Who Invented Darts?

(The Origins & History Of The Game)

One of the game’s most well-known figures, author Justin Irwin, recently stated that he
believes the last game of darts to be played in a London Pub will take place before the sports
100th birthday. How can this be possible?

The game of darts holds a special place in the hearts and minds of the citizens of London, and
it also happens to share hundreds of years of history with the ancient city.

Surprisingly, this would not be the first time the game has come close to disappearing from
the London pub scene. We shouldn’t get ahead of ourselves though; to fully comprehend
where the game of darts currently stands we must start at the beginning. So, who invented
darts?

Modern darts was invented by a carpenter from Lancashire named Brian Gamlin in
1896. However the history goes back much farther. Darts began as a military pastime
originating in England during the medieval era in the first couple of decades of the
fourteenth century.
Table of Contents

Early Days Of Darts

So how old is the game of darts?
The game of darts is about 700 years old, but it has been around in one form or another for a
very long time. There are different versions of the story, but most historians agree on a few
facts.

First, the development of darts as a game originated in England during the medieval era in the
1300s.

The second fact on which most historical accounts agree on is that darts began as a military
pastime.

The tale goes that between battles, bored soldiers would sit in the trenches and compete by
throwing spearheads and other sharp objects at the bottoms of upturned wine casks. As a
matter of fact, officials encouraged soldiers to partake since it was an effective way to
practice their aim and throwing skills.
Naturally, as the pastime spread amongst the rank and file, soldiers began competing in an
attempt to prove their mettle. After a while, soldiers moved on from hitting the bottom of
upturned wine casks and started using cross-sectioned tree trunks as targets.

At this point the game begged for a consolidation of a consistent rule set and the tree trunk’s
natural structure allowed competitors to further demonstrate their skills by providing different
sections on which to test their ability further.

As it turns out, the tree trunks own growth rings, and radial cracks offered the first template
for the sections that would eventually appear on the sport’s modern-day dart boards.

Darts would progressively change over hundreds of years until the turn of the nineteenth
century when it began to approximate the game we all know and love.

From The Royal Courts To The London Pubs

The game of darts grew in popularity at an astonishing rate. This fact should not come as a
surprise to anyone who has ever thrown a dart before. Darts is a pure sport with a simple
rule set that belies the hidden tactical and mechanical depths found within.

The setup for playing a game of darts is uncomplicated, and anyone regardless of physical
shape and fitness levels can jump right in and play a game. These characteristics helped
spread the game across the isle of Britain to the point that even the nobility began partaking
in it.

A famous anecdote has King Henry VIII playing avidly with a set of exquisitely decorated set
of darts gifted to him by his second wife, Anne Boleyn.

If the King of England was playing darts, you could bet that the rest of the nobles took it up
as well. A quick and curious side note: Nobles were fond of using smaller-sized darts than the
commoners and the soldiers.

The nineteenth century saw the dissemination of numerous versions of the game. At this
point, the game had not yet consolidated nor was it organized in any sense of the word.

Various scoring systems were being used across the nation, and no standard rule set had yet
emerged. Nevertheless, during the 1800s the game of darts began to gather momentum and
reached levels of popularity it had never before achieved.

With this heightened popularity came a wave of innovation and it was at this time that the
first numbering systems began to become developed.

The title of the inventor of the modern numbering system has many claimants, and although it
is difficult to assess the veracity of all these claims, the consensus is that it wasn’t until the
year 1896 that a carpenter from Lancashire named Brian Gamlin invented the number
system we now know so well.
The development of the modern numbering system can be attributed with being one of the
most impactful changes to the game of darts, and through it, the game gained even more
popularity and eventual recognition as a sport.

The modern numbering arrangement around the circumference of the dartboard (starting at
the top) is the following:

20-1-18-4-13-6-10-15-2-17-3-19-7-16-8-11-14-9-12-5

Although this particular arrangement might seem spitefully random, it is actually a

meticulously picked number order that provides the game with incredible depth and a degree
of fairness that has benefited it tremendously.

