It is part of darts like the ball is part of football. The Darts Oche is essential when it comes to creating a level playing field . What do we mean by that?
The dart oche ensures that players throw darts from the same distance . Many people are familiar with a related problem at home.
There's no room for a dart oche, so I stick a strip on the floor to serve as a marker. But since you are always standing millimeters or even centimeters closer or further away from the board, a consistent throwing movement or the desired automatism becomes more difficult.
Dart Oche: what is it actually?
Darts include darts and a dartboard . A statement that you can leave alone for now - almost. Darts includes another important utensil, without which it would actually not be possible to play darts under the normal rules.
We're talking about the Darts Oche. Because the Dart Oche has the main function that the dartboard distance is the same for every player .
Anyone with a dartboard at home knows that the distance to the dartboard must always be exactly 2.37 meters . But even for many amateur players who are aware of this, sometimes only a stripe sticks to the floor.
This is often violated. It can also happen, for example, that you stand back an inch if you don't have a solid mark on the floor. A decent dart oche is therefore essential for competition .
The advantages of a Dart Oche are obvious. In plain English, it ensures a level playing field for everyone . The oche ensures that every player always throws darts from the same distance.
The Dart Oche also serves another purpose. It serves as dart floor protection . With steel darts, it is not uncommon for so-called “bouncers” to end up in the ground.
In the long run, this not only results in a floor with flaws , but also means that the blessing of the house sometimes goes wrong.
Basic information – dart distance, variants and dart floor protection
The dart distance is consistently 2.37 meters . Now there are different ways in which the Dart Oche can be designed.
So what could serve as the perfect dart oche for you? The answer always depends on the circumstances of the player on site . Not everyone has the opportunity to purchase a bulky oche. But there are alternatives and solutions for this too.
The different variants – darts carpet, dart laser oche, dart oche or dart mat?
At this point we list the different variants and explain the respective advantages and disadvantages. Basically, we differentiate between a darts carpet or a darts mat (rubber), a darts laser as an oche and the classic darts oche from the TV.
The latter is basically a darts platform that you can also lean against. But let's now come to the first option.
Option 1: Darts carpet or dart mat
For many hobby players it is a cost-effective and good alternative to the clunky dart oche - the darts carpet as an oche. The darts carpet has the advantage that it can be rolled up and stored at any time. It is also light and handy and is made of a type of rubber .
Such a rubber dart mat has the further advantage of protecting the floor . However, it can occasionally happen that with steel darts the darts pierce through the dart carpet and get stuck in the ground.
You should also keep in mind that the dart carpet with Oche, if it is not fixed, tends to slip and then has to be adjusted accordingly.
Big advantage: Normally, such a dart mat with an oche has a fixed elevation as a marking. This prevents overdoing and you can comfortably lean your foot against this bar on the darts mat.
Option 2: Darts Laser Oche
A Dart Laser Oche, on the other hand, serves a different purpose. The drop mark is thrown onto the floor by laser from underneath the dartboard.
Infobox: A major disadvantage of this is that it is still possible to step on it and there is no sufficient protection for the floor.
The advantages, however, are that nothing can be seen on the ground unless the game is being played. So there is no need to put away the carpet or remove the adhesive strip.
Simply switch on and get started . The handling provides an additional plus point, as no complicated “assembly” is necessary.
Option 3: Dart Oche as a podium
The Dart Oche is probably the most professional alternative . Just like a dart oche looks like at the PDC, for example, many hobby players also build their own little dart palace at home - as long as the necessary space is available.
In contrast to the darts mat, a solid oche made of wood or similar things offers the great advantage that the floor is completely protected .
Although a chunky oche is associated with high costs , there is still the option of building one yourself - but more on that in a moment.
The advantages definitely outweigh the costs. A massive dart oche has the following advantages:
- No slipping
- Raised drop marker required
- Provides the necessary floor protection
Build your own Dart Oche – the temporary solution
Anyone who decides they want to build an oche themselves will be helped here. Often it is not as difficult or costly as it seems at first glance. All you need is a Dart Oche DIY guide and the following materials:
- OSB panels
- Metz battens
- Needle felt
- Tool
Build your own dart oche instructions:
- The OSB panels are simply brought to the appropriate dimensions and the battens are then screwed under the OSB panels to stabilize them. Pay close attention to the dimensions of the Dart Oche yourself so that it really fits.
- Double-sided adhesive tape is then applied to the edges and the needle felt is glued on . It is important that the felt fits well on the plate and does not wrinkle. Don't forget to also glue the needle felt to the edges of the bottom. It can be attached easily and easily with a stapler .
- The oche is ready.
Tip: To save space, you should prepare the oche with hinges in the middle. This way, if the worst comes to the worst, the oche can at least be folded up and stowed away safely.
As you can see, making a dart release line yourself is not rocket science and even inexperienced craftsmen can build the oche quickly and easily .
By the way, you can find a video about it here:
What you should consider when buying a Dart Oche
In the last section we will go over what you should pay attention to before buying a Dart Oche or the alternatives. Answer the following questions beforehand:
- Does the Dart Oche protect the floor?
- Does the Dart Oche slip?
- Is the drop point elevated so I can't step over?
- What about handling?
- What will this cost me?
Each question can be answered differently. Ultimately, as already mentioned, it often depends on the local conditions as to which solution makes the most sense.
Conclusion
A dart oche is important. Not only so that you always have the right distance from the board, but also to protect the floor . If you move out of your rented apartment, this can result in immense costs if the floor is damaged by the darts.
Of course you can buy a Dart Oche , no question. But building a dart release line yourself is fun on the one hand and unique on the other. And it's so easy to build the Dart Oche yourself. Instructions are a dime a dozen and it's inexpensive too!
Ready to upgrade your darts game? Discover everything you need to know about the best dart equipment and how it can improve your accuracy:
- Drop, torpedo & cylinder: The dart barrel shapes explained in detail. Perfect your throw with the ideal dart barrel shape! Click here & find out more
- Changing and sharpening dart tips : You can find out here what is important and what you need to pay attention to. Click in now!
