League Night Warm-Up | Simple Practice Routine Before You Play

Doubles block 1 – Top of the board

Work: D20 → D10 → D5

• Start on double 20

• If you hit the double, move straight on to the next one

• If you hit the single, still move on—just like a real game where you’ve left yourself a new double

• If you completely miss, stay on that double until you hit it once, then move on

Then repeat the same pattern on the “other side” of the board.

Doubles block 2 – The 16 route

Work: D16 → D8 → D4 → D2

Same rules:

• Hit the double? Move on.

• Hit the single? Play the score you’ve left, move to the next double.

• Miss the segment entirely? Stay there until you’ve nailed it once.

Aim: You want to feel like you’re playing legs, not drilling in a vacuum. There’s a bit of pressure, a bit of consequence, and you’re visiting the finishes you’ll actually see on league night.

Step 2 – Quick 201 legs

Once you’ve walked the doubles, play a couple of short legs of 201 on your own.

• Start on 201

• Play it like a normal leg (no scoring shortcuts or ignoring bad visits)

• Rough target: finishing in 9–12 darts is solid, but don’t obsess—just try to beat your own previous effort

• Play 2–3 legs back-to-back

This does two things:

• Gets you moving around the board: 20s, 19s, adjustments, then a real finish

• Starts to wake up your “match brain” instead of just your arm

2. When the Board Is Busy (Limited Practice Darts)

Once the bar fills up and people are also wanting a throw, you often only get a couple of visits before your game. This is where you shrink the routine down to the essentials.

Think of a “league start” block as three quick stops:

1. Treble 20s – scoring

2. Your favourite double – finishing

3. Bullseye – clutch shots

Mini pre-game routine (about 9 darts)

If you’re called up and get a quick knock:

1. 3 darts at T20

   • Don’t chase perfection; just get your arm loose and your eyes locked on the scoring bed

2. 3 darts at your go-to double

   • Many players pick D16, but use whatever you rely on the most

   • Focus on rhythm more than results—feel that double in your hand

3. 3 darts at bull

   • You’ll be surprised how often you end up needing bull or 25 to win a leg

   • Even if you don’t hit it, your brain wakes up to central targets and switching away from the 20s

If you sneak a second quick turn before the match starts, repeat the same pattern again: 20s → your double → bull.

3. Putting It Together – Your League Night Practice Plan

Here’s how you can combine everything into a simple, repeatable setup:

A. If you have a board at home

30–40 minutes before you leave:

1. Doubles ladder

   • D20 → D10 → D5

   • D16 → D8 → D4 → D2

2. 201 practice

   • 2–3 legs of 201

   • Try to tidy up silly misses each leg rather than chasing monsters

Then head out—you’re warmed up without being shattered.

B. If you only practice at the venue

Arrive early if you can:

1. When the board is free:

   • Run through the same doubles ladder (top doubles then the 16 route)

   • Play 1–2 legs of 201 to get moving around the board

2. When the venue gets busy and you’re close to playing:

   • Switch to the 9-dart mini routine:

     • 3 at 20s

     • 3 at your favourite double

     • 3 at bull

This keeps you sharp without clogging the board when others are waiting.

Quick League-Night Checklist

Before your game, try to hit these:

• Thrown at your regular doubles (especially D20 route and D16 route)

• Played at least one quick leg of 201

• Had a short block of:

  • Treble 20s

  • Your favourite double

  • Bullseye

Stick to this routine each week and you won’t be turning up “cold” anymore—your arm will know what it’s doing long before your name is called.