Aces
Ah, rolling double one in darts, also known as two aces. It’s like the dartboard’s way of saying, “Hey, remember that time you thought you were good at this game? Think again.” But here’s the fun part: in the world of card games or poker, two aces are a dream come true. In darts? Not so much. It’s the equivalent of being dealt a royal flush in poker and then realizing you’re playing Go Fish.
So, while you’re standing there staring at your two measly points, you can at least pretend you’re holding a winning hand. “Look, Ma, I’ve got two aces!” Sure, it’s not exactly a showstopper in darts, but hey, it’s all about perspective. And if nothing else, it’s a great excuse to blame the dice or the cards or whatever metaphorical universe is conspiring against you. Just remember, even two aces can’t save you from the hilarity of a bag of nails. Cheers to that!
ADO
Back in 1975, darts in the U.S. was like a scattered game of “find the bullseye”, hotspots in Philly, New York, Cleveland and beyond were buzzing but there was no national network to unite them. Enter Tom Fleetwood from Bellflower, CA, and Ed McDevitt from Philly, who decided it was time to stop tossing darts and start tossing ideas. They rallied the dart tribes for an informal meet-up during the Michigan Open in Detroit.
That meeting sparked the birth of the American Dart Organization (ADO), which launched on January 1, 1976, with 30 clubs and 7,500 players. Fast forward to today, and the ADO boasts around 250 clubs and 50,000 members. From scattered beginnings to a bullseye of unity, the ADO proved that when it comes to darts, teamwork makes the dream work!
Aim
The golden rule of your dart grip? Keep that bad boy pointing upwards at every stage of your throw. Think of it like holding a tiny sword, you wouldn’t swing it upside down, right? Whether you’re pulling back, mid-throw or following through, that dart’s nose should always be aiming for the stars (or at least triple, double or bullseye). If it’s tilting downward, you’re basically inviting gravity to mess with your game. So, keep it upright, stay sharp and let those darts fly like they’ve got a mission!
Alan Evans Shot
Three darts in the bullseye. David ‘Alan’ Evans was one of the original professional dart wizards from the ’70s and ’80s. This guy was the OG face of darts on TV, reigning as world number one by the end of the ’70s. But when 1980 rolled in, the new kids on the block, like Eric Bristow, John Lowe and Jocky Wilson, were giving him a run for his money. In 1975, he snagged the British Open title, which was the first darts event to make it on BBC. Back then, it wasn’t all about hitting 180s like it is today. In the seventies, you were a darts legend if you could hit the bullseye. Evans? He made it look as easy as pie, racking up 150 points eight times in a single match at an official tournament in Scotland, all with three bullseyes each time. The legendary BBC darts commentator, Sid Waddell, would always hope for an ‘Alan Evans Shot’ whenever a player was on 150. Talk about setting the bar high!
Angel dart
An ‘angel dart’ is when your throw completely misses the mark, but somehow still lands you a decent score. In other words, it’s like having a guardian angel perched on your shoulder, whispering, ‘Don’t worry, I gotchu, even though you clearly have no idea what you’re doing.