Choosing the Right Target Segment: Why 19 Beats 20 for Consistency-Focused Players

Quick Takeaways

• 19 is more forgivingvertically and horizontally for players who miss the bull's-eye ring.

• Hit-rate data shows a 3-5% higher average when targeting 19 if your single-segment accuracy is below 70%.

• Test the switch for two weeks and compare session averages — that is the only way to know if 19 fits your throw pattern.

Why the Target Segment Matters

Every dart lands somewhere on a 20-segment wheel. The segment you aim for determines how much a miss costs you. For a player who struggles with consistency, the difference between hitting 19 or 20 can be the difference between a steady average and a volatile one.

Board Geometry in Plain Terms

• Segments are 18° wide.

• The “20” segment sits at the top, flanked by 1 on the left and 5 on the right.

• “19” sits one step clockwise, bordered by 7 (left) and 3 (right).

Because the board is slightly tilted toward the right for most right-handed players, a dart that slides off the intended line often lands in the adjacent segment on the left. That makes 19 a safer bet for many mid-level players: a miss to the left still scores 7 (a decent single), while a miss to the right lands in 3 (still better than a 1 or 5 miss from 20).

Statistics That Back Up the Choice

In A Statistician Plays Darts, Tibshirani, Price, and Taylor model each throw as a 2-dimensional Gaussian and show that aiming at the highest-scoring region is not always optimal. Using the EM algorithm on roughly 50 throws at the bullseye, they estimate a player's accuracy and build a personalized heatmap of expected payoff — bright regions mark where you should aim. For moderate accuracy, treble 19 can beat treble 20; for very tight grouping, treble 20 wins again.

Applied to mid-level players, the pattern looks like this:

The extra 0.2 points per dart adds up quickly over a 501 leg. If you throw 60 darts, that's an extra 12 points — often the margin between a win and a loss.

How to Calculate Your Personal Optimal Target

• Collect a throw map. Record where each dart lands for at least 200 throws.

• Group hits by segment. Count singles, doubles, trebles, and bull hits.

• Compute accuracy per segment. Accuracy = (hits in segment) ÷ (total darts).

• Apply the forgiveness factor. Multiply each segment's accuracy by the average points you'd score if you missed to the left or right.

• Pick the highest score. The segment with the highest adjusted score is your optimal target.

You can run this on paper or in a spreadsheet. The important part is committing to one target long enough to measure the result — not switching back after a bad visit.

Using Dartsva to Test Your Target Choice

Dartsva does not auto-pick a scoring segment for you. What it does well is make the test easy to run: log every dart with the numpad, keep session history, and compare averages after you switch targets.

• Pick 19 or 20 using the geometry and accuracy rules above, then stick with it for at least two weeks.

• Log scoring sessions with games like One-Dart 20 or Fat 20. Every dart is entered on the numpad — no electronic board required.

• Review your session averages on the dashboard and Activities page to see whether the switch raised your scoring average.

• Follow a structured plan — such as the Road to 50 plan or weekly darts workout — so target practice happens on a schedule, not only when you feel like it.

If you are comparing training apps, see how Dartsva stacks up against DartConnect and DartCounter.

Real-World Examples

Example 1: The "45-Average" Player

• Baseline: 45 average, 65% accuracy in the 20 segment.

• Result with 20: 3.2 points per dart, 12-point deficit over a leg.

• Result with 19: 3.5 points per dart, 15-point gain over the same leg.

• After switching to 19 for two weeks, the player's average rose to 48 — a typical gain inside the 40 → 50 average plan.

Example 2: The "70-Average" Player

• Baseline: 70 average, 78% accuracy in the 20 segment.

• Result with 20: 4.1 points per dart, minimal miss penalty.

• Result with 19: 4.0 points per dart, slightly lower because the player already hits 20 reliably.

For higher-skill players, the advantage flips. The data shows a crossover point around 68-70 average, where 20 becomes the better target. Players still climbing through the 30 → 40 average plan or 40 → 50 average plan bands are usually the ones who benefit from testing 19. Once you are training on the 50 → 60 average plan, treble 20 is typically the smarter default.

When to Stick With 20

• Your single-segment accuracy in 20 is above 75%.

• You consistently hit trebles in 20 (at least 30% of attempts).

• Your miss pattern leans toward the right side of the board (landing in 1 or 5).

If those conditions hold, keep training on 20. The Road to 50 plan is built around treble-20 scoring volume for players at that level.

Integrating Target Selection Into Your Practice Routine

• Warm-up (10 min). Throw 30 darts at your chosen target and log the session in Dartsva.

• Review (5 min). Check your last few session averages in Activities. Is 19 outperforming 20, or the other way around?

• Focused drills (20 min). Run One-Dart 20 or Fat 20 at your chosen segment. The weekly darts workout plan builds these into a repeatable schedule.

• Cool-down (5 min). Throw a mix of numbers to keep muscle memory fluid.

Repeat this cycle three times a week. Within a month, most players see a 2-3% lift in their average.

FAQ

What about left-handed players?

The miss-pattern logic flips for many left-handed throwers — a dart that slides off line may land on the right adjacent segment instead of the left. In practice, 17 is often worth testing alongside 19 if your misses tend to fall toward 3 and 7 rather than 1 and 5. Use the same two-week comparison: pick a target, log sessions, and read your averages.

Can I use Dartsva without a digital board?

Yes. Dartsva is built for manual score entry on a steel-tip or soft-tip board. Tap singles, doubles, and trebles on the numpad after each dart — the same workflow you would use at the oche.

Should treble hit rate affect my target choice?

Yes. The forgiveness math above matters most when you miss into adjacent singles. If you already hit treble 20 reliably, the case for switching weakens — that is why the crossover sits around a 68-70 average. When comparing sessions in Dartsva, look at scoring average first; treble count is a secondary signal.

What does it cost?

No free trial needed — start with the Weekly plan for just $2.99 and get full access to premium training plans and session analytics right away. Cancel anytime with no long-term commitment.

Conclusion

Choosing the right target segment is a simple yet powerful way to boost consistency. For most mid-level players, aiming at 19 reduces the penalty of a miss and raises the average score per dart. As accuracy climbs above the mid-70% range, the advantage flips back to 20.

No app can tell you the perfect segment without your own throw data — but logging two weeks of 19-only and 20-only sessions will. Dartsva makes that comparison straightforward: numpad entry, session history, and training plans that keep you on target long enough to see a real difference.