Rules and Scoring

How a professional leg of darts works, from the first throw to the finishing double. If you are watching a PDC event for the first time, this is the page that will make the next two hours make sense.

Beginner level Covers 501 format Verified 15 April 2026

The dartboard

A standard dartboard is divided into 20 numbered segments arranged in a specific order (not sequential). The board hangs at a height of 5ft 8in (1.73m) to the centre bullseye.

Single: The large coloured area of each number. Scores the face value (e.g. single 20 = 20).
Double: The thin outer ring. Scores twice the face value (double 20 = 40). Required to finish a leg.
Treble: The thin inner ring, halfway up the segment. Scores three times the face value (treble 20 = 60). This is the highest-scoring zone per dart.
Outer bull: The green ring around the centre. Scores 25.
Inner bull (bullseye): The red centre circle. Scores 50. Counts as a double for finishing purposes.
Maximum single dart: Treble 20 = 60 points. The maximum three-dart visit is therefore T20 + T20 + T20 = 180.

501: the standard game

Professional darts is played as 501 (five-oh-one). Each player starts with a score of 501 and subtracts each throw until they reach exactly zero. The first player to reach zero wins the leg.

Starting: In most PDC events the start is "straight" - any scoring dart counts. No need to hit a double first.
Scoring: Players alternate visits of three darts each. After three darts, the total scored is subtracted from the remaining score.
Finishing: The final dart must land in a double (or the bullseye). This is called "checking out" or "finishing".
Bust: If a player's score goes below zero, or reaches exactly 1 (impossible to finish on a double), or reaches zero without the final dart being a double, the visit is "bust" and the score resets to what it was before the visit.

Example leg

Visit	Darts thrown	Score this visit	Remaining
1	T20 - T20 - T20	180	321
2	T20 - T20 - T20	180	141
3	T20 - T19 - D12	141	0 ✓

This is a nine-dart finish - the lowest possible number of darts to win a 501 leg. In practice, most professional legs last between 12 and 18 darts.

The oche

Distance: 7ft 9.25in (2.37m) from the face of the dartboard to the front of the oche (throwing line).
Rule: A player's foot must not cross the front edge of the oche during the throw. Either foot may be behind the line.
Pronunciation: "Ockey" - rhymes with hockey.

Other rules

Bounce-outs: A dart that bounces off the board or falls out scores zero. It cannot be re-thrown.
Time limit: No formal shot clock in PDC events as of 2025, but excessive delays can draw warnings from the referee.
Equipment: Players may use any legal dart up to a maximum weight of 50g and a maximum barrel length of 300mm. In practice, most professionals use darts between 20g and 26g.
Legs and sets: A "leg" is one game to zero. A "set" is a collection of legs (typically first to 3). See the Formats Guide for how these are combined at each tournament.