Checkouts Practice

Checkouts Practice is a structured training routine designed to sharpen your ability to finish on all the important doubles used in competitive darts. The goal is to work through a prescribed list of key checkout doubles — D20, D18, D16, D14, D12, D10, D8, D6, D4, D2 — and accumulate the highest possible score by hitting each double in as few darts as possible.

What sets this drill apart from simply throwing at doubles is the adjustment mechanic: when you miss a double and hit a single, your target shifts mid-turn to reflect where your miss has left you, exactly as it would in a real match checkout. This trains not only your accuracy but also your ability to recalculate and redirect under pressure.

You will need a standard bristle dartboard, a set of three darts, and a scoreboard or notepad to track your cumulative score. One or more players may participate.

List the following target doubles in descending order on your scoreboard: D20 (40), D18 (36), D16 (32), D14 (28), D12 (24), D10 (20), D8 (16), D6 (12), D4 (8), D2 (4). These represent the even doubles most frequently encountered in match-play checkouts. Each player begins with a cumulative score of 0.

If multiple players are participating, determine throwing order by each player throwing one dart at the bullseye; closest to the inner bull throws first. Players then alternate turns, each working through the same list of target doubles independently.

Players work through the list of target doubles one at a time, beginning with D20 and proceeding in descending order. For each target double, you throw up to three darts attempting to check out — that is, to hit the required double and close that target.

Adjustment mechanic: If your dart misses the double but lands in the corresponding single segment, your remaining score is halved and your next dart must target the new, lower double — exactly as it would in a real game. This chain continues through subsequent darts in the same turn.

• For example, your target is D20 (40). Your first dart lands in S20. You now have 20 remaining, so your second dart must target D10. If that second dart lands in S10, you have 10 remaining and your third dart targets D5.
• If an adjustment leaves you on an odd number (such as 5 in the example above), you must first hit the appropriate single to return to an even number before you can target a double. Since this may require more darts than you have remaining in your turn, it often results in a failed checkout.

Scoring per target:

• Hit the checkout on your 1st dart = 3 points
• Hit the checkout on your 2nd dart = 2 points
• Hit the checkout on your 3rd dart = 1 point
• Fail to check out with all 3 darts = 0 points, and you subtract the face value of the original target double from your cumulative score

For example, if you fail to check out on the D16 target (value 32), you subtract 32 from your running total. This penalty mechanic ensures that missed doubles on higher targets carry a steeper consequence, mirroring the pressure of missing big checkouts in a real match.

Once all three darts have been thrown (or the checkout has been hit), proceed to the next target double on the list. Continue until all ten target doubles have been attempted.

Your cumulative score is the sum of all points earned minus all penalties incurred across the ten target doubles. Points are awarded as follows:

• 1st-dart checkout: +3 points
• 2nd-dart checkout: +2 points
• 3rd-dart checkout: +1 point
• Failed checkout: subtract the value of that target double (e.g., −40 for D20, −36 for D18, −4 for D2)

The maximum possible score is 30 points — achieved by hitting every target double with your first dart (3 points × 10 targets). A perfect round is exceptionally rare and represents elite-level finishing.

As a concrete example, suppose you hit D20 on your 1st dart (+3), fail D18 entirely (−36), hit D16 on your 2nd dart (+2), and hit D14 on your 3rd dart (+1). After those four targets your running total would be: 3 − 36 + 2 + 1 = −30. The heavy penalty for failing D18 illustrates why consistent double-hitting on the higher targets is critical to posting a positive score.

Checkouts Practice is primarily a solo training exercise. Your total cumulative score after completing all ten target doubles serves as your performance benchmark. A positive score indicates solid checkout ability; a negative score highlights doubles that need additional work. Track your scores over multiple sessions to measure improvement.

When played competitively with two or more players, each player completes the full list of ten target doubles independently, and the player with the highest cumulative score wins. In the event of a tie, a tiebreak round may be played using only the top five doubles (D20 through D12), with the higher score in that round determining the winner.

Checkout Challenge (Timed): Begin at a checkout of 21 and set a timer for 20 minutes. Each time you successfully check out, your next target increases by 10 (e.g., 21 → 31 → 41). Each time you fail, your next target decreases by 1 (e.g., 21 → 20). Your score is the highest checkout you reach within the time limit. This variant emphasizes speed and simulates the escalating pressure of a match.

Mid-Range Checkout Drill: Focus exclusively on the 61–70 checkout range, attempting each finish with only two darts instead of three. This variant targets the tricky middle checkouts that frequently arise in 501 legs and forces efficient path selection.

All-Doubles Variant: Instead of restricting the drill to even doubles, include all twenty doubles (D1 through D20) in the rotation. This broadens the training to cover less common but still match-relevant finishes such as D19 (38), D17 (34), and D7 (14).

Know your adjustment paths before you throw: Before stepping up to the oche for each target, mentally map out what happens if you miss. For D20: a miss into S20 leaves D10; a further miss into S10 leaves 5, requiring S1 then D2 — an unlikely three-dart recovery. Knowing these paths in advance means you spend zero time calculating at the board, just as you would need to in a match.

Treat the penalty as motivation, not punishment: The subtraction penalty for failing a high double (up to −40 for D20) is deliberately harsh. Use it as a pressure simulator — when you step up to D20 knowing a miss costs you 40 points, you replicate the tension of a match-deciding leg. Embrace the pressure rather than avoiding difficult targets.

Track which doubles cost you the most: After each session, review where your penalties came from. If you consistently lose points on D18 or D14 but perform well on D16 and D8, that data tells you exactly where to direct your focused practice. Over time, shift extra repetitions to your weakest doubles.

Simulate match speed and rhythm: Resist the temptation to slow down and over-aim during this drill. In a real match you will not have unlimited time to line up your checkout. Practise at your natural match tempo — step up, sight, and throw — to build muscle memory that transfers to competition.

Use this drill as a warm-up benchmark: Many professional players run through a shortened version of this routine (the top five doubles: D20 through D12) as a pre-match warm-up. Your score in that abbreviated set gives you an instant read on how sharp your finishing is on a given day, allowing you to adjust your in-match strategy accordingly.