QUICK ANSWER
Six drills cover every skill you need.
You can practice darts alone with structured solo drills that target scoring, doubles, accuracy, and checkouts. Each drill below includes specific targets so you know when you are improving.
Pick two or three drills per session. Twenty minutes of focused practice beats two hours of aimless throwing.
Throwing darts at the board with no plan is not practice. It is just throwing. Real improvement comes from drills that isolate specific skills, set measurable targets, and force you to track whether you are getting better. The good news is that every one of these drills works solo. You do not need a partner, a league, or an app.
This guide shows you how to practice darts alone using six drills that cover the four skills every player needs. Each drill comes with scoring benchmarks by level so you can see exactly where you stand and what to aim for next. According to TheDartScout’s research across coaching sites and forum data, three to five sessions per week of 20 to 45 minutes produces faster improvement than occasional long sessions. You do not need expensive equipment or a training partner. A board, three darts, and a plan is all it takes.
Before you start drilling, make sure your throwing mechanics are solid. Practice reinforces whatever you repeat – good habits or bad ones. If your throw is inconsistent, read our consistent dart throw guide first. Then come back here to put that throw to work.
What Should You Practise?
Every darts game comes down to four skills. Most solo players over-practise one and ignore the others. A balanced session hits at least two.
Scoring: hitting high numbers consistently. In 501, this means landing 60+ with your three darts, visit after visit. Your three-dart average (also called PPR – points per round) is the best measure of scoring ability. A beginner averaging 30-40 PPR can climb to 50+ within a few weeks of focused scoring practice. That jump alone cuts two or three darts off every leg you play.
Doubles: finishing the game. You can score 140 every visit, but if you cannot hit a double when you need one, you lose. Doubles accuracy is the single biggest gap between casual players and league players. Most beginners hit their target double roughly 5-10% of the time. League players sit closer to 25-35%. That difference decides games.
Accuracy: putting darts where you aim. This is broader than scoring – it includes hitting specific single numbers, bullseyes, and targets across the whole board, not just the 20 segment.
Checkouts: knowing the right route and executing it. A 76 checkout is T20, D8 – but only if you know that route exists and can throw it under pressure. Our checkout route data article covers the maths. These drills cover the execution.
KEY TAKEAWAY
Do not just throw at the 20. A practice session that only covers scoring ignores three quarters of what wins games. Pick drills from at least two skill categories per session.
Six Solo Drills That Actually Work
Each drill below lists the skill it trains, how to play, and scoring benchmarks by level. “Beginner” means a three-dart average under 40. “Intermediate” means 40-65. “Club” means 65-80. If you are not sure where you sit, the first drill will tell you.
1. The 100-Dart Count (scoring)
How to play: throw 100 darts (about 33 visits of three darts) at the 20 segment. Record your total score. Divide by 100 for your points per dart (PPD), or divide by 33 for your three-dart average.
| Level | Total (100 darts) | 3-dart average | What it means |
|---|---|---|---|
| Beginner | Under 1,200 | Under 36 | Working on consistency |
| Intermediate | 1,200-2,000 | 36-60 | Grouping is forming |
| Club | 2,000-2,600 | 60-80 | Competitive in local leagues |
| Advanced | 2,600+ | 80+ | Regional competition level |
Progression: run this drill at the start of every session as a warm-up and tracker. Log the number each time. A rising trend over weeks is more important than any single result. If you want to cut it shorter, throw 50 darts and double the total – but 100 darts gives a more stable reading because it smooths out lucky and unlucky visits.
Why this works: it gives you a single number that captures your scoring ability. Without it, you are guessing. With it, you can answer the question “am I getting better?” with data instead of feelings. When you learn how to practice darts alone effectively, this number is your coach.
2. Bob’s 27 (doubles)
How to play: start with 27 points. Throw three darts at double 1. If you hit, add the value of the double for each dart that lands (D1 = 2 points per hit). If you miss all three, subtract the double’s value. Move to D2, then D3, all the way to D20 and finish on the bullseye (worth 50). If your score hits zero, the game is over. This game was invented by Bob Anderson, the 1988 World Champion.
| Score | Level |
|---|---|
| Survive to the end | Beginner target |
| 100+ | Good |
| 200+ | Solid club player |
| 400+ | Excellent |
| 600+ | Elite doubles accuracy |
Progression: if you cannot survive a full round starting from 27, start from 51 or higher. Lower your starting score as you improve. The perfect score is 1,437 – nobody expects you to hit that.
