The Darts Shop

1. Start from 50 and practice checking out in as few darts as possible. Every time you successfully finish add one to your score and try to check out on that. Try this with a mate to add the competitive element.
2. Take a look at the top darts players favourite finishes.
3. Play shorter games like 301, 201 or even 101 - you will find that the shorter games mean that the finsihes come around more quickly which adds to the pressure to learn your finishes.
4. Volunteer to chalk at your local pub. Nothing helps you learn to checkout as fast as watching other skilled players finish. You will quickly find that you are able to anticipate the throws that the players make.

John Lowe & Jocky Wilson at Jollees in 1982. Watch Jockys' 10 Dart Finish. With Bobby George and Peter Purves

I have been playing darts for my local in a pub league in Sheffield, England for a while & feel I am ready to broaden into better leagues. I have tried looking for info but drawn a blank. Any suggestions?

What kind of league you join really depends on the level you wish to play at. If you want to check out an up and coming league in sheffield you might want to take a look at the Mag-7 League.

I thought it must be something to do with 8ft away from the dart board but oche is 8 in spanish and italian, darts is English, so why the foreign connection?

Raymond van Barneveld and Mervyn King use ear plugs when playing darts to block out the noise of the crowd. Do you think it is a good idea? Some people say you lose some of your balance when doing this and balance is very important in darts.

I think your best bet is to try them out in some practice games. It is unlikely that they will affect your balance but you may well find them distracting to start with.