Eagle's Eye

Score the highest cumulative total by hitting the bullseye — and only the bullseye — over a predetermined number of rounds. Every dart that misses the bull counts for nothing, making Eagle's Eye a pure test of centre-board accuracy.

Eagle's Eye requires a standard dartboard, a set of darts for each player, and a scoreboard (paper or electronic). The game accommodates 2 or more players.

Before play begins, agree on the number of rounds. The standard format is 8 rounds of 3 darts each (24 darts per player in total). Record each player's name on the scoreboard with a running total column, starting at 0.

To determine throwing order, each player throws one dart at the bullseye; the player whose dart lands closest to the inner bull throws first. Rotate the order in subsequent rounds.

Players take turns throwing three darts per round. After each visit, only darts that land within the bullseye area — either the outer bull (the green ring surrounding the centre) or the inner bull (the small red circle at the very centre) — contribute to the player's score. All other segments on the board score zero.

• Outer bull (25 ring): 25 points
• Inner bull (double bull): 50 points
• Any other segment (singles, doubles, triples, or miss): 0 points

There are no bust rules, no penalties, and no void turns. A dart that bounces out or falls from the board before the player retrieves scores is scored as zero for that throw, following standard dartboard rules. Play continues for the agreed number of rounds regardless of the score differential between players.

For example, if a player throws an inner bull (50), then a single 20 (0), then an outer bull (25), only the first and third darts count — that visit scores 75 points. A visit in which all three darts miss the bull entirely scores 0.

Points are tallied cumulatively across all rounds. Only two scoring values exist:

• Outer bull: 25 points per dart
• Inner bull: 50 points per dart

The maximum score for a single visit (three darts) is 150 — three inner bullseyes. Over the standard 8-round format (24 darts), the theoretical maximum is 1,200 points (24 × 50).

As a benchmark: hitting the outer bull with all three darts in a visit yields 75 points; mixing one inner bull and two outer bulls yields 100 points. Any dart that lands outside the bull area — even by a fraction — adds nothing to the total.

After all agreed-upon rounds have been completed, the player with the highest cumulative score wins. In the event of a tie, players throw one additional round of three darts as a tiebreaker, repeating until the tie is broken.

In match play, Eagle's Eye can be contested as a single game or as a best-of series (e.g., best of 3 games). The same round count should be used for every game in the series.

Short Format: Reduce the round count to 5 rounds for a quicker game, often used as a warm-up exercise before a league session or tournament.

Extended Format: Increase to 10 or 12 rounds for a more rigorous accuracy test, common in practice-focused settings where endurance and consistency are being trained.

Streak Bonus: Some versions award bonus points for consecutive bullseyes within a single visit. For example, hitting two bulls in a row may add a small bonus, and hitting all three bulls in one visit may add a larger bonus. The exact bonus values should be agreed upon before the game begins, as there is no single standardised streak-bonus table.

Eagle's Eye is also known as Bulls Eye Practice or Bull Shooter and is featured as a dedicated game mode on DARTSLIVE electronic dartboard systems.

Anchor your stance for centre-board aim: Because every dart targets the same tiny area, establish a consistent foot position and body alignment before your first throw and maintain it throughout. Even a minor stance shift can move your grouping off the bull.

Use the outer bull as your safety zone: The inner bull is worth double the points, but the outer bull ring is a much larger target. Consistently hitting 25s (75 per visit) will usually outscore an opponent who alternates between inner bulls and complete misses. Prioritise tight grouping over ambitious aiming.

Treat it as checkout practice: Eagle's Eye directly trains the skill needed to finish 501 and Cricket games. Approach each throw with the same mental routine you use when checking out on double bull — controlled breathing, deliberate release, and committed follow-through.

Track your hit rate, not just your score: Record how many of your 24 darts actually land in the bull area. A hit rate of 50% (12 of 24) is strong for a club-level player. Monitoring this metric over multiple sessions reveals improvement more clearly than total score alone.

Warm up before competing: Because Eagle's Eye demands pinpoint precision from the very first dart, throw a few practice rounds at the bull before the game begins. Cold muscles and an unsettled eye will cost easy points in the opening rounds.