Tops

Learn More

"Tops" is the casual, affectionate name for double 20 — the most famous double in darts. Located at the very top of the board, D20 scores 40 points and is the go-to finishing double for countless players worldwide. "He needs tops" is one of the most commonly heard phrases in darts commentary. The name "tops" is wonderfully straightforward — D20 is literally at the top of the board. In Finnish darts culture, D20 has earned the nickname "Teemu," which adds a uniquely Finnish character to the game. Why is tops so popular for finishing? Several reasons. First, it's close to the treble 20 where you've been scoring all leg, so you're already familiar with that area of the board. Second, 40 is a common checkout number — many standard checkout routes end on D20. Third, the miss pattern is forgiving: hitting single 20 leaves you on 20 (D10), which is still a clean finish. Hitting single 1 or single 5 (adjacent numbers) leaves less ideal but still manageable positions. In professional darts statistics, D20 is the most-attempted double and usually has one of the highest hit rates, partly because players practice it the most and partly because its position at the top of the board suits many throwing styles. However, some coaching philosophies argue that over-reliance on tops can be limiting. Players who only feel comfortable finishing on D20 end up routing checkouts awkwardly to arrive at 40. Being equally comfortable on D16, D10, and D8 gives you more flexible checkout options and is worth developing.