Frustration

Frustration is an expert-level solo practice routine designed to simulate real match pressure. The goal is to score 80 or more with your first two darts, then hit a designated double with your third dart. You must work through every double on the board — from Double 1 through Double 20 — and finish on the bullseye. The routine trains the critical match skill of scoring well and finishing in the same visit.

You need a standard dartboard, three darts, and a way to track your current target double and total number of attempts (a whiteboard, notepad, or app). This is a solo practice routine, not a competitive multiplayer game.

The routine is attributed to professional darts player Justin Pipe. Before beginning, decide which version you will play: the full version starts at Double 1 and progresses through Double 2, Double 3, … Double 20, finishing on the bullseye (inner bull); the short version covers Double 20 through Double 10 only. Write your starting target double on the scoreboard and set your attempt counter to zero.

Each turn (visit) consists of three darts and follows a strict two-phase structure:

• Phase 1 – Scoring (Darts 1 and 2): Your first two darts must combine for a total of 80 or more. Standard dartboard values apply — singles score face value (1–20), doubles score 2× face value, triples score 3× face value, outer bull scores 25, and inner bull scores 50.
• Phase 2 – Finishing (Dart 3): If — and only if — you scored 80 or more with your first two darts, your third dart must hit the current target double. If it lands in the required double, you advance to the next double in sequence.

Failure conditions: A turn is unsuccessful if either requirement is not met. If your first two darts total fewer than 80, the turn is over immediately — you do not throw your third dart at the double (or if you do, it does not count). If you score 80 or more but miss the required double with your third dart, you likewise do not advance. In both cases, your target double remains the same and you try again on the next visit.

Example – successful turn: Your target is Double 7. You throw treble 20 (60) then single 20 (20) with your first two darts, totalling 80. This meets the threshold, so you throw your third dart at Double 7 and hit it. You advance to Double 8.

Example – failed turn (insufficient score): Your target is Double 14. You throw single 19 (19) then single 20 (20) for a total of 39. This falls short of 80, so the turn ends. You remain on Double 14.

Example – failed turn (missed double): Your target is Double 14. You throw treble 20 (60) then single 20 (20) for 80. You throw your third dart at Double 14 but hit single 14 instead. You remain on Double 14.

Continue in this manner through the full sequence. In the full version the order is: D1, D2, D3, D4, D5, D6, D7, D8, D9, D10, D11, D12, D13, D14, D15, D16, D17, D18, D19, D20, and finally the bullseye (inner bull). Each attempt, successful or not, adds one to your total attempt count.

Frustration does not use a cumulative point score. Instead, you track two things:

• Current target double: Which double in the sequence you are working on.
• Total attempts (visits): The number of three-dart turns it takes you to complete the entire circuit.

Your performance is measured by efficiency — the fewer total attempts required to finish the circuit, the better. A perfect run through the full 21-target version (D1–D20 plus bull) would require exactly 21 visits, meaning you succeeded on every single attempt. In practice, even highly skilled players will need significantly more. Recording your attempt count each session allows you to track improvement over time.

The routine is complete when you have successfully progressed through every target double in the sequence and hit the final target (the bullseye in the full version, or Double 10 in the short version). There is no opponent to beat — victory is measured against yourself.

Record your total number of attempts upon completion. Over weeks and months of practice, aim to reduce this number. Comparing attempt counts across sessions provides a clear, objective measure of your improvement under simulated match pressure.

Full Version (D1–D20 + Bull): The standard routine as described above. You progress through all twenty doubles in numerical order and finish on the inner bullseye, for a total of 21 targets. This is the definitive form of the exercise.

Short Version (D20–D10): A condensed variant covering Double 20 through Double 10 only. This focuses on the doubles most commonly encountered in match-play checkouts and reduces the time commitment per session.

Reduced Threshold: For intermediate players who find the 80-point threshold too demanding, the first-two-dart requirement can be lowered — for example, to 60 or more. This allows players to practise the double-finishing discipline before they have the scoring consistency for the full routine. As proficiency improves, raise the threshold back to the standard 80.

Frustration is also known by the alternate names Justin Pipe's Frustration and Murder — the latter reflecting the difficulty and the emotional toll of repeatedly falling short on the finishing dart.

Build a reliable 80+ combination: Rather than scrambling for 80 with two random darts, practise specific two-dart combinations that reliably reach the threshold. Treble 20 (60) plus single 20 (20) equals exactly 80. Treble 19 (57) plus single 19 (19) gives 76 — not enough. Know your numbers so you can adjust your second dart if the first misses its intended target.

Treat each visit like a match leg: The entire point of Frustration is to replicate real match pressure — scoring well and finishing in the same visit. Approach each turn with the same focus and routine you would use in competition: take your time, breathe, and commit to each dart individually.

Don't rush the third dart after scoring 80+: The most psychologically difficult moment is right after you've earned your shot at the double. The relief of clearing the threshold can cause you to throw the third dart carelessly. Pause, re-focus on the target double, and deliver the dart with full concentration. The routine is called Frustration for a reason — missing the double after scoring 80+ is genuinely agonising, and learning to manage that emotion is part of the training.

Start with the short version: If the full 21-target circuit feels overwhelming, begin with the D20–D10 short version. This still provides high-quality pressure practice while keeping sessions to a manageable length. Graduate to the full version once you can complete the short circuit consistently.

Track your numbers over time: Keep a log of your total attempt count for each session. Without data, improvement is invisible. Even a simple notebook entry — date and attempt count — will reveal trends and highlight which doubles consistently cost you extra visits, allowing you to target those segments in other practice routines.