The ideal way to become accomplished at the game of darts is to have a dartboard set up in your home. That way you can practice frequently and compete against family and friends. The set-up for darts is simple, but there are a few things you'll want to consider at the outset. Find a convenient area with ample space, away from obstacles and foot-traffic. Select a wall for mounting the board where you'll also be able to mount a backplate (figure A) -- a protective surface to keep the wall from getting marred by darts that accidentally go astray. The size of the backplate will depend somewhat on your skill level and your confidence with your aim (or the aim of others likely to be using the dartboard). In our demonstration we constructed a backplate 30 inches wide by 30 inches high. Once the backplate is secured, center and mount the dartboard using the supplied hanger. The bull's-eye should be positioned precisely over the center of the backplate and, in order to be set up according to regulation height, exactly 68 inches from the floor (figure B). Besides the regulation height for the bull's-eye, there is another very important measurement in setting up a dartboard: the throwing distance. Establishing the regulation distance from the player to the board requires that the leading edge of the toe-line -- the "oche" (figure C), which is the line behind which the player must stand to makes his or her throws -- is exactly 7feet 9-1/4 inches from the face of the mounted dartboard. That is the lateral measurement, measured straight out from the wall on which the dartboard is mounted and taking into account the thickness of the board itself and of the backplate. Alternatively, the position of the line can be determined by a diagonal measurement of 9 feet 7-1/2 inches from the exact bull's-eye to the leading edge of the line. Each of these methods of measurement should place the line in the same position. These particular measurements provide the standard distance as used in the United States and in most international competitions. (The standard distance does vary in some parts of the world.) In addition to the dartboard, you'll want to mount a scoreboard nearby (figure D) to simplify keeping track of the score as you play. Mount the scoreboard so that a player who is marking a score will not interfere with the next player's shot. Scoreboards are available in chalkboard and dry-erase styles. If you want to construct your own protective backplate, it's a simple project that requires only a few basic items. Materials:
Sheet of plywood or luauan paneling cut to your desired dimensions
Rolled corkboard
Frame molding
Wood glue
Picture-hanger
Utility knife
Measuring tape
- Lay out the wood backing, precut to the desired dimensions.
- Use a utility knife to cut a segment of rolled cork to match the dimensions of the backing.
- Attach the section of corkboard to the backing with a liberal amount of woodworker's glue spread out evenly across the board. Make certain that the corkboard is lying flat against the wood without bulging or buckling. Use books or other heavy objects to hold the corkboard securely against the wood until the glue dries.
- Once the glue has dried and the corkboard is attached securely to the backing, you may want to install frame molding. If you know the dimensions of your board in advance you can simply buy precut, premitered lengths of molding. If you're handy with tools, you may prefer simply to purchase molding and miter-cut it yourself.
- Attach the finished backplate to the wall using a picture-hanger and picture-hanging wire. Hang it just as you would a framed picture, but situate the picture-hanger so that it is centered exactly behind the backplate. This will allow better support to the dartboard itself -- which, in turn, will be mounted centered on the backplate. Also mount the plate so that its center is exactly 68 inches (or 5 feet 8 inches) from the ground. Remember that the dartboard itself must be mounted so that bull's-eye is exactly 5 feet 8 inches above the floor.
Family Sports fun fact: According to darts legend, regulation throwing distance was originally equal to the length of three wooden brewer's crates placed end to end. The particular crates used to derive this measurement were from an English brewery named Hockey & Sons. Thus, the phrase "toeing the Hockey" came to mean stepping up to the designated throwing line. Eventually the line itself became known as the "oche" -- based on the cockney pronunciation of the name "Hockey."
RESOURCES :
Cyber/Darts
Online resource for Darts
Web site: www.cyberdarts.com
The American Darts Organization Book of Darts
Model: 1558212477
Author: Chris Carey
1993
The Lyon's Press
New York, NY 10011
Phone: 212-620-9580
Fax: 212-929-1836
Website: www.lyonspress.com
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