Why this works: Bob’s 27 puts your doubles under real pressure. Missing costs you points, so each double matters – just like in a match. The doubles you struggle with reveal themselves quickly. If you always go bust on D16 or D8, you know exactly what to drill. Most players find their weak doubles are the ones they rarely aim for in games – which is exactly why Bob’s 27 forces you through all of them.
Tip: keep a tally of which doubles you miss most often across several games of Bob’s 27. After a week, you will have a clear picture. Spend extra time on your three weakest doubles before running the full game again. Focus on the specific doubles your checkout routes use most frequently – D20, D16, D10, D8, and D4 cover the majority of standard finishes.
3. Around the Clock (accuracy)
How to play: hit every number from 1 to 20 in order, then finish on the bullseye. Count how many darts it takes. Singles count. Once you hit the target number, move to the next one regardless of where the other two darts land.
| Darts to finish | Level |
|---|---|
| 80+ | Beginner |
| 50-80 | Intermediate |
| 35-50 | Club |
| Under 35 | Advanced |
Variation: once the singles version feels easy, switch to doubles only or trebles only. Doubles Around the Clock is brutal – even good players take 100+ darts. You can also play it in reverse (20 down to 1) to force yourself to start on the segments you normally aim for and end on the ones you never visit.
Why this works: most players only ever throw at 20, 19, 18, and the bull. Around the Clock forces you to aim at every segment including the ones you normally avoid. This builds the full-board accuracy you need for checkouts and split finishes. It is one of the best games when you practice darts alone because it covers segments that other drills ignore.
4. The 121 Challenge (checkouts)
How to play: set your starting score at 121. You have six darts (two visits) to check out. If you finish, advance to 122. If you fail, stay at 121 and try again. Keep advancing as high as you can. You will need to know your checkout routes – 121 is T17, T10, D5 or T20, S11, D15 depending on your preference.
Target: beginners should start at 61 instead of 121 (all two-dart finishes). Intermediate players start at 81. Getting past 130 consistently means your finishing is sharp. Reaching 150+ means you are handling combination checkouts under pressure.
Why this works: checkout ability separates players who score well from players who actually win. The 121 Challenge forces you to calculate routes and execute them under a dart limit. It builds both the mental and physical sides of finishing – you need to know the route and then throw it cleanly. If you find yourself stuck on the same number, your accuracy on that specific combination needs work.
5. Bullseye Streak (accuracy + pressure)
How to play: throw three darts per visit. You must score at least 25 (hit the outer bull or better) with at least one dart per visit. Keep counting visits until you miss a visit entirely. Your streak length is your score.
Targets: a streak of 5 visits is good for beginners. 10 is solid intermediate. 20+ means your centre-board accuracy is reliable. This drill teaches you to perform under increasing pressure because the longer your streak, the more you have to lose.
Why this works: the bullseye is the most demanding target on the board because it is the smallest. Practising it improves your fine accuracy across all segments. The streak format adds pressure – by visit 12, you are actively trying not to break a personal record, which simulates the nerves of a close match. If you want to know how to practice darts alone with a competitive edge against yourself, this is the drill.
6. Solo 501 with Dart Count (match simulation)
How to play: play a standard game of 501, starting and finishing on a double. Count how many darts it takes you to finish. This is the closest solo drill to actual match play because it combines scoring, strategy, and finishing.
| Darts to finish 501 | Level | Equivalent 3-dart avg |
|---|---|---|
| 40+ | Beginner | Under 40 |
| 30-40 | Intermediate | 40-50 |
| 24-30 | Club | 50-65 |
| 18-24 | Advanced | 65-85 |
| Under 18 | Expert | 85+ |
Progression: play three legs and average the dart count. A 16-dart leg is considered very good throwing. A 12-dart leg is world-class (roughly a 125 three-dart average). For rules and scoring, see dart rules explained.
How Long Should You Practise?
Short, focused sessions beat long unfocused ones. Three 20-minute sessions per week produces better results than one 90-minute marathon. Here are three session templates depending on how much time you have.
20-minute quick session
Warm-up: 2 minutes of loose throws at the 20. Drill 1: 100-Dart Count (10 minutes – cut to 50 darts if short on time). Drill 2: Bob’s 27 (8 minutes). Log your scores and stop. This is enough to maintain skill between longer sessions.
45-minute standard session
Warm-up: 5 minutes of Around the Clock. Scoring: 100-Dart Count (12 minutes). Doubles: Bob’s 27 (10 minutes). Finishing: 121 Challenge or Solo 501 (15 minutes). Cool-down: 3 minutes of bullseye throws. This is the ideal solo session for most players.
