Darts Checkout Strategy: A Complete Guide to Consistent Checkouts from 170 to 2

A good darts checkout strategy is more than memorising a chart. It is the process of choosing a sensible route, protecting your next dart and finishing on a double when the pressure rises. The aim is not always to find the most spectacular combination; it is to leave a number you trust and give yourself a second chance if the first dart misses.

What a checkout means in 501

In a standard 501 leg, each player starts on 501 and subtracts the value of every dart. A checkout, or finish, is the sequence that reduces the remaining score to zero legally. Under the double-out assumption used in this guide, the final dart must land in a double. The inner bull, usually called the bull or bullseye, is worth 50 and can finish a leg; it is treated as a double 25. The outer bull is worth 25 and is not the same finishing option.

Local leagues and formats can differ. Some use a different starting score, open out, straight start or a different bull rule, so confirm the rules before applying these routes. “Doubling out” simply means ending the leg with a double. Your checkout percentage is the number of successful checkouts divided by your checkout attempts, expressed as a percentage. It is useful for tracking progress, but it should be judged alongside the quality of your decisions.

How to choose a route

First ask how many darts you have available. A score above 170 cannot be finished in three darts, while 170 is the maximum three-dart checkout: T20, T20, Bull. From the 160s down through the 100s, the usual plan is to hit a treble with the first dart, use the second to create a familiar double, and keep the third for the finish. There is no universally best route because preferred doubles, confidence and the opponent’s score all matter.

Many players build around D20, D16 or D tops. These doubles are useful because a single hit often leaves another playable double: missing inside or outside does not always destroy the visit. Avoid leaving awkward odd numbers when a simple setup is available. If you have 62, for example, S10 leaves D26, which is not a conventional double; T10 leaves D16, a much cleaner finish.

Think about the first dart’s purpose. It may be a direct attempt at a treble, a setup dart that leaves your preferred double, or a recovery dart that prevents an awkward remainder. If the opponent is waiting on a finish, a bold route may be justified. If you have time, a route that leaves D16 or D20 is often more practical than one that depends on a difficult bull finish.

Checkout reference: 170 to 2

The notation is T for treble, S for single, D for double and Bull for the 50-point inner bull. Each sequence below finishes legally under double-out rules. These are standard or practical examples, not compulsory answers. For a broader visual reference, keep a darts checkout chart beside the board, but learn the logic behind each route rather than relying on memorisation alone.

The 129 example illustrates an important habit: never accept a familiar-looking sequence without adding the numbers. T19 is 57, T12 is 36 and D18 is 36, giving 129 exactly. By contrast, T19-T16-D21 would require D21, which does not exist. A route can be mathematically tempting yet unusable at the board.

For scores from 130 down to 101, common patterns include T20 followed by a treble and a double, or a treble followed by a single and a double. At 110, for instance, T20-T18-D8 works. At 105, T20-T13-D16 works. At 104, T18-T18-D16 works. At 101, T20-T9-D16 works. These examples show why the first dart should be chosen with the preferred finishing double in mind.

Two-dart finishes, setup scores and awkward numbers

When you have two darts, calculate whether the first dart can leave a double. With 52, S20 leaves D16; with 48, S16 leaves D16; with 42, S10 leaves D16. A score such as 50 can be finished directly with Bull, but S18-D16 is a sensible alternative for a player who prefers D16. The choice depends on confidence, the match situation and whether a miss at bull would leave a useful recovery.

With one dart in hand, the decision is usually about creating a good number rather than forcing a finish. From 41, S9 leaves D16. From 36, aim at D18 if that is your preferred double; from 31, S15 leaves D8. Do not throw automatically at a treble when a single can protect the next visit. The same principle applies after a miss: if your first dart at T20 lands S20, recalculate the new score instead of repeating the original plan blindly.

For example, from 76 you might aim T20-D8. If the first dart lands S20, 56 remains, so S16-D20 is a practical recovery route. If it lands T20, you have 16 and should go straight at D8. If a dart hits the wrong segment and leaves 1, the visit is effectively lost under double-out rules: you cannot finish 1 with a double. Exceeding the remaining score, or reducing it below zero, is also a bust. In a bust, the score returns to what it was before that visit; confirm the exact procedure for your league format.

Preferred doubles and pressure decisions

Choose a personal safe double through practice, not superstition. D16 is popular because a single 16 leaves D8 and a single 8 leaves D4. D20 has similar value because S20 leaves D20 again, while D10 and D8 may suit players who group their misses differently. Knowing your safe double helps you select routes quickly and stops indecision from becoming another source of pressure.

Still, do not force a favourite number when the board position makes another route clearer. A blocked treble bed, a dart lying in the target or a difficult angle can make a nearby alternative sensible. In a format such as cricket darts, scoring priorities are different; in 501, the immediate question is always whether the remaining score can be reduced to a playable double without creating a bust.

How to improve checkout percentages

Practise checkouts as decisions, not just isolated doubles. Start with common finishes such as 40, 32, 24, 16 and 8, then rehearse the 61–100 range and selected high finishes. Say the route aloud, throw the first dart, and deliberately practise recovery after a single instead of the intended treble. This makes the second decision more automatic when a match dart is not perfect.

Use darts practice routines that record attempts, successful finishes and the double used. Track the route you chose as well as the result: a miss can still represent a good decision, while a hit can conceal a risky or poorly planned choice. Review whether you protected your next dart, avoided a bust and selected a double you genuinely trust. Over time, this honest record gives you a more useful picture of your checkout percentage than occasional memorable finishes.

The strongest finish strategy is repeatable: know the score, count the darts, select a sensible target and recalculate after every dart. With practice, the chart becomes a reference rather than a crutch, and you can adapt intelligently from 170 all the way down to 2.