167

The goal of 167 is to sharpen your ability to hit the three targets that compose the second-highest checkout in darts — Treble 20, Treble 19, and Double Bull (inner bullseye) — by repeating the combination across 10 rounds and recording as many successful hits as possible.

This training routine is not a head-to-head game but a structured solo practice drill. It develops the critical skill of target-switching: the ability to move accurately between different areas of the board within a single visit, exactly as a competitive player must do when attempting a high checkout in match play.

You will need a standard bristle dartboard and three darts. No opponent is required — 167 is a solo training routine. Prepare a scorecard (paper or electronic) with 10 rows (one per round), each containing three columns for the three targets: T20, T19, and Bull.

No throwing-order determination is necessary. If multiple players wish to train side by side, each player simply completes their own 10-round session independently and compares final totals afterward.

The routine consists of 10 rounds. In each round, the player throws exactly three darts, one at each of the following targets in this fixed order:

• First dart — Treble 20
• Second dart — Treble 19
• Third dart — Double Bull (inner bullseye)

For each dart, record whether the dart hit its designated target. A hit is scored only when the dart lands in the exact segment specified — Treble 20, Treble 19, or the inner bullseye respectively. Landing in any other segment (including the adjacent single, the outer bull, or a neighbouring treble) counts as a miss for that dart.

The order of targets must be followed as listed above. This replicates the actual sequence a player would throw when attempting a 167 checkout during a match: Treble 20 first (the primary scoring bed), then Treble 19 (requiring a shift to a different area of the board), and finally the Double Bull (the finishing double). The deliberate change in board position between darts is the core training benefit of the routine.

There are no bust rules, no penalty for misses, and no voided turns. Every round is completed regardless of the outcome of the preceding darts. Continue until all 10 rounds have been thrown (30 darts total).

Scoring is binary for each dart: a hit (the dart lands in the designated target segment) scores 1; a miss scores 0. Each round therefore yields a score of 0, 1, 2, or 3.

• If you hit Treble 20, miss Treble 19, and hit Double Bull in a round, that round scores 2 out of 3.
• If you miss all three targets, the round scores 0.
• If you hit all three — completing the full 167 checkout combination — the round scores a perfect 3.

Sum all 10 rounds for your session total. The maximum possible score is 30 (3 hits × 10 rounds). For deeper analysis, track your accuracy on each individual target across the session — for example, 7 out of 10 on Treble 20, 5 out of 10 on Treble 19, and 3 out of 10 on Double Bull. This breakdown reveals which segment requires the most additional practice.

Because 167 is a training drill rather than a competitive game, there is no single win condition in the traditional sense. The benchmark to strive for is the perfect score of 30 — hitting every target in every round. In practice, players should track their score from session to session and measure improvement over time.

When multiple players complete the routine and wish to compare, the highest session total wins. In the event of a tie, the player with more perfect rounds (all three targets hit in a single round) may be considered the superior performer, though no formal tiebreak is mandated.

Extended or Shortened Sessions: The standard routine uses 10 rounds, but players may adjust to 5 rounds for a quick warm-up or 20 rounds for an intensive training session. The scoring method remains the same — simply adjust the maximum possible total accordingly (15 for 5 rounds, 60 for 20 rounds).

170 Practice: Replace the target sequence with the highest possible checkout: Treble 20, Treble 20, Double Bull (the 170 combination). This variant reduces the target-switching element but intensifies Treble 20 and bullseye accuracy.

164 Practice: Use the sequence Treble 20, Treble 18, Double Bull (the 164 checkout). The shift from T20 to T18 involves a different board transition than the standard 167 routine, training a slightly different motor pattern.

Weakness Focus: If your session data reveals a consistently weak target (e.g., Double Bull at only 20% accuracy), dedicate additional rounds exclusively to that segment before or after the full routine. This targeted approach accelerates improvement on the weakest link in the combination.

Treat Each Dart as a Match Dart: The purpose of 167 is to simulate the pressure and precision of a real checkout attempt. Adopt your full pre-throw routine for every dart — stance, grip, alignment, release — rather than casually lobbing at the board. Building this discipline in practice transfers directly to match play.

Analyse Your Target Breakdown: After each session, compare your hit rates across the three targets. Most players find the Double Bull to be the most difficult; if your bullseye accuracy lags well behind your treble accuracy, dedicate extra focused practice to the centre of the board. Conversely, if your T19 hit rate is low, the issue may be your board-switching technique rather than raw accuracy.

Focus on the Transition, Not Just the Target: The defining skill 167 trains is target-switching — moving your aim from one area of the board to another within a single visit. Pay attention to the moment between your first and second dart, when your eyes and throw must shift from the top of the board (T20) to the lower-left region (T19). Smooth, deliberate transitions here matter more than raw speed.

Track Progress Over Weeks: A single session score is informative, but the real value of 167 emerges over time. Keep a log of your session totals and per-target percentages. Consistent improvement from, say, 12/30 to 18/30 over several weeks is a tangible sign that your high-checkout accuracy is developing.

Use 167 as a Warm-Up Before Match Play: A quick 5-round session of 167 before a competitive match activates the three most important target areas on the board — the T20 bed (primary scoring), the T19 bed (secondary scoring and setup), and the bullseye (finishing). This prepares your throw for the full range of match scenarios.