Check Out Dart explained: All paths including table

In darts the golden saying applies: Triple is funny, but double makes money .

How true this saying is, especially among professionals, is shown week after week in the big tournaments where a lot of prize money is at stake. The dart checkouts – often referred to as finishes – are therefore an essential part of the tactics in the game of every professional.

You see again and again that professionals use the same dart checkout methods to end a leg. In this blog post we explain why this is the case and which dart checkout methods are particularly popular with professionals.

What are checkout methods?

All numbers in the classic dart game 501 Double Out are known as checkout paths and can be brought to zero with three arrows. As soon as this possibility of high finish darts exists, we talk about it Darts jargon from a checkout. As a synonym, there is often talk of a finish that a player leaves behind. A short example that is perfect for clarification.

The highest checkout in darts is exactly 170 points (T20, T20, Bull). The 169, although it is lower, cannot be “checked out” – or brought to zero – by any combination of three fields on the dartboard with a final throw for a double. Down from 170 there are exactly seven of these numbers that cannot be played with three arrows to zero. We're talking about a bogey number here.

Especially for beginners, it is recommended not only to train the dart throwing technique , but also to hang a so-called dart checkout table next to the dartboard at the beginning. All sensible routes for every checkout below 170 are written down here.

In practice, all darts checkout methods can be learned and remembered quite quickly. In just a few weeks you can memorize the darts points table , you will see. We have already published a dart checkout table ourselves and it can easily be printed out. You can also create a darts tournament plan right away so that you always have everything in view.

At what point does a professional start to do the math to face a particular dart checkout?

The leg starts at 501 and is played down to zero - at least that's how it is in the PDC in professional darts. Especially when there is a lot of money at stake, it is important to keep every option open to end a leg. Therefore, the question arises for many players:

At what point do the professionals even start calculating in order to be able to set a finish? The magic limit is 350 . With 350 points remaining, players try to get themselves into the best possible starting position to end a leg.

Why the 350? The answer is simple: If you throw the highest possible shot with 350 points remaining and score 180 points, you will end up with the highest possible checkout at 170. So you keep the option open of ending the game with a 170 finish in the best case scenario. Admittedly, this is relatively unlikely even for professionals, but the following applies: If you don't have the opportunity in the first place, you have no chance of finishing a leg. If you position yourself in such a way that it is mathematically possible to check, your chances increase significantly. Simple probability calculation.

Tact with checkout methods – keep one option open

Darts is also tactics. It is not uncommon for players to find themselves so stuck in the tunnel that they don't do the math and suddenly end up with a bogey number - one of the seven numbers under 170 that cannot be checked.

Therefore, as already mentioned in the previous chapter, it is particularly important to start calculating early . But that's not all. Because aiming in darts is also important. This is the only way you have your finish in your own hands and can defeat your opponents.

Professional players aim to use exactly the same checkout paths as often as possible to achieve a finish. This also means that as a player you should set yourself a checkout dart, where it is also possible, for example, to end the leg with just one hit in the triple field. Here is also an example of what exactly we mean:

• With 130 points remaining, the player still has the opportunity to end the leg with just one triple hit (20, T20, Bull).
• Even if the optimal path would be T20, T20, D5, the player still has the option of being able to check if he only hits the simple 20 with the first arrow.
• From 131 points onwards, this advantage no longer applies (with the exception of 132).
• With 131 points, it is already necessary to hit two triple fields in order to end a leg. Therefore, 130 is also a popular limit that you should always keep in mind when it comes to checking out your chances one leg.

Attention: That's why it's important that you internalize the checkout table darts and can recite them in your sleep. This is the only way you know exactly how to get to your finish quickly.

Which dart checkouts do the professionals face most often – an overview

Below we will take a closer look at a few dart checkouts and explain why professionals leave the bogey number darts over and over again. So no dart questions remain unanswered.

