Every darts scorer has been there. You’re in the zone, marker gliding across the board… and suddenly you realise:
“Wait a minute… I just wrote twice in the same column!” 😬
Disaster. Not only tricky to fix, but also a massive headache. And your reputation as a steady writer? Well, good luck defending that.
So how do you avoid this classic mistake? Here are 3 (and a half) clever tricks:
1️⃣ Write full first names
Sure, jotting down ‘A vs. B’ is quick. But when you’re keeping score, it’s way easier to remember ‘André’ and ‘Bert’ than just random initials.
Your brain recognises names as visual blocks. That means fewer mix-ups between columns. Takes two seconds longer, but saves a ton of stress later.
2️⃣ Use flight colours (or any visual cue)
This golden tip came from one of my workshop players: he wrote the flight colour of each player at the top of the sheet. Red left, blue right. Constant reference. Super helpful!
Both players rocking black flights? Then he’d note the shaft colour, or even scribble something like “fancy darts” vs. “ugly ones” (use that one with care 😄).
Point is: a small visual clue can go a long way.
3️⃣ Add a small arrow + keep it tidy
Draw a small arrow next to the ‘501’ to indicate who started the leg. That way, you always know who’s “one step ahead” in the writing rhythm.
And this one’s big: write neatly and consistently.
If each score looks the same in size and shape, it’s much easier to track what comes next. Sloppy digits = big confusion risk.
There are two main “arrow styles”:
-
Arrow next to the 501 (my personal fave)
-
Arrow inside the player’s column (some find this confusing, but you do you)
🔁 Bonus tip from Bert: subtle pointing = pro move
A good dartsfriend— and hands down the best scorer I know — once shared this brilliant trick.
Bert doesn’t look at the players when scoring. Instead, he focuses on the dartboard and score sheet.
And while writing, he subtly points his pinky towards the active player’s side — totally invisible to the players, but crystal-clear to himself.
No need to look up or second-guess. Keeps his flow. 💡 Smart and stylish.
Final thoughts
Writing in the wrong column? It happens more often than you’d think. And it’s always a mess.
But with these tips (names, colours, arrows, pinky magic), scoring becomes smoother, calmer — and yes, even enjoyable.
These and many more tips can be found here: https://www.dartschool.be/en/tips-en/