60-minute deep session
Run the 45-minute session but add a second round of your weakest drill. If your doubles are weak, play Bob’s 27 twice. If your scoring is low, run two rounds of the 100-Dart Count and compare. Use the extra time for the skill that needs it most, not the one you enjoy most.
SCOUT’S TAKE
The biggest mistake in solo practice is spending all your time on scoring. Hitting treble 20 feels good. Missing double 16 to lose a game feels terrible. If you only have 20 minutes, spend 10 on scoring and 10 on doubles. That split will improve your win rate faster than any amount of 180 practice.
How Do You Track Progress?
If you do not record your scores, you are guessing whether you are improving. Keep a simple log – a notebook, a phone note, or a spreadsheet – and record these numbers after each session.
Three-dart average: from the 100-Dart Count. This is your headline number. Track it weekly.
Bob’s 27 score: tracks doubles accuracy over time. A rising trend here means your finishing is improving.
501 dart count: your most match-relevant metric. Log the dart count for each leg and average across three legs per session.
Around the Clock count: measures full-board accuracy. Log it once a week rather than every session.
Do not chase daily improvements. Look at trends over two to four weeks. A player who averages 42 this week and 45 next week is progressing, even if individual sessions swing between 38 and 50. Consistency across weeks matters more than any single result.
A simple tracking table works well. One row per session, columns for date, 100-Dart Count total, Bob’s 27 score, and 501 dart count. After a month you will have enough data to spot genuine trends. You will also notice patterns – maybe your scores dip on days you play tired, or climb when you warm up properly. That information tells you how to structure future sessions.
If you prefer digital tracking, apps like DartCounter or MyDartTraining log scores automatically during games. But a notebook works just as well. The tool matters less than the habit of recording.
What Mistakes Should You Avoid in Solo Practice?
Only practising what you are good at. If you enjoy scoring, you will naturally gravitate toward the 100-Dart Count and skip Bob’s 27. This is human nature but it guarantees your weakest skill stays weak. Force yourself to spend at least a third of every session on your weakest area.
Practising too long without structure. Two hours of aimless throwing teaches your body to throw aimlessly. If you do not have a drill in mind, do not step to the oche. Twenty focused minutes with a scoring target beats ninety minutes of “just throwing.”
Not recording scores. If you do not write it down, you cannot see the trend. You will feel like you are stuck even when you are improving, or worse, you will feel like you are improving when your numbers are flat. According to TheDartScout’s analysis of player forum data, the number one frustration among solo players is not knowing whether practice is working. Recording solves that.
Changing your technique during a drill. Practice is for reinforcing mechanics, not experimenting. If you want to try a new grip style or dart weight, set aside a separate session for it. Do not mix experimentation with your tracking sessions – it corrupts the data.
Skipping warm-up. Cold muscles and joints throw differently. Two minutes of loose throws at the 20 before starting your first drill prevents your early scores from dragging down the rest of the session. Your arm needs to find its rhythm before you start measuring it.
Frequently Asked Questions
How often should I practise darts alone?
Three to five sessions per week is the sweet spot for most players. Even 20 minutes counts as a real session if you use structured drills. Daily practice is fine if you enjoy it, but two rest days per week helps prevent your throw from going stale. If you start missing targets you normally hit, take a day off.
What is a good three-dart average for a beginner?
A three-dart average of 30-40 is typical for someone who has been playing for a few months. Breaking 50 consistently is a solid intermediate milestone. League players usually sit between 65 and 80. If you are averaging under 30, focus on your throwing mechanics before drilling.
Should I practise on a bristle board or electronic board?
Practise on whatever board you compete on. If you play steel-tip leagues, practise on a bristle board. If you play soft-tip, practise on an electronic board. The segment sizes differ slightly between formats, so switching between them during practice can hurt your accuracy. For help choosing, see our dartboard guide.
Do I need special equipment to practise alone?
No. A dartboard, three darts, and something to write scores on. That is the full list. A surround and proper lighting help you see the board clearly, and a notebook or phone note is enough for score tracking. If you want to know what equipment to start with, see what comes in a dart set.
For throwing mechanics, read consistent dart throw. For checkout route strategy, read 501 checkout strategy. For checkout maths, see our checkout route data and try the checkout calculator. For game formats, check dart rules explained. affects your game, see how to choose dart weight, flights, and shafts. For game formats and rules, check dart rules explained. To set up your practice space, read home darts setup and how to set up a dartboard. For checkout maths, see our checkout route data and checkout calculator. New to darts entirely? Start with our beginner’s guide or take the dart recommendation quiz.