• 170 : As the highest finish, it always makes sense to aim for 170 instead of leaving yourself with a bogey number.
• 164 : 164 is so popular because, like 170, it is possible to end a leg with two hits in the same triple field and the bullseye. For comparison: 167 is considered a much more difficult finish to play as the player has to switch from T20 to T19.
• 150 : The 150 can be played in many different ways, which is why it is also considered a popular checkout. Whether completely via the bullseye, via the T20 or via the T19. The number 150 can be played variably.
• 132 : The 132 has a very special charm. Ultimately it can be checked without any triples. Two bulls and the D16 at the end bring 132 points to 0. Even if the first arrow lands in the single bull, there is the possibility of checking via T19 and bullseye.
• 124 : The 124 is listed here as a placeholder for a whole range of finishes (121-130). These numbers are so popular because it is possible to check them with a triple. Using 124 as an example, it looks like this: The preferred path could look like this – T20, T14, D11. If the first dart misses, the path changes to 20, T18, Bull. If the second dart misses the target, the path is again called T20, 14, Bull.
• 64 : The 64 is so popular because it can be checked using the numbers 8 and 16, which are known to be next to each other on the board. Be it 16, 16, D16 or 16, 8, D20. A very popular finish for beginners as it forgives a missed throw into the neighboring field.

Why do dart players often face the same checkout paths?

This is about routine. Dart players try to acquire a routine that makes it much easier to play certain ways over and over again. Ultimately it's about safety and trust in your own game.

It's not for nothing that many professionals have a favorite double and try to set higher dart checkouts so that they can bring them to zero by throwing on the favorite double field.

While James Wade and Michael Smith favor the D10, Mensur Suljovic prefers to play the D14. Phil Taylor, on the other hand, never let himself be dissuaded from the D16

Learn the best techniques and proven tips that will make you a darts champion. Click in now and start your journey to perfection on the dartboard !

• Do you finally want to start playing darts? Then take a look here at how you have to hang the dartboard so that everything complies with the rules.
• Warm up like a pro before darts: You can only find tried-and-tested tips and exercises here. Click in now and warm up!
• The art of tournament planning : Find out in our guide how to set up professional darts tournaments. Including tips from a professional!
• Dart counter : We'll tell you which dart calculator is best. Scoreboard, calculator & app in the showdown. Click in now and find out more!

Conclusion

Even if you're a complete newbie to darts, you'll quickly find out which dart checkout methods suit you best when finishing . Of course, training is the be-all and end-all here in order to hit the numbers the way you imagine. You can remember the different checkouts at the beginning and always do the math when you're throwing.

In this way, you not only train your ability to hit what you want, but also your mental arithmetic . This is particularly important in darts in order to make a checkout in just a few throws . If you always count, you will quickly know which finish you have to do and you will have your game in your own hands.

To start with, it of course makes sense to hang the table with the important checkouts next to the board so that you always have an overview of the possible finishes. You will see that in a few weeks these will become second nature to you.

And here is the table for you to print out:

