Priestley Trebles

Score as many treble hits as possible by throwing three darts at each treble segment from T10 through T20 in sequence. The maximum possible score is 33 (three hits on each of eleven treble segments). This training routine is designed to sharpen accuracy on the treble ring across the most competitively relevant numbers on the dartboard.

A standard bristle dartboard and three darts are required. This is a solo practice routine, though two or more players may complete the routine in parallel for comparison. No starting score is needed — simply prepare a scoresheet listing each target treble from T10 through T20 (eleven targets in total), with space to record hits (0–3) beside each number.

The routine is named after Dennis Priestley, two-time World Darts Champion, and is sometimes referred to as the Dennis Priestley Routine. Begin at Treble 10.

The player works through eleven treble segments in ascending order — T10, T11, T12, T13, T14, T15, T16, T17, T18, T19, T20 — throwing exactly three darts at each target before moving on to the next.

• At each number, all three darts are aimed at the treble segment of that number.
• Only darts that land inside the treble ring of the designated target number count as hits. A dart landing in the single, double, or any other segment — including the treble of a different number — scores nothing.
• After throwing three darts at a given treble, record the number of hits (0, 1, 2, or 3) and proceed to the next treble in sequence.
• Once all three darts have been thrown at T20, the round is complete.

There are no bust rules, penalty rules, or void turns. Every dart thrown is simply recorded as a hit or a miss on the current target treble.

Score 1 point for each dart that lands in the designated treble segment. The maximum score at any single target is 3 (all three darts in the treble). Across all eleven targets, the maximum possible score for one complete round is:

• 11 trebles × 3 darts = 33 points maximum

For example, if a player hits 2 out of 3 on T10, 1 out of 3 on T11, 0 out of 3 on T12, and so on, each target's hits are summed at the end. A club-level player might aim for a score in the range of 8–15; an advanced player may regularly exceed 20. Recording your score after every round allows you to track improvement over time.

As a solo training exercise, there is no opponent to defeat. The goal is to achieve the highest score possible out of 33 and to improve that score consistently over repeated sessions. Players should log results to track their progress and identify trends.

When two or more players complete the routine for comparison, the player with the higher total score wins the round. In the event of a tie, players may throw an additional round as a tiebreaker, or compare results on specific shared weak targets (e.g., T17–T20) to determine a winner.

Extended Range (T1–T20): Rather than beginning at T10, the player starts at T1 and works through all twenty treble segments. This extends the routine to 20 targets with a maximum possible score of 60, providing a more comprehensive — and more demanding — assessment of treble accuracy across the entire board.

Multi-Round Average: Complete the standard T10–T20 routine over several rounds (e.g., three or five) and calculate an average score per round. This smooths out variance and gives a more reliable measure of current ability.

Weakness Focus: After identifying consistently low-scoring trebles in prior sessions, players may design a shortened routine targeting only those specific segments — for instance, repeating T14, T16, and T17 several times each to build confidence and accuracy where it is needed most.

Track every session: The true value of the Priestley Trebles routine lies in longitudinal data. Record your score after every round and review your results weekly. A rising average confirms that your practice methods are working; a plateau tells you it is time to adjust your approach.

Note your weak numbers: Pay close attention to which trebles you consistently score 0 or 1 on. These segments reveal gaps in your throw that may be costing you points in match play. Dedicate additional practice time to those specific targets rather than repeating numbers you already hit reliably.

Maintain consistent mechanics: The T10–T20 range requires you to aim at positions all around the board — left, right, top, and bottom. Focus on keeping your stance, grip, and release consistent regardless of which segment you are targeting. The routine is as much about building a repeatable throw as it is about accumulating points.

Apply results to match strategy: Trebles 10–20 are the primary scoring and finishing targets in competitive darts. If your routine reveals that you hit T19 more reliably than T20, consider using the 19s bed as your primary scoring target in 501 or other countdown games rather than defaulting to T20.