just threw a perfect 60 so why would you move? I know common sense dictates that from 150 you would go 60, 54, 36 out. Or 146 you would go 60, 54, 32 out. But throw that out the window if the 1st dart is perfectly in the 60.
I've also seen great players mess around with 142. They throw a perfect treble 20 only to switch to the smallest target on the board, the bull. That might be a great choice if the opponent is back on 346 but in a tight match, stay on 20's or at least go treble 14. No bull on the 2nd dart whatever you do!
141 - Be aware of what you do with your last dart here. 2 single 20's leaves 101. If you follow it with a 3rd 20 you left yourself 81. If you hit a single 20 followed by a treble you're now sitting on 61 with one dart left. The best option in both cases is to look at the bull with your last dart. Instead of 81 you can leave 76. And instead of hitting any preferred single on the board from 61 you can hit a 25 or 50 and leave yourself 2 darts at a double next turn.
140 - Under NO circumstance should your 3rd dart be anywhere near the treble if you already scored 80 points. Aim high. Preferably near the double. I've busted 140 more than my fair share of times in my life. I learned from my mistakes though. * For the advanced player you can consider going 60, tops, tops if the mood strikes.
138 - You don't have to go 19's here but imo it's the better choice. 2 trebles leaves a nice 24. 2 singles and you go back up for cover on the 20's to leave 80 or 40. Totally up to the individual here. Just try not to leave yourself 38 in a tight match. That would be making things harder than they need to be. Your goal as a dart player is to make things as easy as possible. So the only way to avoid leaving 38 is by going 19's.
137, 134, 131 - For the advanced level player there is nothing wrong with the option of leaving tops, tops finish. Treble 19, 18 or 17 to start. Under pressure with the match hanging in the balance it's something to consider. For intermediate level players thinking "that's an impossible shot" it's actually an easier shot than it sounds.
135 & 132 - This is one of those outs that does my head in. I see INCREDIBLE players going for the bull when they are miles in front. Even if the opponent is breathing down your neck think about setting it up instead of going for the hero finish. Think strongly about it. Leave a nice 40 from 135 or a beautiful 32 from 132. That puts a load of pressure on the opponent to make a big shot. I can't tell you how many times I've seen great players fluff their lines up from 135 and 132 trying to play the hero. Again, avoid the bull unless you are forced to go that route with the opponent on an easy finish.
133, 131, 129 - Seems like we're always ending up on these bogey numbers. Best thing I can recommend is try not to leave them in the 1st place. Always be aware of what your last dart is going to leave. Nobody wants to be left on these 3 numbers. Although 129 is the best of the bunch, I'd personally rather have 130 left. Nothing worse than leaving 129 and hitting treble 19 with the 1st dart. Always makes a mess of things. Now you have to hit another treble making your 129 equally as hard as a 136-160 finish.
128, 126, 125, 123, 122, 119 - Don't start on 20's! A single 20 will mean you cannot possibly finish the leg and your turn is all but over.
125 - You'll see pro's start on the bull. A perfect option. However, for the intermediate player you might want to consider 15's. It's much easier to hit a single 15 then a bull. A single 15 leaves 110. A treble 15 leaves 80 which could be 2 tops. Again, it's an easier shot than it sounds. Going bull and missing completely pretty much ends all hopes unless the dart hits a single 18 or 15.
121 - Okay, the match hangs in the balance and you've just pegged the treble 20 first dart. Don't, I repeat, DON'T be a greedy dart player and go for for a treble 11 or 25. If the opponent is on a 1 dart out you're only going to get one shot to win anyway. Play safe and go for a fat 11 to leave bull. The point here is to at least give yourself a chance. If you miss the bull and go on to lose deal with it. You had your chance. But it's a lot easier to deal with that loss if you at least had a dart to win. Imagine going high or low on the 2nd dart at treble 11 and missing completely leaving no out. Or going at the 25 and missing completely or being too accurate and hitting a bull. I've done it before and losing like that hurts MUCH worse than having your chance and losing.
