The dartboard may have its origins in the cross-section of a tree. An old name for a dartboard is "butt"; the word comes from the French word but, meaning "target”. The standard numbering plan with a 20 on top was created in 1896 by Lancashire carpenter Brian Gamlin. However, a great many other configurations have been used throughout the years and in different geographical locations. Gamlin's layout was devised to penalize inaccuracy. In the standard game, the dartboard is hung so that the bullseye is 5 feet 8 inches (172.72 cm) from the floor, eye-level for a 6-foot (180 cm) person.
The line behind which the throwing player must stand is generally 7 feet 9 1⁄4 inches from the face of the dartboard measured horizontally. Another recognized way of dartboard oche dimensions is as thus... set up the dartboard on a solid wall so that the distance from the floor to the center of the bullseye is 68 inches, then measuring again from the center of the bullseye in a diagonal manner, measure 115.41 inches from the bullseye to the rear of the oche and this will ensure true and accurate all-round dimensions, provided the floor is horizontal and the walls are plumb.
Initially the missiles were simply cut down arrows or crossbow bolts. The first purpose made darts were manufactured in one piece from wood; wrapped with a strip of lead for weight and fitted with flights made from split turkey feathers. These darts were mainly imported from France and became known as French darts. Metal barrels were patented in 1906 but wood continued to be used into the 1950s. The first metal barrels were made from brass which was relatively cheap and easy to work. The wooden shafts, which were now threaded to fit the tapped barrel, were either fletched as before or designed to take a paper flight. This type of dart continued to be used into the 1970s. When the advantages of using plastic were realized, the shaft and flight became separate entities, although one piece moulded plastic shaft and flights were also available. Modern darts have four parts: The points, the barrels, the shafts and the fletching The steel points come in 2 common lengths, 32mm and 41mm and are sometimes knurled or coated to improve grip. Others are designed to retract slightly on impact to lessen the chance of bouncing out.
The standard
dartboard is divided into 20 numbered sections, scoring from 1 to 20 points, by
wires running from the small central circle to the outer circular wire.
Circular wires within the outer wire subdivide each section into single, double
and triple areas. Assuming standard scoring,
the optimal area to aim for on the dart board in order to maximize the player's
score varies significantly based on the players skill. The skilled player
should aim for the Centre of the T20 and as the player's skill reduces their
aim moves slightly up and to the left of the T20. The best place to aim jumps
to the T19. As the player's skill decreases further, the best place to aim
curls into the Centre of the board, stopping a bit lower than and to the left
of the bullseye.
There are many games
that can be played on a dartboard, but darts generally refers to a game whereby
the player throws three darts per visit to the board with the goal of reducing
a fixed score, commonly 501 or 301, to zero ("checking out"), with
the final dart landing in either the bullseye or a double segment. A game of darts
is generally contested between two players, who take turns. Each turn consists
of throwing three darts.
