How To Get a Nine Dart Finish With Complete Rules

Darts is a game that has been enjoyed for centuries and is played all over the world. It is a game of precision and skill, requiring players to hit specific targets with accuracy. One of the most coveted achievements in the game of darts is the nine-dart finish, also known as a perfect leg. This feat involves hitting all nine targets with just nine darts, which is no easy feat. The nine-dart finish is the pinnacle of darts excellence, and it’s a goal that every dart player dream of achieving. So, if you’re a darts enthusiast looking to step up your game and reach this ultimate goal, then read on to learn how to get a nine dart finish.

What is Nine Dart Finish in Darts?

The nine-dart finish, also known as a perfect leg, is the ultimate achievement in the game of darts. It is a feat that involves hitting all nine targets with just nine darts, and it is considered the pinnacle of darts excellence.

What is Nine Dart Finish in Darts?

The nine-dart finish consists of hitting the following targets in order:

  1. Triple 20 (worth 60 points)
  2. Triple 20 (worth 60 points)
  3. Triple 20 (worth 60 points)
  4. Triple 19 (worth 57 points)
  5. Triple 19 (worth 57 points)
  6. Triple 19 (worth 57 points)
  7. Triple 18 (worth 54 points)
  8. Triple 18 (worth 54 points)
  9. Bullseye (worth 50 points)

If a player can hit all nine targets with just nine darts, they have achieved the ultimate goal of a nine-dart finish. This feat has only been achieved a handful of times in professional darts, making it a rare and highly celebrated accomplishment.

To put the difficulty of a nine-dart finish in perspective, the average score per dart in a professional match is around 100. So, hitting all nine targets in just nine darts requires an exceptional level of skill, precision, and focus.

Table of the Nine Dart Finishes in Professional Darts

Player NameDate AchievedEvent
John Lowe13 October 1984World Matchplay
Paul Lim14 October 1990World Matchplay
Shaun Greatbatch13 April 2002UK Open Qualifiers
Phil Taylor2 December 2002World Championship
Raymond van Barneveld13 January 2009Premier League
Adrian Lewis22 February 2010UK Open Qualifiers
Paul Nicholson9 October 2011Players Championship
Dean Winstanley5 January 2013BDO World Championship
Michael van Gerwen22 December 2013World Championship
Kyle Anderson15 December 2014World Championship
Terry Jenkins17 April 2015Players Championship
Adrian Lewis4 February 2016Premier League
Phil Taylor15 April 2017Players Championship
Gary Anderson12 April 2018Premier League
Michael van Gerwen14 April 2018Premier League
Michael van Gerwen23 October 2018European Championship
Jamie Hughes10 February 2019Players Championship
Nathan Aspinall16 April 2019UK Open
Michael van Gerwen7 June 2019Pro Tour
Ryan Joyce29 August 2019Players Championship
Michael van Gerwen29 October 2019European Championship
Luke Humphries29 December 2019World Championship
Gabriel Clemens6 March 2020Players Championship
Jonny Clayton9 July 2020PDC Home Tour
José de Sousa17 October 2020European Championship
Michael van Gerwen12 November 2020Players Championship
Jonny Clayton17 April 2021Premier League
Dimitri Van den Bergh26 September 2021World Grand Prix

How to Get a Nine Dart Finish in Darts

Getting a nine-dart finish in darts is the ultimate goal for any player. It requires an exceptional level of skill, precision, and focus. Here are some tips on how to achieve this rare feat:

How to Get a Nine Dart Finish in Darts

Practice:

Darts is a game that requires a lot of practice. To hit a nine-dart finish, you need to have excellent accuracy and consistency. So, practice hitting the triple 20, triple 19, and triple 18 as much as you can.

Focus on Your Rhythm:

Hitting a nine-dart finish requires a good rhythm. You need to be able to throw your darts smoothly and consistently. Try to find a throwing style that works for you and stick to it.

Stay Calm Under Pressure:

When you get to the last few darts of a leg, the pressure can be intense. It’s important to stay calm and focused, even when the pressure is on. Take your time, breathe deeply, and focus on the target.

Visualize Your Shots:

Visualization is a powerful tool in darts. Before you throw your darts, visualize hitting the targets in your mind. Visualize the dart flying through the air and hitting the target with precision.

Play in a Relaxed State:

Playing in a relaxed state is essential to hitting a nine-dart finish. When you’re tense or stressed, your accuracy can suffer. So, try to stay relaxed and enjoy the game.

Rules with a proper example for achieving a nine-dart finish

The rules for achieving a nine-dart finish in darts are simple but require a high level of skill and accuracy. Here’s an example of how the rules work:

Let’s say you’re playing a game of darts and you have 501 points to start with. You need to hit the triple 20 targets, worth 60 points, three times in a row, then hit the triple 19 targets, worth 57 points, three times in a row, followed by hitting the triple 18 targets, worth 54 points, twice in a row. Finally, you need to hit the bullseye, worth 50 points, to complete the nine-dart finish and win the leg.

So, to achieve the perfect nine-dart finish, your first three darts would need to hit the triple 20 targets. Your next three darts would need to hit the triple 19 targets, followed by your next two darts hitting the triple 18 targets. Finally, your last dart would need to hit the bullseye to complete the perfect nine-dart finish.

Achieving a nine-dart finish requires a high level of accuracy, consistency, and focus. Professional darts players practice for hours to improve their technique and perfect their aim, so don’t get discouraged if you don’t achieve a nine-dart finish right away. Keep practising, stay focused, and enjoy the game.

How Many 9 Dart Finishes Have There Been?

The number of nine-dart finishes in professional darts is constantly increasing as more players achieve this rare feat. As of my knowledge cutoff in September 2021, there have been over 150 recorded nine-dart finishes in professional darts tournaments worldwide. However, this number is likely to have increased since then.

The first recorded nine-dart finish in professional darts was achieved by John Lowe in 1984. Since then, many top-level players have added their names to the list of players who have achieved a perfect nine-dart finish, including Phil Taylor, Michael van Gerwen, and Gary Anderson.

The number of nine-dart finishes in a single tournament has also increased over the years, with some tournaments having multiple nine-dart finishes in a single event. The highest number of nine-dart finishes in a single tournament is five, achieved at the 2019 Players Championship Finals.

Despite the increasing number of nine-dart finishes, it remains a rare and impressive achievement in the sport of darts. It requires a high level of skill, precision, and focus, and is a moment of excitement for both players and fans alike.

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