There is a hidden genius behind this particular arrangement that belies its apparent
randomness. Through careful consideration, we can quickly observe that numerically close
numbers, for example, 20 and 19, are as far as possible from each other.
This design choice drastically reduces the incidence of probable “lucky shots” and
dramatically diminishes the element of chance in the game. Skill and accuracy are needed to
attain the best scores. In fact, this arrangement can punish inaccurate throws aggressively.

For example, say that you want to hit the high score of 20 and fire a sloppy shot, there is a
substantial chance then that you will hit either a 1 or a 5.

Darts In The Twentieth Century

The twentieth century received the game of darts with controversy. Historical records show
that in the year 1908 a pub owner in the town of Leeds was taken to court for allowing his
customers to play darts in his establishment.

The argument was that darts is a game of chance, which was illegal at the time. The story
goes that the pub owner brought in William ‘Bigfoot’ Annakin with a dartboard in hand.

Mr. Annakin was known as the best darts player in town and before several Leeds’s
magistrates proceeded to throw and stick three darts in the single 20 segment. When the court
clerk was asked to emulate the feat, only one dart stuck to the board. Needless to say that the
case was dismissed and the rest is history.
Such was the popularity that the game of darts enjoyed during the first decades of the
twentieth century that by 1930 the game was played all over England and in Welsh pubs and
breweries. All you needed was some darts and a good dart cabinet and you were set.

The first organized championships had begun in the 1920s. The establishment of the National
Darts Association took place in 1924. By the year 1939, almost three hundred thousand
participants signed up for the yearly News of the World Championship.

The Second World War saw darts achieve an even higher degree of popularity as it was taken
up by the troops as a pastime almost emulating the origins of the sport hundreds of years
before.

The Navy, Army, and Air Force were issuing darts in their “sports” pack which saw the game
being played by soldiers anywhere and anytime they found some respite from the war.
It was during WWII that American soldiers became enamored with the game of darts and
began to adopt and disseminate the game in their home country.

Between the decades of the 1950s and the 1960s, the game saw significant levels of
participation in organized play across the country. The National Darts Association of Great
Britain, which was founded in 1954, took up the task of setting up and organizing leagues at
the local and national levels.

Although the game of darts first appeared on television in 1936, it did so to an extremely
limited audience; but in the year 1972, the News of the World Individual Darts
Championship was broadcast by the Independent Television Authority to a great reception.

By the time the 80s rolled around the world of darts had superstars enjoying celebrated fame
and instant recognition on the streets. Names like Lees, Wilson, and Lazarenko became the
topic of dinner conversation.

Modern Darts
The first significant organizational split of the sport occurred in 1992 when the British Darts
Organization parted with several high-profile players who were unhappy with the way the
national championships were being run.

This split resulted in the foundation of the World Darts Council or the Professional Darts
Corporation as it is known today.

Both of these organizational bodies have done tremendous work in an attempt to integrate the
game of darts into a functional sport. High-caliber competitions are being played yearly,
including a World Championship.

The sport of darts is now enjoying incredible popularity; its most prestigious tournaments are
broadcast live around the world with sponsorships running million dollar campaigns.

Find out what darts the pros use!

The British Darts Organization boasts 70 member countries and millions of people are
playing darts every day; there is even talk of giving darts Olympic status. Without a doubt,
the game of darts has come a very long way from its humble medieval beginnings.
28 Common Darts Terms You Should Know

Darts is a tough game. It takes a lot of practice to get good. The least you can do is
sound like a competent player. Whether you’re playing Cricket, a 301 or 501 league
match, or any number of other fun dart games, it’s important to have a basic grasp of
common darts terms.

Darts has been played in some form or fashion since medieval times, with the first traditional
‘clock’ pattern dartboard developed in the late 19th century.

Given its long history and international popularity, it’s not surprising that there are many
terms of art that have developed alongside the evolution of the game.

Some of these terms are more accepted and established than others.

If you enjoy playing darts and want to show that you are familiar with the fundamental rules
of the game, you should – at the very least – learn some of the established terms still used
today.

Just commit the following dart terms to memory and you’ll be good to go.

