How to Practice Doubles Without Just Throwing More Darts

Why Your Doubles Aren't Improving (and What to Do About It)

Many players practice the same way: throw at bull, then at 20s, then a few rounds of 501. Maybe you play Bob's 27 once in a while. But without tracking your results, you can't see patterns. You might think you're weak on D16 when actually D10 is costing you games.

The root cause of darts practice burnout is doing exercises without feedback. If you don't know your current checkout percentage per double, you're guessing. And guessing leads to frustration — especially when you lose league matches because your finishing collapses under pressure.

A better approach: measure your hit rates for each double, identify your worst ones, and drill those specifically. That's where tools like Dartsva come in. Dartsva analyzes every dart you throw, tracks your checkout accuracy, and generates personalized practice routines that target your weakest spots. Instead of throwing blindly at the board, you follow a plan based on real data.

The Only Doubles Drills You Need (No Extra Darts Required)

You don't need to throw 200 extra darts to improve. The best drills are short, focused, and give you clear feedback. Here are three that top players use — and how to adapt them with data tracking.

Bob’s 27: The Gold Standard for Doubles Practice

Bob’s 27 is a classic drill: start with 27 points, then aim for each double from D1 through D20 and bull. Hit the double to add its value; miss and subtract half. When you’re out. It forces you to hit doubles under pressure because one miss hurts your score.

Most players do Bob’s 27 without recording results. That’s a missed opportunity. Instead, log your hits for each double during the drill. Which ones did you fail on three times? Those are priority targets. Dartsva can automate this: it captures your attempts in the order you throw them and highlights the doubles where your hit rate drops below 20%.

Example: You play Bob’s 27 and miss D10 four times before you finally hit it. Your data shows you’re 1/5 on D10 — a 20% success rate. That’s a red flag. Your practice plan the next week includes extra reps on D10.

The 121 Darts Drill (aka the 121 Checkout Practice)

The 121 darts drill is designed to simulate checkouts. You start with 121 points and have to finish in three darts. No score reduction for misses — you just reset after each attempt. The goal is to practice common out routes (like 25-D20 or T17-D20) under realistic conditions. (View official PDC checkout chart)

Many players use this drill but throw at the same out shot over and over. That can lead to plateaus. Instead, vary your starting score to cover different finishes: 101, 112, 127, 149. Track which outs you convert most and which ones you avoid. Dartsva’s “Gauntlet assessment” does exactly this: it throws random finishes at you and scores your average checkout success across each double.

Why it works: The 121 drill forces you to think about setup and finish in real time, not just throw at a double in isolation. double in isolation. Over time, you build muscle memory for high-percentage outs.

Start from 170 – Double Out Only

This drill is brutal but effective: start at 170 and you’re only allowed to use doubles to check out — no bull finishes allowed. You must finish on D20, D10, D5, etc. Record how many darts it takes you to check out each leg. If you bust, you start over.

This drill highlights your finishing under pressure because every miss delays the win. After a few rounds, you’ll know exactly which doubles you choke on. Dartsva can track your average darts per finish and flag the doubles where your conversion rates drop significantly.

How to Turn Practice Data Into Real Improvement

Tracking your stats is step one. Step two is using that data to adjust your training. Many players collect numbers but don't act on them — they just look at their average and feel bad.

A better approach: after each session, review your checkout percentagefor the last 50 attempts. If you're hitting below 25% on D16, D8, or D4, those become your focus for the next week. Spend 10 minutes per session just throwing at those doubles using the “10-dart challenge” — try to hit 5 out of 10 on a single double. If you don't hit 5, rest and repeat.

Dartsva makes this easy by automatically categorizing your attempts and generating a weak-spot report. You see a heatmap of your doubles performance, so you know exactly where to invest your practice time. No more guessing.

Stop Practicing Burnout – Start Practicing Progress

The biggest cause of darts practice burnout is doing the same drills with no visible improvement. Once you switch to data-driven practice, every session shows you a measurable result — either your hit rate goes up, or you discover a new weakness to fix.

That feedback loop keeps you motivated. You're not just “throwing more darts”; you're systematically closing the gaps in your game.

The Role of Technology in Smarter Practice

You don't need to buy expensive scanners or cameras to gather useful data. Apps like Dartsva run on your phone or tablet and score your sessions automatically. They track what you throw, calculate your averages, and even suggest the best next drill based on your performance.

For example, Dartsva's Gauntlet assessmentruns you through a series of checkouts, then generates a skill rating for each double. If your D5 rating is “struggling” and your D20 is “solid,” the app recommends prioritizing D5 in your next session. You stop wasting time on things you're already good at.

This is the opposite of aimless practice. Every dart you throw has a purpose — and you can see the results in your average over weeks.

