Oche blog
Darts tips, guides & strategy
Practical, no-fluff guides for players who want to score better, finish more legs and set up their game the right way.
How Long Does It Take to Get Good at Darts?
How long it takes to get good at darts — realistic timelines for hitting the treble 20, raising your average, and reaching club and county standard.
GlossaryDarts Glossary: 180, Ton, Bed, Leg, Maximum Explained
A plain-English darts glossary — 180, ton, bed, leg, maximum, oche, checkout, bust and every other term explained, with links to the full guides.
BeginnerDarts for Beginners: Equipment, Setup & First Games
A complete darts-for-beginners guide — the equipment you need, how to set up your board correctly, the basic rules, and the first games to play.
GeneralThe 10 Best Darts Games to Play with Friends
Ten fun darts games to play with friends — from 501 and Cricket to Killer, Shanghai and Around the Clock — with quick rules and who each one suits.
GeneralBest Free Darts Scorer Apps: No Ads, Offline
What to look for in a free darts scorer app — no ads, full offline play, automatic checkouts, and proper stats — plus how to pick the right one for you.
GeneralHow to Keep Score in Darts: Paper vs App
How to keep score in darts the right way — the running-subtraction method, scoring on paper or a whiteboard, and why a scoring app is faster and mistake-free.
ImproveWhy You Should Track Your Weak Numbers
Most players practise their strengths and ignore their weak spots. Here's why tracking the numbers and doubles you miss is the fastest way to improve at darts.
ImproveDoubles Practice: Drills to Stop Missing the Finish
Doubles practice drills that fix the weakest part of most players' game — a focused routine to raise your checkout percentage and stop missing the finish.
ImproveHow to Throw a Dart: Grip, Stance & Release
Learn how to throw a dart properly — grip, stance, aim, throwing motion and release — with a beginner-friendly checklist for a repeatable, accurate throw.
ImproveHow to Improve Your Darts Average: Complete Guide
A complete, practical guide to improving your darts average — fix your throw, drill the treble 20, sharpen finishing, and use stats to target the weak spots.
ImproveDarts Practice Routines to Raise Your Average
Structured darts practice routines that actually raise your average — a weekly plan splitting scoring, finishing and accuracy, with reps and targets.
Improve7 Darts Practice Games You Can Play Alone
Seven solo darts practice games that build scoring, finishing and accuracy — with simple rules, scoring and what each one trains. No opponent required.
ImproveWhat Is Checkout Percentage and How to Improve It
Checkout percentage explained: how it's calculated, what counts as a good rate by level, and the practical drills that turn missed doubles into won legs.
ImproveUnderstanding Your 3-Dart Average
What a 3-dart average actually measures, how it's calculated, why it differs from points-per-dart, and how to use it to track real progress in darts.
ImproveWhat Is a Good Darts Average? By Skill Level
A clear, level-by-level guide to a good darts average — from beginner to pub, league and pro — with realistic benchmarks and how to move up a tier.
RulesX01 Explained: 301 vs 501 vs 701
What X01 means and how 301, 501 and 701 differ — starting scores, straight-in vs double-in, which format suits which player, and when to play each.
GlossaryWhat Is a Bust in Darts? Rules & How to Avoid It
A bust in darts explained — what causes it, what happens to your score, the tricky one-dart and odd-number traps, and how to stop busting in 501.
RulesDarts Scoring Explained: Doubles, Trebles & the Bull
A clear guide to darts scoring — how singles, doubles, trebles and the bullseye work, the highest possible scores, and how to add up a turn quickly.
ImproveBob's 27: The Best Doubles Practice Game in Darts
Bob's 27 rules and scoring explained — the cult doubles routine that drills every double on the board and tells you exactly how good your finishing really is.
SetupSoft Tip Darts: Rules and Differences from Steel Tip
How soft-tip darts work: the 2.44 m throwing distance, electronic scoring, dart-weight limits and every rule difference from steel-tip you need to know.
