Darts Practice Drills NZ: Advanced Routines for Intermediates

Summary (What’s Included in This Article)

If you’re an intermediate player who can already hit 20s fairly often but still sprays darts under pressure, this is for you. These darts practice drills and routines are built to level up your scoring, doubles, checkouts, and consistency without wasting hours throwing “random” darts.

Intended audience: Intermediate to competitive players, plus beginners who want to train properly from day one.

What you’ll get:

• A simple warm-up that actually works

• Advanced scoring drills (501-style pressure training)

• Doubles and checkout drills to sharpen match finishing

• Cricket routines that improve control, not just chaos

• A weekly plan you can repeat and track

Key Takeaways

• Train with purpose, not vibes. Every drill should have a goal and a way to score it.

• Doubles win games. If you’re serious, you need dedicated doubles practice darts time.

• Short sessions done well beat long sessions done lazy.

• Gear matters when you’re improving. Consistent darts, flights, and points remove variables so you can actually track progress.

Introduction

Let’s be honest: most darts players “practice” by throwing at treble 20 until they get bored, then calling it training. And hey, we’ve all been there.

But if you’re sitting in that awkward middle stage, you’re not a beginner anymore, but you’re not consistently shutting down legs either, you need practice that creates results.

This guide is built specifically for intermediate players in NZ who want advanced routines that feel like real match pressure. You’ll get a mix of darts accuracy drills, darts aim training, 501 practice routines, and checkout practice (finishing practice) that actually translate to better darts when it matters.

Why Most Intermediate Players Plateau

Intermediate players usually hit a wall for one reason: they train their strengths and ignore their weaknesses.

Here’s what that looks like:

• You smash 100+ scores… then miss doubles for days

• You look sharp in warm-up… then fall apart under pressure

• You’re “good” at treble 20… but struggle to switch targets cleanly

• You can checkout sometimes… but not when it counts

The fix is simple: build drills that force discipline and decision-making. If you want an extra deep dive into setting up your darts gear correctly (weight, grip, flights, stems), check out our shop for darts and accessories here:https://www.bullseyedarts.co.nz/shop

Darts Warm-Up Routine (5–7 Minutes Max)

Before we get fancy, let’s get your arm and eyes online. This warm-up is quick and keeps you honest.

Warm-up drill: “Round the Big Singles”

1. Start on 20, then 19, 18… down to 1

2. Hit one big single on each number before moving on

3. Miss? No drama. Just reset and throw again until you hit it.

Why it works: It’s a clean mix of darts aim training and controlled movement across the board, instead of mindlessly peppering one target. Optional add-on: finish on 25 and bull (one hit each).

Darts Accuracy Drills That Build Real Scoring Power

Accuracy isn’t just hitting treble 20. It’s repeating your throw under pressure and controlling misses.

1) “Treble Ladder” Scoring Drill

This one is gold for intermediate players.

How it works

• You have 30 darts total (10 rounds of 3 darts)

• Your target is T20

• Score 5 points for T20, 1 point for S20, 0 for anything else

Goal: 60+ points

Advanced goal: 75+

Why it works: You’re training grouping, not just lucky hits.

2) “Switching Drill” (T20 to T19)

This is where good players become dangerous.

How it works

• Throw 3 darts at T20

• Next visit, throw 3 darts at T19

• Alternate for 10 visits

Track it

• Count total trebles hit

• Count “clean switches” where your first dart lands in the right segment

This drill tightens up your rhythm and builds your ability to change targets mid-leg.

501 Practice Routines: Train Like You’re Playing a Match

If you want your practice to feel like a game, use 501 structure.

3) “501 Ghost Leg” Drill

You vs the imaginary opponent. No excuses.

How it works

• Start on 501

• Your goal is to finish in 18 darts or fewer

• If you don’t finish, the “ghost” wins

Intermediate targets

• Week 1: Finish in 24 darts

• Week 2: Finish in 21 darts

• Week 3+: Push toward 18 darts

This is proper darts consistency training, because it forces scoring and finishing together. If you want to learn more about practice time and how many sessions per week helps most players improve, this breakdown is a great reference: https://www.godartspro.com/how-much-should-you-practice-at-darts/

Doubles Practice Darts: Where Games Are Won

You can average 70 and still lose if you can’t hit doubles when you’re in. Here are two drills that fix that fast.

4) “Doubles Around the World”

How it works

• Start at D1, then D2… up to D20

• Hit each double once to progress

• Miss 3 visits in a row? Go back one double.