120 - A simple one right? Of course. But I've seen a few players make a mistake with 120. Starting on 20's is a no brainer. Follow it with another single leaves 80. This is where I've seen players go 16's with the last dart. Basically they just tossed a free dart right out the window. Here's why. They went at 16's with the last dart in hopes of leaving 32. Sounds like a smart thing to do until you hit a single 16. Now you've just left 64. You could have stayed on the 20's and left 60. Guess what 60 gives you? 2 darts at a double that's what. Or 50% darts at a double more than leaving 64. Don't go 16's with the last dart!
118 - I've seen temptation to go 18's here. Don't do it. A treble leaves 64. Which then leaves 14 for the bull. If you're under pressure and the match is on the line go 20's. It takes the same EXACT talent/ skill to hit treble 20 and a single 18 to leaves tops. The major difference is the size of the last double. Bull v tops. Again, and I can't stress this enough, don't make things harder than they need to be.
116 - Much debate here. Do I go 20's or 19's? Does it matter? I say yes and here's why. The opponent is sitting on 32. You have 116. You go 20's. A single 20 to start followed by a treble. "Yes!" you say to yourself. Only to bottle it and throw the last dart inside of the double 18 to leave 18. The opponent steps to the line and misses 3 clear giving you another turn. THIS is where the 20's choice matters! You now have 18 left. Your 1st dart goes inside leaving 9. A simple single 1 fixes things leaving 1 dart at double 4. Now hold on a minute!! Let's back this up.
116 and you go 19's. Using the same exact scenario as above you miss low with your last dart leaving 20. The opponent misses. You get another turn. Ask yourself, is 20 a better out than 18? If you come inside on double 10 you still have 2 darts left in hand for a double. Not the case with 18 left. The difference is minor. Does it matter? Possibly.
115 - Uhhggg. I hate this one. 20's are no fun as a single leaves 95. A miss wide left still leaves an out though. Sometimes I'll go bull but not when an opponent is on a very easy out.
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Section D - The Stuff You Have To Know
For the rest of these outs there is much debate from forum to forum. I'm not going to step in and say this is the way you HAVE to go. But what i'm going to type is the best way to go with the least amount of risk involved in case you miss with the 1st dart. Just a reminder to what I typed to start this thread. You might be successful in your local leagues and do well in local luck of the draws playing the way you play. You have no incentive to play at a higher level because you always win. So playing correctly really doesn't matter. But if you intend to take that game online or branch out and play high level tournaments then you better rethink the way you go about doing things. That being said, let's continue...
114 - Going 19's is the only way to ensure a safe shot if you miss wide left. Problem is it leaves 95. 18's is another option. A treble leaves 60 and a miss low into the 4 keeps you alive. Best thing I can say about 114 is go 20's and don't miss with the 1st dart. Easier typed than done though. It's a totally debatable number on which way to go. No clear right or wrong here.
113 - 20's all the way. If you hit any treble next to the 20 you still have an out.
112, 111, 110 - 20's here to start
109 - 20's is the preferred shot if you miss to the left. It's really the only safety shot in case of a miss.
108 - Many pro's go 19 here. 4 19's leave 32. Also a miss wide left keeps you alive. 18's would be the ultimate safety shot. A miss high or low keeps you alive. If I was in the biggest match of my life and nerves were an issue I'd go 18's and hope for the best. Caution on treble 1 though. Ruins the fun.
107- 19's provide a safety net to the left and right in case of a miss. Avoid 20's here as a miss into the 5 or 1 will end your turn.
106- 20's is the place to start
105 - 20's here also. A miss on either side and you're still alive. Just stay out of the treble 1. Also, don't be afraid to go at the bullseye with the last dart if you hit 2 single 20's. A 25 will leave 40 and a bullseye will leave 15.
104 - 19's or 16's to start. The reason being is a miss in any direction still leaves hope. Avoid 20's at all cost if the match hangs in the balance. A 5 or 1 will ruin your day.
103 - Safest bet is 19's as a miss to the right or left keeps you alive.
102 - 20's here. But here's what you DON'T do with the 2nd dart. Don't go bull to leave 32. If the opponent is on an easy out go for treble 14. It's a MUCH bigger target. I've also started a 102 outshot with treble 1. Nothing ruins your day more than that. Be aware of it.