Points	1. Darts	2. Darts	3. Darts	Points	1. Darts	2. Darts	3. Darts
170	T20	T20	DB	99	T19	S10	D16
167	T20	T19	DB		T19	S6	D18
164	T20	T18	DB	98	T20	D19	-
	T19	T19	DB	97	T19	D20	-
161	T20	T17	DB	96	T20	D18	-
160	T20	T20	D20	95	T19	D19	-
158	T20	T20	D19		SB	T20	D5
157	T20	T19	D20	94	T18	D20	-
156	T20	T20	D18		SB	T19	D6
155	T20	T19	D19	93	T19	D18	-
154	T20	T18	D20		SB	T18	D7
153	T20	T19	D18	92	T20	D16	-
152	T20	T20	D16		SB	T17	D8
151	T20	T17	D20	91	T17	D20	-
	T19	T18	D20		SB	T16	D9
150	T20	T18	D18	90	T20	D15	-
	T19	T19	D18		T18	D18	-
149	T20	T19	D16	89	T19	D16	-
148	T20	T20	D14	88	T20	D14	-
	T19	T17	D20	87	T17	D18	-
147	T20	T17	D18	86	T18	D16	-
	T19	T18	D18	85	T15	D20	-
146	T20	T18	D16		T19	D14	-
	T19	T19	D16	84	T20	D12	-
145	T20	T19	D14	83	T17	D16	-
144	T20	T20	D12	82	DB	D16	-
143	T20	T17	D16		T14	D20	-
	T19	T18	D16		SB	S17	D20
142	T20	T14	D20	81	T19	D12	-
	T19	T19	D14		T15	D18	-
141	T20	T19	D12	80	T20	D10	-
140	T20	T20	D10		D20	D20	-
139	T20	T13	D20	79	T19	D11	-
	T20	T19	D11		T13	D20	-
138	T20	T18	D12	78	T18	D12	-
	T19	T19	D12	77	T19	D10	-
137	T20	T19	D10	76	T20	D8	-
136	T20	T20	D8		T16	D14	-
135	T20	T17	D12	75	T17	D12	-
	SB	T20	DB	74	T14	D16	-
134	T20	T16	D13	73	T19	D8	-
133	T20	T19	D8	72	T16	D12	-
132	T20	T16	D12		T20	D6	-
	SB	T19	DB	71	T13	D16	-
131	T19	T14	D16	70	T18	D8	-
	T20	T13	D16		T20	D5	-
130	T20	T20	D5	69	T19	D6	-
129	T19	T16	D12		T19	D6	-
	T20	T19	D6	68	T16	D10	-
128	T18	T14	D16		T20	D4	-
	T20	T18	D7		T18	D7	-
127	T20	T17	D8	67	T9	D20	-
126	T19	T19	D6		T17	D8	-
125	T18	T19	D7	66	T10	D18	-
	T20	T15	D10		T16	D9	-
124	T20	T14	D11		T18	D6	-
123	T19	T16	D9	65	T11	D16	-
122	T18	T18	D7		T19	D4	-
121	T20	T11	D14		T15	D10	-
	T17	T20	D5	64	T16	D8	-
120	T20	20	D20		T14	D11	-
119	T19	T12	D13	63	T13	D12	-
118	T20	18	D20		T17	D6	-
117	T19	20	D20		T13	D12	-
	T20	S17	D20	62	T10	D16	-
116	T19	19	D20		T12	D13	-
	T20	S16	D20	61	T15	D8	-
115	T20	15	D20		T7	D20	-
	T19	S18	D20		T11	D14	-
114	T19	17	D20	60	S20	D20	-
	T20	S14	D20	59	S19	D20	-
113	T19	16	D20	58	S18	D20	-
112	T20	T12	D8	57	S17	D20	-
111	T19	14	D20	56	T16	D4	-
	T20	S11	D20	55	S15	D20	-
110	T20	T10	D10	54	S14	D20	-
	T20	DB		53	S13	D20	-
109	T20	9	D20	52	S12	D20	-
108	T20	16	D16		D20	D16	-
	T20	S8	D20	51	S11	D20	-
107	T19	T10	D10		S19	D16	-
	T19	DB	-	50	S10	D20	-
106	T20	T10	D8		S18	D16	-
105	T20	13	D16	49	S9	D20	-
104	T19	15	D16		S17	D16	-
	T18	DB	-	48	S16	D16	-
103	T19	S10	D18		S8	D20	-
	T19	S6	D20	47	S7	D20	-
102	T20	S10	D16		S15	D16	-
	T20	S6	D18	46	S6	D20	-
101	T20	9	D16		S10	D18	-
	T17	DB	-	45	S13	D16	-
100	T20	D20	-		S19	D13	-
				44	S12	D16	-
Abbreviations:					S4	D20	-
				43	S3	D20	-
"T" for triple					S11	D16	-
				42	S10	D16	-
"D" for double					S6	D18	-
				41	S9	D16	-
"SB" for single bull				40	D20	-	-
"DB" for Double Bull (Bull's Eye)

Learn the best techniques and proven tips that will make you a darts champion. Click in now and start your journey to perfection on the dartboard!

• Warm up before darts like a professional: You can only find tried-and-tested tips and exercises here with us. Click in now and warm up!
• The art of Tournament planning : Find out in our guide how to set up professional dart tournaments. Including tips from a professional!
• Dart counter : We'll tell you which dart calculator is best. Scoreboard, calculator & app in the showdown. Click in now and find out more!