Most Common Darts Terms

1. Busted: This is when you exceed the number of points required to go out. This happens all
the time in 01 games.

2. Cork: A better term for the bull’s eye. Can also be used as a verb, as in to “cork” to see
who throws first.

3. Double: A dart that lands within the double outer ring on the dartboard. (Learn more about
the Fundamentals of Darts Scoring)

4. Double Bull: The inner or middle portion of the bull’s eye; also known as a double bull.

5. Double In / Double Out: Hitting the double area to begin a game (i.e. 301) or end a game
(i.e. 301 and 501). Learn more about going ‘out’ in 01 matches.

6. Eights: A better way to say the number “18”.

7. Fat: Another way to refer to the large part of a numbered wedge; in other words, a single
rather than double or triple.

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Play Video
8. Fives: Another way to say “15”.

9. Flight: The flight is the tail of the dart that allows it to cut and float through the air.

10. Hockey (aka Oche): The dart throwing line (see dartboard setup and measurements);
can also be a raised 1 ½ inch board to mark the throwing line (don’t trip over it).

11. Leg: This refers to a game in a match. For example, if you’re playing cricket with a
buddy, you might say the best of three legs. Each leg is a game.

12. Match: The match would be a series of complete games.

13. Mugs Away: This means the loser of the game gets to start the next game.

14. Nines: Another way to say “19”.

15. Pie: Refers to any numbered wedge on the dartboard.

16. Robin Hood: The rare occasion when a dart sticks to another dart on the board (i.e. in the
flight).

17. Round: Refers to any three-dart turn.

18. Sevens: A cool way to say 17.

19. Shaft: The middle of the dart that screws into the barrel and holds the flight.

20. Shanghai: As mentioned here, a Shanghai is when you hit the triple, double and single of
the same number in one three dart turn. Can also just refer to the name of the game.
21. Sixes: A better way to say “16”.

22. Slop: Not what you were aiming for, but still a scoring dart. We’ll take it. Learn how to
improve your mechanics to throw more consistent and accurate darts.

23. Splash: Means to throw two darts at the same time to determine the order of play. This is
sometimes done with the opposite hand to make things interesting and level the playing field.

24. Straight In: When you don’t need to double in; for example, in a game of 501, you can
play straight in / double out.

25. Ton: A score of 100 points.

26. Ton-Eighty: A score of 180 points; aka the highest possible score in a single three-dart
turn.

27. Tops: Slang for hitting a Double 20 (aka Double Top).

28. Tough Darts: I hear this one a lot; it basically means “nice try” when you get close to
your mark or the dart bounces out.

There you have it. The above dart terms should be enough to get you started.

However, there is plenty of darts slang out there that we did not cover.

So we’ll be updating this list from time to time, but please feel free to leave a comment and
add favorite term or two to the list.

Darts Rules

Photo credit: PeterPan23 (Source)

Being a “sport” – many argue it is a game – mainly played in pubs and requiring little or no
physical fitness, darts is one activity at which Britain excels! Darts is thought to have been
created when soldiers began throwing short arrows at cut tree trunks or alternatively at the
bottom of the cask. As the wood dried cracks appeared, creating sections which, steadily,
over time became set scores, albeit with much regional and international variation.

Darts is now widely played in many parts of the world, but especially in former
Commonwealth countries, the Netherlands and Belgium, the United States and Scandinavia.
There are two main professional governing bodies, the PDC and BDO, the latter being the
longer running of the two. Given the presence of the sport in pubs and bars it is probably one
of the largest participatory sports in the world.

Object of the Game

501 is the standard version of the game in competition and the object is to “check out” by
getting your score down to 50 or less before ending the game by reaching zero by either
throwing a double or a bullseye with your final dart.

Players & Equipment

Darts only requires a board and the darts themselves, this limited list of equipment being one
of the reasons for its success. The board that is now used as standard was created in 1896 by a
Lancashire carpenter with the aim of penalising inaccurate throwing by keeping large
numbers apart and bordering them with small numbers. Whilst mathematicians have long
argued over the best board layout to minimise the reward for inaccurate efforts, the current
design is actually pretty good.

The board itself is made from compressed sisal fibres and despite modern electronic versions
is now the accepted norm. In the early days after the First World War darts was played using
a heavy, solid wood board, normally made from elm and subsequently clay versions were
trialled.