Why it works:It builds confidence on the doubles you hate and stops you avoiding them.

5) “Pressure Doubles” Drill

This one teaches you to close legs when you’re tired.

How it works: Pick one double (like D16 or D20).

• You must hit it 5 times total

• BUT every miss counts as one strike

• If you reach 10 strikes, the drill restarts

This is the closest thing to “match nerves” in a solo practice session.

Checkout Practice (Finishing Darts Practice Drillsce) That Improves Fast

A lot of players practice checkouts like this: “I’ll just throw at bull for a while.” Not bad, but not targeted.

6) “Checkout Routes Drill (61–100 Range)”

This drill is built for intermediate players who want clean finishing habits.

How it works: Work through these numbers and finish each one before moving on:

• 61, 62, 63, 64, 65

• 70, 71, 72, 73, 74

• 80, 81, 82, 83, 84

• 90, 91, 92, 93, 94

• 100

Rule: You get 9 darts max per number.If you don’t finish, put a mark next to it and repeat that number tomorrow. For official checkout tables and standard routes, you can reference the PDC (Professional Darts Corporation):https://www.pdc.tv/

Cricket Practice Drills for Better Board Control

Cricket isn’t just about smashing 20s. It’s about controlling the board and locking down scoring options.

7) “Cricket Control Drill”

Targets: 20, 19, 18, 17, 16, 15, bull

How it works

• You must hit 3 marks on each number before moving down

• Singles count 1, doubles 2, trebles 3

• Track total darts used

Goal: Finish in under 60 dartsAdvanced goal: Under 45 darts

This is one of the best cricket practice drills for consistency and strategy.

A Simple Weekly Practice Plan (30–45 Minutes)

If you want structure, here’s an easy plan you can repeat weekly.

Day 1: Scoring Focus

• Warm-up drill (5 min)

• Treble ladder (15 min)

• Switching drill (10 min)

Day 2: Doubles Focus

• Warm-up drill (5 min)

• Doubles around the world (20 min)

• Pressure doubles (10 min)

Day 3: Finishing Focus

• Warm-up drill (5 min)

• Checkout routes 61–100 (25 min)

• 501 ghost leg (10 min)

Day 4: Cricket + Control

• Warm-up drill (5 min)

• Cricket control drill (25 min)

• Switch targets freestyle (10 min)

Day 5: Match Simulation

• 2–4 ghost legs of 501

• Record best leg, worst leg, and what cost you

Experience Tip: Your Gear Can Be the Hidden Problem

Here’s something I’ve seen heaps: players try to level up their throw, but their darts setup changes every week.

If you’re swapping darts, stems, flights, and points constantly, your practice results get messy. Consistency matters.

Quick gear checklist:

• Same darts each session (weight and grip feel stable)

• Flights not smashed to bits

• Stems not cracked

• Points not loose

• Board mounted solid, proper height and oche distance

Need replacements or you’re ready for an upgrade from your starter set? Jump in here:https://www.bullseyedarts.co.nz/shop

Key Takeaways and Summary

If you want to improve as an intermediate darts player, the goal is simple: practice like you play.

Use drills that:

• Track results

• Apply pressure

• Train switching, finishing, and doubles

• Build repeatability and confidence

The fastest improvements come from doing the boring stuff properly, especially doubles and checkout routines. After a couple of weeks, you’ll notice the difference in matches straight away.

FAQs (Darts Practice Drills NZ)

How long should I practice darts each day?

For intermediates, 30 to 45 minutes of focused drills is plenty. If you’ve got more time, keep it purposeful and track results.

What’s the best way to improve doubles fast?

Do doubles around the world plus one “pressure double” (like D16) every session. Doubles improve fastest with repetition and pressure.

Should I practice 501 or cricket more?

If you play both socially, split your week. If you play league 501 mostly, prioritise 501 practice routines and checkout drills.

How do I stop choking on finishes?

Train checkouts with limited darts (like 9 darts max). That adds pressure and teaches you to commit to a route.

Does buying better darts help me play better?

Better darts don’t magically fix your throw, but consistent, well-matched darts help you improve faster because your results are more reliable.

Ready to Upgrade Your Practice Setup?

If you’re taking your training seriously, make sure your gear is helping you, not holding you back.

Shop darts, flights, stems, boards, and full setup gear here:https://www.bullseyedarts.co.nz/

Or give the team a bell on +64 21 0371 331 and we’ll help you choose the right setup for your game.