101 - There's many safety shots here. Both sides of the 20 and 19 are safe. Do whatever the voice in the back of your head tells you to do here.
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The New Stuff
The rest of the outs are fairly simple to learn and I want to avoid talking about "how do you go on this out" or "how do you take out (insert number here)". Instead I want to focus on something else. Something that's not talked about very much. But it's knowing when to go for an out and when to setup the shot. The difference it can make to your overall game is massive. Here goes...
For matter of reference let's pretend your favorite professional player is sitting on 153. You're sitting on 84 and have the throw. 1st dart everyone would mostly agree you start on 20's. If you hit a treble then all is good. 2 darts for 24 right? But this is where my way of playing has changed. And it's changed for the better. Much better. If I hit a single 20 from 84 I'm left with 64 and 2 darts in my hand. Common sense would tell you to go 14 to leave a shot on bull right? Well hold on just a minute. Stop right there. THIS, this is where I've completely changed the way I play with great success. I will STILL try and take out the 64 but I'll go 16's. If I hit a single I'll go 16/8 pie to leave a solid 1 dart out. I've set myself up.
Basically I'm doing a couple things here. Firstly I'm trying my best to win. Secondly I'm firmly telling the opponent "you can't hit 153 and you won't hit 153". Which in all reality they won't hit. I don't care how good the player is, you simply ain't hitting a 153 on me after I passed on the bull. Let's face it, one example from 1983 where Bristow passed on the bull isn't going to change things. In fact I can only think of 2 other examples in the last 30 years where a player passed on the bull and was made to pay. And these are the very top, top professionals.
So what if I pass on the bull, what makes you think Joe Smoe from local league is going to smash home a 153? What about a 50 avg player on WDA or Prodarter? They don't stand a chance. Sounds a bit harsh right? But the odds are with you, they simply won't finish from 153. They wont, I won't. I promise.
So if they absolutely won't finish, why on earth are you going the bull route from 84 when you will get another turn 99.99% of the time? It's in your favor to just set yourself up. Give yourself 3 clear darts at your favorite double on the next turn. You might even still finish the leg while setting up. A treble 16 would leave 16. You might even set yourself up perfectly only to miss all 3 darts on your next turn and lose the leg. It happens. But the point is, you gave yourself the most darts possible at a double.
When I first started playing online I would ALWAYS go for the finish! Always! Didn't matter if the opponent was on 32, 147 or back on 346. What I discovered is more times then not I would leave 25 or miss the 25/bull completely. I'm a fairly handy player at times but it dawned on me one day when I stepped to the oche with 25 left and the opponent just missed wildly from a huge out, "why on earth am I making things harder on myself?" From that point on I started testing the waters and setting myself up all the time.
I discovered a few things....
1. Nobody ever, not once, made me pay by taking out a huge finish. Sure, players have smoked huge outs on me all the time. But NEVER ONCE when I passed on the bull route. I repeat, never once was I made to pay and I'm talking about nearly 1000 matches.
2. There was MUCH less pressure on me when I stepped to the line looking at my preferred double vs 25 or some other random number.
3. This ones a bit hard to explain but... When I won legs because of setting up on a preferred double it developed rhythm and confidence that carried over into the next leg. String a few of those legs together and you feel like you can't miss.
4. Some opponents will be thrown completely off by this. Basically you're telling them they won't hit the big outshot. But guess what? You're just being truthful. I don't care how good someone is, nobody can hit big shots on command.
Some things to keep in mind regarding this sort of play. If something major hangs in the balance, like a World Championship final, it's best you go the bull route. Or if it's the final leg of a huge league match and you need the win for your team. Ya better go for the bull. It would be awfully hard to live it down in the exceedingly rare cases where someone might hit a big finish when you passed on the bull. But in 99.99% of all scenario's it's a safe bet to just set yourself up. This is all part of knowing when to take your chances and when to play safe. Forget the opponents feelings, you're trying to win right? Let the odds work FOR you, not against you.
Hope this helps a few players that want to take their game to the next level. Feel free to add or comment. Guests cannot see images in the messages. Please register at the forum by clicking here to see images.