The standard board is 17¾ inches (451mm) in diameter and is divided into 20 radial sections
by thin metal wire. The sections are numbered from 1-20 and contain a thin section at the
outer edge (double) and slightly smaller area midway towards the centre (treble). The
bullseye or “bull” is a small circle, usually red, at the very centre of the board and is
surrounded by the larger, green, outer bull.

The darts are usually used using a combination of metal, nylon and plastic for the points,
barrels, shafts and fletching. The exact style and make-up of the dart will vary according to
the player’s style and ability (or what pub you’re in!) but they must weigh no more than 50g
and be no longer than 300mm.

Scoring

A player scores points by throwing the darts at the board. Each player throws three darts on
their turn with the maximum score being 180, achieved by hitting three treble 20s. The bull is
worth 50 points, the outer bull 25 points and the various numbers score their own value,
unless they are doubled (the outer rim) or trebled.

Winning the Game

To win a player must reach zero by hitting a double or a bull, having first got their score
down from the 501 starting point. If they do that they win the leg and the first to three legs
wins the set. Most matches are normally played “best of” a defined (odd) number of sets,
with the sport’s biggest prize, the PDC World Championship, involving a final that is best of
13 (therefore the winner is the first to seven sets).

Rules of Darts
The rules of darts are very simple and have basically been discussed in previous sections.
Some key points to note are as follows:

 Which player takes the first turn in a game is decided by throwing a single dart each
with the nearest to the bull taking the first throw.
 A throw consists of throwing three darts unless the game is won in fewer.
 Only darts in the board at the end of the throw are counted and ones that bounce or
fall out cannot be thrown again.
 If a player scores more than their remaining points total their throw ends and is scored
zero (for example if they have 16 remaining and accidentally hit a 20 with their first
dart).
 The centre of the bull should be exactly 5ft 8in (1.73 metres) high.
 Darts are thrown from a clearly marked toe-line, often called the oche, at least 7ft 9 ¼
in from the board, measured horizontally.

Where do you throw the darts from?

The play area for darts is determined based on the center of the board (bull).
The place where you throw from
It is called the throw line.
Distance
Distance from directly below the board to the throw line is 244 cm.
Height
The distance from the floor to the bull is 173 cm.

Grip

The way you hold the darts is called the grip. There are different types of grips,
so try to find one that suits you.
The important point for grips is not to disrupt the balance of the dart. Hold the
dart with your fingers with applying not too much pressure.
Holding the dart with three fingers

First place your index finger on the dart and find the spot where the dart is level.

Support that position with your thumb from above, and use your other fingers to
lightly support the dart.
Holding the dart with four fingers.

Use your index and middle finger to find the spot where the dart is level.
Support that position with your thumb from above, and use your other fingers to
lightly support the dart.
 Stance

The position of your feet when throwing darts is called the "stance". The stance
is important as it helps to firmly stabilize your body.
*It is OK to stand on the throw line. Be careful not to step over the line!
Middle stance (Medium style)

Stand diagonally to the dart board

This is the most standard stance. This is a balanced form that makes it easy to
adjust the position of your legs and how you position your center of gravity and
makes it easier to aim. The angle tends to change each time so try to take the
same stance all the time.
Closed stance (Side style)

Stand completely sideways to the dart board

The front feet is placed on the throw line for this stance, this make it easier to
take the same angle and stance each time. Be careful not to put too much weight
on the front feet, as this will cause the back feet to leave the floor and the body
will lose stability. This stance is also known as the side stance.
Open stance (Front positioning)

Stand facing the dart board straight

It is easy to take the same angle with this stance, but since you cannot lean
forward, your release will be further away from the board. Not many players use
this stance. This is also called the front stance.

Throwing the Dart

Just before throwing

When holding the dart, have a relaxed posture and release the tension from your
entire body.
Stand up straight and try not to lean forward too much.
Turn your face so it is facing the dart board and use both eyes to firmly aim.
Your elbow should be fixed at a position that is most comfortable when slowly
lowering the hand holding the dart from above your head.
How to throw

The act of throwing a dart is made up of three movements, the “take back”,
“release”, and “follow through”.
Try to maintain your posture so that you can throw in a stable motion.
1. Take back

The movement where you draw back the dart. Try to move your arm from your
elbow so your arm makes a folding fan shaped movement. If you can position
your hand so that the palm naturally faces up, then you won’t strain your wrist!
2. Release
The movement where you release the dart. Throw like you are releasing a paper
plane and do not move your elbow. Try to release all your fingers at once. If any
of the finger's release is delayed, the flight of the dart will be unstable.
3. Follow through

The movement where you extend your arm straight after release.
It is almost like you are pointing at the target you aimed for with your fingertips.

