Darts

Visit any bar that stresses camaraderie and fun – in addition to being a watering hole for regulars – and you will without doubt find that darts is the game of choice. Pool tables require a lot of room, more than most establishments can spare while still packing in the guests, and although pinball machines were once a staple of the bar scene, the noise generated by them is no longer as tolerated as it once was. Add to this that the average dart player tends to be a bit more on the mature side age-wise, and you will quickly understand why darts are the game of choice.

Of course, whether the barkeep offers you steel tip darts, soft tip darts or keeps hammerhead darts in his behind the bar dart container, the exciting possibility of running into an individual well versed in dart throwing is better than average. Those who like to play better darts have for decades banded together and the results were clubs, regularly meeting groups, like the Santa Barbara Dart Association, and of course groups of friends who play darts online, teach new friends how to play darts at the bar, and who might like to discuss the advantages of black widow darts over Alan Glazier darts – perhaps while offering their illegal lawn darts for sale. Yet the thing that binds all together is a common language, sometimes consisting of odd terms that a newbie will find intimidating. To this end, here is an a to z darts glossary you will find helpful the next time you visit your bar and feel brave enough to ask the bartender for some darts to join the games in progress.

When playing darts, you sometimes may also be said to be playing arrows which you are throwing at the clock – another term for dartboard. You want to hit the cork, the middle of the board, and if you can perform a hat trick by scoring three bulls eyes, you are doing great! On the other hand, if you are off the island, you have probably completely missed the clock and your arrow is sticking in the wall. Make sure you keep your feet behind the oche, generally a red or white well scuffed line on the floor, and do not worry about getting skunked or shut out – which simply means that you are the loser of the game without having scored a single point - darts is a game that requires patience, practice, and good humor.