There I was, on a thrilling Thursday night, glued to the TV like a kid watching cartoons, except it was a Premier League Darts night and the top 8 players were throwing like they had laser-guided darts. But then I noticed, Jonny Clayton, the Ferret himself, steps up to the oche. The pressure is on and Jonny’s face is the picture of focus. He takes aim and here’s where it gets funny, he looks like he’s staring below the bullseye, like he’s trying to hypnotize the floor. I’m on my couch yelling, “Jonny, mate, the target’s up there!” But before I can finish my sentence, he casually throws a triple 20, like it’s nothing. Meanwhile, I’m sitting there with my nachos, wondering if my aim is so bad because I’m holding the dart wrong or because my dog keeps judging me from the couch.

While watching some more of these pros, I started overanalyzing everything: How are they aiming? Can I absorb their skills through the screen like some kind of dart-throwing sponge? Let’s try and turn those wild throws into triples or at least stop taking out the dog’s water bowl. Aiming does need some skill and luck and don’t overthink it. Whether you’re aiming like Jonny or throwing like a drunk giraffe, just remember, even the pros have their “What was that?” moments. Now grab your darts, aim high and let’s start to fine-tune. 

Aim with a mission, yes sir, yes!

While there are many factors to consider, the most important one is figuring out which direction to throw the dang thing. Aiming darts is like trying to thread a needle while riding a rollercoaster, it’s tricky, but not impossible. Let’s dive into the techniques to help you aim darts like a pro. Stick around and you’ll learn how to throw darts without accidentally launching one into the nachos.

First let’s start with finding your dominant eye, it’s like the CEO (the big boss) of your dart-throwing operation. To find it, try (one or all of) these foolproof tests. First the pointing test, so point with one finger at something. Close one eye. If your finger magically moves away from the target, the closed eye is your dominant one. Or the triangle test, make a triangle with your hands and look through it at the dartboard. Close one eye. If the board disappears, you’re using the wrong eye. (If the board disappears with both eyes open, you might need glasses.) And last try, if you’re still doubting, the dart throwing test. Throw three darts with one eye closed. If you miss wildly, congratulations, you’ve found your non-dominant eye. 

So you found your dominant eye? Then remember, your stance is everything. If you’re wobbling like a penguin on roller skates, you’re doing it wrong. Keep your body straight. Put your dominant foot forward, but don’t do the splits. Lift your back foot slightly. Don’t lean too far. Grab your dart, because how you hold the dart is crucial. Too tight and you’ll throw it into the wall. Too loose and it’ll flop out of your hand like a sad fish. Most players use the three-finger grip, using your thumb, index and middle finger. Pretend you’re holding a tiny bag of chips you don’t want to crush. Relax, chill (without the Netflix).

Now focus again, focus on your sight line, an imaginary line from your eye to the target. Think of it as your dart’s GPS. Use a marker or the tip of the dart to align your shot. Focus on the target, not your thumb knuckle. Let’s put this into practice, grab your first dart (yes, the pointy one) and lift it up to your eye level. If you’re right-handed, use your right eye. If you’re left-handed, use your left eye. If you’re ambidextrous, just pick an eye and stick with it, this isn’t a choose-your-own-adventure book.

Now hold the dart to the side of your eye, like you’re about to launch a tiny spear into the heart of your enemies (or, you know, the dartboard). Make sure your elbow is pointing at the board. Your shoulder, elbow and hand should form a perfect 90-degree angle. Think of it as your body’s way of saying, “I mean business.” Your elbow is here the most valuable point of your dart-throwing arm. If it starts wobbling around like a jellyfish, you’re in trouble. Your elbow should stay level, if it moves up or down, your dart will probably end up in the wall. Or Michael’s foot. Again. Think of your arm as a catapult. Your upper arm is the base and your forearm is the flingy part. Keep the movement smooth and controlled. If your elbow starts flailing sideways, you’re not throwing a dart, you’re conducting an orchestra. And not a good one. Minimal movement equals maximum accuracy. The less your elbow moves, the better your throw.

Then a wild concept, look at the target and not the dart. I know, shocking, right? But your dominant eye should be locked onto the bullseye (or whatever number you’re aiming for). The dart is just the delivery system, like a delivery guy, but way less likely to show up late. Oooooonnneeee huuuuuuuudred an’ eightyyyyyy, sorry, science struck me, a shocking and revealing news fact. Darts don’t fly straight, they curve or they should. So, tilt the tip of your dart slightly upward. If you do aim parallel to the ground, your dart will end up in the floor. Focus on the target like it’s the last slice of pizza.

After you release the dart, keep your arm and hand moving toward the target like you’re waving at your future self who just hit a 9-darter. This smooth follow-through isn’t just for show, it’s the secret sauce to keeping your dart flying straight and not veering off like it’s avoiding responsibility. A strong follow-through is your best shot at nailing that triple 20 and looking like a darting rockstar. So remember, throw, follow through and pretend you meant to do that all along.

Final aim, no faim, but fame!

Let’s face it, aiming isn’t easy, but you can go from “pathetic” to “passable” in no time. Aim like a sniper, keep your elbow in check and for the love of all things holy, stop looking at the dart. Now go forth and conquer that dartboard like the champion you were always meant to be. (Or at least stop hitting the wall, baby steps.)

So, what are you waiting for? Grab your darts, practice these techniques and prepare to dominate the next pub night.

Darts fever, because why not practice more, aim higher and laugh louder!

Phil Taylor, The Power: “I can sit down and watch the Discovery channel and see something on nuclear submarines that gets me thinking about torpedoes and darts . Or I can see a documentary about someone preparing for a big challenge and I’ll use the same techniques. You always need to aim to get better.”