Learn how to score on the board!

Dartboard

About the dartboard

●Numbers
Shows the points scored for each area.
●Single scores
The number on the board is the point scored.
●Double scores(Double ring)
The point scored is twice the number on the board.
●Triple scores(Triple ring)
The thin ring inside the point area. Scores three times the number of
points shown on the board.
The highest score with a single throw is a triple at 20, which is 60 points.
●Bull
The circle in the center of the board. The smaller inner circle is the double
bull (50 points).
The outer circle is the single bull (25 or 50 points depending on the game).
No points

No points will be scored in below cases:

1. If the dart lands outside the double ring or outside the point area.
2. The dart hits the previous dart and doesn’t stick on the board.
3. If the dart gets stuck in the flight of the previous dart.
4. The dart does not reach the dartboard.
5. The dart bounces off the dartboard and drops onto the floor. However, if the
board registers the points, then the score will be added.
6. If the player steps over the throw line. At official matches, this will be
checked strictly.
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Dart Technique

How to Throw Darts: Technique, Grip, Stance and Release

The following article explains the basic grip, stance and throwing techniques used in the
game of darts. There are also tips on discovering what works best for you and how to develop
your own style.

Basics of the Grip

Aim and Direct: The chief objective of your grip should be to keep the end of the dart
pointing up in each throwing stage.

Solid and Relaxed: Your grip should be stable, firm and should not put tension on the
muscles of your fingers. When your fingers become white or you have difficulty releasing the
dart due to excess muscle tension it is an indication that your grip is excessively tense. Keep
in mind that Darts is a not a game of force, but rather touch. To keep your touch, grasp the
dart just tight enough so it will not slide and you can maintain control when speeding up for
the throw. The most common error is gripping the dart too firmly rather than too loosely.

Use at Least Three Fingers. Using more fingers will provide more regulation and control of
the dart when gathering speed, but it makes the release more difficult as you will have to
coordinate more fingers together. Finger coordination is an important aspect of release in
your grip.

Shape of Dart Barrel. Not all types of grips will be suitable or functional on different barrel
types. Longer barrels require the use of more fingers, while shorter barrels may require fewer
fingers. Not only do you need to discover the right grip for you, but you need to discover the
barrel that's right for you as well.
  

  

Say No to a Fist. The fingers that are not included in your grip should stay comfortably
spread apart from the fingers that are included. For example, if you are using four fingers
when holding the dart and your smallest finger joins the other four, it will cause strain on the
muscles of the other four fingers and will result in a poor release.

Stance and Throw

"Right Foot Forward" Stance. To better understand the stance, examine the position of a
good player while they are aiming. Players set their eye, the dart and their target in a line.
When a player makes a throw, he must try to maintain the movement of his arm in a plane of
two dimensions. This decreases error by eliminating sideways movement of the arm.
Distribution of Your Weight. Your weight should rest chiefly on your forward foot while
your rear foot holds adequate weight to thoroughly balance your posture. Keep in mind that,
regardless of which weight distribution you use, your posture should be very firm and
unshakable. The forward foot should constantly remain on the ground or floor.

Leaning. The more you lean your body forward, the closer you are to the the board.
Conversely, the farther you lean the more physically demanding and unbalanced your throw
will become. If you bend forward excessively, it will result in back strains in the long run.
Practice and try to find your own best position for throwing.

Balance. Lifting your leg when throwing is discouraged. Always keep your feet on the floor.

Torso. Your posture must ensure that your body is kept still during a throw.

https://www.dartslive.com/enjoy/en/throw/

https://darthelp.com/articles/the-history-of-darts/#:~:text=Modern%20darts
%20was%20invented%20by,decades%20of%20the%20fourteenth%20century

https://bargames101.com/common-darts-terms/

https://www.dartbrokers.com/dart-technique/

https://www.rulesofsport.com/sports/darts.html