Score whore
A fancy term for someone who scores more points than necessary in Cricket? That’s a point hog or if you’re feeling generous, a point overachiever. They’re the type who just can’t help themselves, like ordering dessert when you’re already full, but with darts.
Scotch
Ah, yet another quirky nickname for the game of darts! This one’s especially popular in… (wait for it)… the land of creative dart enthusiasts who just can’t call it by its boring old name. Whether it’s “arrows,” “the ol’ pointy stick game,” or something even weirder, darts has more aliases than a secret agent. But no matter what you call it, the goal stays the same: hit the tiny target, avoid embarrassing yourself, and maybe, just maybe, look cool doing it.
Scroat
Picture this, you’re aiming for the triple 20, but your dart decides to make an unexpected pit stop in the double 20 instead. Oh, the frustration! In English slang, we’d call this dart a “scroat”, a term for those pesky, annoying folks who just can’t help being utterly unbearable. It’s like the dart is saying, “Sorry, mate, not today!”
Scud
A scud is when you aim for one number but end up hitting another and still score big. It’s like playing a prank on the Russians. Back in the ’80s, scuds were Russian cruise missiles sold to second- and third-world countries. These missiles were famous for their lack of precision, especially during the Gulf War when Saddam and his crew fired a ton of them at Israel and Saudi Arabia, barely hitting anything. A scud always causes some chaos, just not where it was supposed to. In darts, a scud is that rogue dart that misses its mark but still lands you a sweet score.
Seeding
Seeding is basically the darting world’s way of saying, “Here’s your VIP pass, don’t lose it.” The top dog, aka seed number 1, is always the highest-ranked player on the PDC Order of Merit, basically the darting equivalent of being the prom king. Meanwhile, the players who had to claw their way through qualifiers or smaller tournaments get stuck with the lower seed numbers, like they’re sitting at the kids’ table during Thanksgiving. At the start of a major tournament, the high seeds and low seeds face off and that’s where the magic happens. Every big event has at least one Cinderella story where a low-seed underdog knocks out a fancied favorite, leaving everyone screaming, “Did that just happen?!” It’s like darts’ version of David vs. Goliath, but with more beer and fewer slingshots.
Shaft
In addition to the ever-important barrel and flight, there’s a third crucial part of the dart that you’ll want to pay attention to, the legendary dart shaft. The shaft is like the wingman of your dart’s trajectory, forming the vital link between the barrel and the flight. It’s the unsung hero that keeps your dart flying straight and true. Just like flights, dart shaft are prone to wear and tear and come in various lengths and materials. So, go ahead and experiment with different options to find your perfect darting match. Typically, shafts are made from aluminum or plastic, but who knows? Maybe your ideal dart is just a shaft swap away.