Building a Multi-Week Training Plan for Doubles Mastery

Spontaneous drills help, but real progress comes from a structured plan. If you're stuck at a 40 average, the culprit is almost always finishing. You're scoring well enough to win, but your checkout percentage drags your overall down. A multi-week training plan — like the Road to 50 plan fixes that by systematically targeting every double over several weeks.

Here's a simple 4-week plan you can start today. Use Dartsva to log every session and adjust based on your data.

Week 1: Baseline and Weak-Spot Identification

• Play Bob's 27 three times. Record every miss.

• Play 10 rounds of 121 (different finishes each time).

• Use Dartsva's Gauntlet assessment to get a skill rating for each double.

• End result: a list of your worst 5 doubles (e.g., D10, D13, D6).

Week 2: Heavy Reps on Weak Doubles

• 15 minutes per session just on those 5 doubles. Use the “10-dart challenge”: try to hit 5 out of 10 each.

• After that, play Bob's 27 again but start from the weakest double and skip the ones you're solid on (custom version).

• Track your hit rate improvement daily in Dartsva.

Week 3: Pressure Simulation

• Play 5 legs of 501 against a bot, but limit yourself to finishing only on your weak doubles (e.g., if you're on D8, you must aim at D8).

• Play 170 double-out drill (as described earlier) to simulate real pressure.

• Measure your checkout each session. Aim for 30%+ on your weak doubles.

Week 4: Consolidation and Testing

• Repeat Week 1 drills to measure improvement.

• You should see at least a 10-15% increase in hit rate on previously weak doubles.

• Adjust your weak list and start again.

This plan works because it's data-driven. You don't waste time on doubles you already hit consistently. Dartsva tracks your progress so you can see the curve flatten over sessions – a clear sign you're improving.

Common Doubles Practice Mistakes (and How to Fix Them)

Even with a good plan, players often fall into traps that cause darts practice burnout.

• Throwing too many darts at once.More volume doesn't mean better focus. After 50 attempts on the same double, your form drops. Keep sessions to 20-30 focused attempts per double.

• Ignoring the bull and D25.Many players neglect bull finishes under 100. In real matches, you'll face 70+ outs that need D25 or bull. Include bull in your Bob's 27 or use the “121 drill” with bull finishes.

• Not tracking fatigue. If your session data shows your hit rate drops 15% after 15 minutes, take a break. Quality practice is better than hour-long slogs.

• Avoiding pressure.Drills like Bob's 27 have built-in pressure (miss and you lose points). But you also need real-match simulations. Play against a bot or human opponent regularly to test your doubles under stress.

How to increase darts averageis not just about scoring big in the first few darts – it's about converting every chance. Tracking your checkout percentage and focusing on the worst doubles is the fastest way to raise your average from 40 to 45 or 50.

Quick Takeaways

• Stop aimless throwing. Start with data – know your hit rate per double.

• Bob's 27 and 121 are the best drills, but only if you track results.

• Use a weekly structured training plan that targets your weakest doubles first.

• Track your checkout percentage after every session. A 5% improvement can raise your average by 4-5 points.

• Avoid burnout by limiting reps and taking rest days.

• Tools like Dartsva automate tracking and generate personalized practice plans.

Frequently Asked Questions

How often should I practice doubles?

Three to four times per week, with sessions lasting 30-45 minutes. More than that leads to burnout. Quality over quantity.

What's the best app for tracking doubles performance?

Several apps exist, but Dartsva is built specifically for data-driven doubles training. It tracks your hit rates per double, suggests drills, and provides a skill rating system. Alternatives like DartCounter and MyDartTraining also offer basic stats, but they lack the predictive weak-spot analysis. DartCounter is good for scorekeeping, and MyDartTraining has a library of drills, but Dartsva gives you a personalized practice plan based on your performance.

Can I improve my doubles without playing 501?

Absolutely. In fact, focusing on isolation drills (Bob's 27, 121, 170) often yields faster improvement than playing full legs. You get 5x more attempts at doubles in the same time. Once your hit rate improves, integrate those skills into full matches.

Why am I not getting better at darts despite hours of practice?

The most common reason is lack of targeted practice. If you keep throwing at D20 but ignore D5, D10, and D13, your overall finishing will remain weak. You need to identify your bottom five doubles and hammer them until they become strengths. Dartsva's Gauntlet assessment does this automatically – it measures your performance on each double and tells you exactly where to focus.

Conclusion

Improving your doubles doesn't require throwing more darts. It requires throwing the rightdarts. When you switch from aimless practice to data-driven training, you break through plateaus and stop wasting time. You'll see your checkout percentage climb, your average rise, and your league matches become less stressful.

Start by playing Bob's 27 with a logbook or an app. Track your misses. Target your weak spots. Within a month, you'll wonder why you ever practiced any other way.