SetupSteel Tip vs Soft Tip Darts: Which Should You Choose?
Steel-tip and soft-tip darts compared: the 2.37 m vs 2.44 m throwing distance, board type, dart weight and which format is right for your home setup.
SetupHow to Hang a Dartboard at Home
A step-by-step guide to hanging a dartboard level, rattle-free and at the regulation 1.73 m height, with the oche measured to 2.37 m and the wall protected.
SetupDartboard Dimensions and Measurements
Every official dartboard measurement: the 451 mm board, 340 mm scoring area, 8 mm double and treble rings, bull sizes and the full number order — all sourced.
RulesHalve It Darts Rules: The High-Pressure Practice Game
Halve It darts rules explained — the round targets, how scores are halved when you miss, and why it's one of the best games for sharpening accuracy under pressure.
SetupWhat Is the Oche? Throwing Distance Explained
The oche is the darts throwing line. Learn what it means, the exact distance — 2.37 m for steel-tip, 2.44 m for soft-tip — and the foot-fault rule for standing at it.
SetupDartboard Height and Distance: Official Setup Guide
The official dartboard height and distance: bullseye at 1.73 m (5 ft 8 in) and an oche of 2.37 m (7 ft 9¼ in) for steel-tip — measured, sourced and explained.
RulesKiller Darts Rules: The Best Group Game
Killer darts rules explained — how players claim a number, become a killer, knock out lives, and win the ultimate multiplayer darts game for 3+ players.
CheckoutsThe Best Doubles to Aim For When Finishing
Which doubles to prioritise when finishing darts — why D20, D16, D8 and the bull win legs, and how the 'halving' chain keeps a double in play.
CheckoutsWhat Is a Nine-Dart Finish?
The nine-dart finish explained — the perfect leg of 501 in nine darts, the most common routes (T20 × 7, T20, T19, D12), and why it's so rare.
CheckoutsDouble-Out Strategy: How to Set Up Your Finish
Double-out darts strategy — how to leave the right number, plan three darts ahead, keep a bail-out double, and finish more legs under pressure.
CheckoutsThe 170 Checkout & the Highest Possible Finishes
How the 170 checkout works (T20, T20, Bull), the full list of big finishes from 170 down, and how to give yourself a real shot at the 'Big Fish'.
RulesShanghai Darts Rules: How to Play & the Instant Win
Shanghai darts rules explained — the round-by-round target game, how scoring works, and the famous Shanghai instant win that ends the game on the spot.
CheckoutsBogey Numbers in Darts and How to Avoid Them
What bogey numbers are, the full list — 159, 162, 163, 165, 166, 168, 169 — why they have no three-dart finish, and how to score around them.
CheckoutsThe Complete Darts Checkout Chart 170 → 2
A full darts checkout chart from 170 down to 2 — how to read it, which finishes to memorise first, and why a good route beats the textbook one.
RulesAround the Clock Darts: Rules & Why It's Best for Beginners
Around the Clock (Around the World) rules explained — the simplest darts game there is, and the perfect way for beginners to learn every number on the board.
RulesHow to Play Cricket Darts: Rules & Scoring
Learn Cricket darts the easy way — which numbers are in play, how to open and close them, how points work, and the strategy that wins games.
Rules501 Darts Rules Explained (with Checkouts)
The complete rules of 501 darts — starting score, straight-in scoring, the double-out finish, busts, and the checkouts every player should memorise.
BeginnerHow to Play Darts: A Complete Beginner's Guide
New to darts? Learn the board, how to throw, the rules of 501, scoring with doubles and trebles, and the fastest way to start improving today.
Checkouts5 Checkout Tips That Actually Lower Your Average
Practical finishing advice for club players — from leaving the right number to picking a route you can repeat under pressure.
Free on iOS & Android
Get the app and start tracking
Download Oche free and see your real numbers after the very first leg — no account, no ads, works offline.