Double

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The double ring is the thin outer band on every numbered segment of the dartboard, and it's arguably the most important area in all of darts. Why? Because in standard 301 and 501, you must hit a double to finish a leg. No double, no win. You could average 100 per visit, but if you can't hit doubles, you can't close out legs. The double ring is physically small — about 8mm wide on a standard board. That's roughly the width of a pencil. Hitting it consistently from 7 feet 9 inches away is a remarkable feat of precision. Professional players hit their target double roughly 40-45% of the time, which means even the best in the world miss more often than they hit. Each double has its own character. D20 (tops, or "Teemu" in Finnish) is the most popular finishing double — it's at the top of the board and psychologically feels natural. D16 is loved by many pros because the "cover" is excellent: miss inside to S16, and you're on D8. Miss D8 inside to S8, and you're on D4. Miss D4 inside, and you're on D2. It's a self-correcting sequence. Practicing doubles is the fastest way to improve your darts. Many club players spend most of their practice on the 20 segment for scoring, but checkout accuracy wins more legs than high scoring. A simple drill: start on D20 and work your way around the board, moving to the next double only after you've hit the current one. Time yourself and track improvement.