Doubles Practice Games: 7 Routines That Sharpen Your Finishing

The 15-Dart Warm-Up (Stephen Bunting Routine)

This is the simplest drill on the list and the one most professionals use to start a practice session. Stephen Bunting made it famous, but any serious player can benefit from it.

Throw 15 darts at Double 16. Throw 15 darts at Double 20. Throw 15 darts at the Bullseye. Count how many you hit. A solid benchmark for improving players is 50% — at least 7 or 8 out of 15. If you are hitting 10 or more, you are in good shape. If you are below 5, that double needs focused work.

The beauty of this drill is its simplicity. There is no scoring system, no penalties, no setup. You just throw and count. It is a warm-up, not a full practice. But it tells you instantly how your doubles feel on a given day. Use it at the start of every session. It takes three minutes and sets the tone.

Around the World (Clock Drill)

Around the World is a classic that forces you to hit every double on the board. Start at Double 1. Throw all three darts. If you hit it, move to Double 2. If you miss, stay until you hit it. Continue through Double 20, then finish on the bull.

Most players record their total number of darts needed to complete the circuit. If you finish in under 100 darts, you are doing well. Under 70 is excellent. Under 50 is professional level. The weakness of this drill is that it does not simulate match conditions. In a real game, you never throw three darts at Double 1. But the strength is that it removes the mental block of "I never practice this double." By the time you have gone around the board a few times, no double feels foreign.

Track your total darts each session. When you see your number dropping over weeks and months, you will have proof that your doubles are improving. For more on how to structure a full session around this drill, see our complete darts practice routines guide.

The Drop Back Drill (World Championship Method)

This drill adds real pressure. It is used by professional players to simulate the stakes of a match. You get three darts at each double, in order from 1 to 20. If you hit, you move to the next double. If you miss all three, you "drop back" — you go back to the previous double and try again.

This means one bad visit at Double 6 can send you back to Double 5, then you miss Double 5, and now you are at Double 4. It spirals. The pressure compounds. The Drop Back drill teaches you something that Around the World does not: how to recover from a miss. In a real leg, missing Double 10 means you now need Double 5. The drill forces you to stay composed and adjust, just like in a match.

Start by trying to complete the circuit from 1 to 20 without dropping back more than three times. As you improve, reduce that limit. The goal is to hit every double in order, first time, every time.

The 60 Game (+10 / -1)

This game, shared by experienced players in forums, works like a ladder for your finishing. Start at a score of 60. You must check it out in three darts. If you succeed, your target increases by 10 — go to 70. If you fail, it drops by 1 — go to 59. Then 60 again, then 71 if you hit, and so on.

The genius of this system is that it scales with your ability. Beginners bounce around the 60-70 range. Advanced players climb past 100. But no matter your level, you are always working at the edge of your ability. It also teaches you out-shot math. You cannot just throw at the same double every time. A score of 69 requires a different approach than 67. You naturally learn the best routes because the game punishes bad decisions.

If you want a simpler version, start at 60 and only go up on hits without stepping down on misses. This is less punishing but still effective for building out-shot familiarity.

Double Trouble (40-20-10-5 Sequences)

This routine focuses on the most common finishing combinations. The idea is simple: you throw at a double, and when you miss inside, you switch to the next logical target.

Start with the 40-20-10-5 sequence. You have 40 remaining. Throw at D20. If you hit the single 20, you now have 20 left — throw at D10. Miss into single 10? Now you have 10 left — throw at D5. The same applies to other sequences:

• 36-18-9 (starts at D18)

• 32-16-8-4-2 (starts at D16)

This drill trains the exact scenario that happens in a real leg. You miss your primary double, and now you need to hit whatever is left. Most players collapse here because they have only practiced throwing at D20 in isolation. They do not know how to adjust. Throw three darts at each sequence, then move to the next. Track how often you finish the sequence within three darts. Over time, your conversion rate on these common outs will climb.

Fox Hunt (Two-Player Game)

If you have a practice partner, Fox Hunt is one of the best ways to make doubles practice competitive. One player starts at Double 1 and works upward. The other starts at Double 20 and works downward. The race is on. Whoever reaches the middle first (Double 11 or Double 10, depending on your agreement) wins.

You can also play where the first person to hit all 20 doubles wins, but the race-to-the-middle version is shorter and more intense. Fox Hunt adds two things that solo drills do not: pace pressure and unpredictability. You do not know how fast your opponent will hit their doubles, so you cannot relax. And because you are moving in opposite directions, you cannot tune out. You have to stay engaged. It is also great for breaking the monotony of solo practice.

Bob's 27 (The Classic)

Bob's 27 is a staple for a reason. Start with 27 points. Throw three darts at each double from 1 through 20, then bull. Hit the double and add its value. Miss all three and subtract half the double's value. When your score hits zero, you are out.

The reason Bob's 27 works is the scoring mechanic. It adds consequence. Missing Double 1 costs you 1 point, but missing Double 16 costs you 8. The drill naturally emphasizes the doubles that matter most in scoring terms. But where most players fail is they do not track their results by double. They just play and move on. Instead, log which doubles gave you trouble. If you missed D7 three sessions in a row, that is a warning sign. Focus extra reps there next time.

For a detailed breakdown of how to track and analyze your Bob's 27 results, read our main doubles practice guide.

How to Choose the Right Drill for Your Level

Not all drills are right for every player. The interactive tool above builds a session for your level, but here is a quick reference:

• Beginners (average under 40): Start with Around the World and the 15-Dart Warm-Up. Build basic familiarity with each double. Do not worry about scoring yet.

• Intermediate (average 40-55): Add Bob's 27, the 60 Game, and Double Trouble. Focus on the most common finishing doubles: D20, D16, D10, D8.

• Advanced (average 55+): Use the Drop Back Drill and Fox Hunt. The pressure elements will simulate the stress of real competition.

Rotate your drills. If you play Bob's 27 every session for a month, you will plateau. Switch to the 60 Game for a week, then Drop Back, then Around the World. Variety forces adaptation and prevents burnout.

Structuring a Doubles Practice Session

A good doubles session should have three parts:

• Warm-up (5 minutes): 15-Dart Warm-Up. Assess how your doubles feel today.

• Main drill (15-20 minutes): Pick one or two drills from the list above. Focus on quality over quantity. 50 good attempts beat 200 sloppy ones.

• Cooldown (5 minutes): Around the World or Double Trouble. Low pressure. End on a good note.

Total: 25-30 minutes. That is enough to improve without causing fatigue or frustration. For a structured weekly plan that includes these drills, check our weekly darts workout plan.

Quick Takeaways

• The 15-Dart Warm-Up is ideal for starting every session — quick, measurable, zero setup.

• Around the World builds total board familiarity but lacks pressure simulation.

• The Drop Back Drill adds real consequence and teaches recovery from misses.

• The 60 Game (+10/-1) scales with your ability and teaches out-shot math.

• Double Trouble (40-20-10-5) trains the exact misses you will face in matches.

• Fox Hunt adds competition and pace pressure when practicing with a partner.

• Bob's 27 remains effective, but only if you track results per double.

Conclusion

Doubles are the difference between a good player and a great one. You can score like a pro, but if you cannot finish, you will not win. The good news is that doubles respond to practice faster than scoring does. A month of focused drill work can transform your checkout percentage.

Pick two or three drills from this list. Do them consistently for 30 minutes, three times a week. Track your results. Within four weeks, you will see the difference — in your numbers and in your match results.

Dartsva helps you track every drill, measure your hit rates per double, and suggest which drills to focus on next. But even without it, the drills above work. Start tonight. Throw 15 at D16. See where you stand.