Quick answer: Read the number outside the wedge first, then apply the ring: single, double, triple, outer bull or inner bull.
Use the number ring as a map
Twenty numbered wedges radiate from the bull. The familiar order begins 20 at the top, followed clockwise by 1, 18, 4 and so on. Adjacent numbers are intentionally mixed, so never infer a wedge from its neighbor; trace the segment outward to its printed number.
Spider wires define the boundaries. When a dart sits close to one, view the point at the board surface. A leaning shaft can cross the wire visually while the point remains clearly in the original bed.
Recognize the five scoring zones
From outside toward the centre, the areas are non-scoring border, narrow double, broad outer single, narrow triple and broad inner single. The two bulls sit at the centre. Color alternation helps separate wedges, but ring position—not color alone—identifies the multiplier.
A dart in the black or white single bed of 19 is worth 19. The red or green outer band in that wedge is double 19, or 38; the inner colored band is triple 19, or 57.
Read a crowded board correctly
Call scores after all three darts when the game permits, but inspect close wires before removing anything. Pulling a dart first can move another point and destroy the evidence needed to settle its value. In organized play, the scorer’s recorded call follows the applicable rules.
Start with the easiest visible dart and add methodically. Saying each value aloud—such as “60, 20, 5”—reduces the chance of applying a multiplier to the wrong wedge.
Translate the board into common games
In 501, the physical values are added and subtracted from the remaining total. In Around the Clock, the required wedge matters more than its raw score unless doubles or triples have special house rules. Cricket treats singles, doubles and triples as one, two and three marks on selected targets.
The board never changes; only the rules applied to each hit do. Separating physical value from game effect makes switching formats much less confusing.
Learn the board through short recognition drills
Stand close without throwing and have a partner call random combinations such as double 14, triple 7 or outer single 18. Point to the bed, then reverse the exercise by pointing while naming its value. Include awkward lower wedges and both single regions. A five-minute drill builds a faster visual map than repeatedly aiming only at 20.
Next, place three darts by hand in different beds and calculate the total from the oche. Change one dart across a wire and recalculate. This trains the exact skill used when shafts obscure the board during a match. Accuracy comes from tracing each segment to its number and recognizing ring depth, not memorizing the colors of a particular board.
Do not rotate the number ring alone to create a different order; when maintaining a bristle board, rotate the board body and then reposition the ring so 20 returns to the top. The standard sequence is part of the game and should remain fixed during ordinary play.
Turn the answer into a better game
Use the relevant tool or playing guide next instead of leaving the answer on the screen. You can play the Road to the Crown darts game, measure a lane with the setup calculator, or return to our dart boards homepage to compare board types and plan a complete setup.
Frequently asked questions
Which ring is triple on a dartboard?
The triple ring is the narrow colored band about halfway between the bull and the outer double ring.
Are both large wedge areas single score?
Yes. The broad area outside the triple and the broad area inside it both score the wedge number once.
How do I score a dart leaning into another section?
Use the segment where the point entered the board. The angle of the shaft or flight does not determine the value.
The Throw Lab verdict
Read every hit in two steps: find the wedge number, then identify single, double, triple or bull. Use the point’s entry position at the surface and leave close darts in place until the score is confirmed. Once those zones are automatic, game-specific scoring becomes straightforward because 501, Cricket and training drills all use the same physical target. A minute spent learning the board map eliminates repeated arithmetic and boundary disputes later. Short recognition drills build that map faster than aiming at the same wedge repeatedly.