I explain how to throw and improve you game in two new sections covering the players stance, how to hold darts (if you are a beginner), aiming and throwing. This section is long overdue to this site and I hope will be a welcome addition to the practise routines that are currently featured.

The new pages can be found in the Improve you game section or by directly clicking here.

And  welcome to the newly revised Darts501.com website. I hope you like the new layout and the updated pages featured on here.

The game of darts is played and enjoyed by millions of people in UK pubs and clubs and by millions more across the World. The game has come from the humble roots of the tap and public rooms of the traditional English pub to the international stage and is regularly televised to millions across the World.

In 1978 the first World Darts Championship was organised by the British Darts Organisation and sponsored by Embassy tobacco. The winner Leighton Rees from Wales received a trophy and a cheque for the some of £3,000.

Since then the game has grown into one of the best loved and viewed sports on television. It has made many darters into house hold names here are just a few:

John Lowe three times world champion, John Part three time world champion, Martin Adams three times world champion, Eric Bristow five  times world champion, Raymond van Barneveld five times world champion & Phil Taylor fifteen  times world champion.

In March 2005 the 'game' of darts was recently been recognized by 'Sport England' as a sporting activity which could pave the way to the sport featuring in future Olympic Games, however I still feel we are a long way from that day.

Darts is one of the fastest growing sports in Holland, China and Asia. Over a third of the Dutch population watched Raymond Van Barneveld become the first Dutch player to take the world darts title in 1998; he has since then won the title a further four times 1999, 2003, 2005 and in the Ladbrokes.com PDC 2007 'World Darts Championship' beating the reigning champion Phil Taylor 7 sets to 6 and a sudden death leg in the final set. Raymond now equals Eric Bristow's achievement but still trails Phil Taylor's staggering fifteen world title victories.

The popularity of poker has led to a great involvement into the sports sponsorship. Major deals have been done between the major darts organizations and poker sites. The PDC world darts competition is now sponsored by Ladbrokes.com but many of the other darts events are sponsored by on line gaming.

The prize fund for the 2010 Ladbrokes.com 'World Darts Champions' has also increased with a staggering £1,000,000, £200,000 going to the winner. A far cry from the first 'World Championships' of £3,000. The sports prize money continues to grow making a few of the current players millionaires.

The Ladbrokes.com PDC World Darts Championship moved to the Alexandra Palace in December 2007. The Alexandra Palace is affectionately know as the 'Ally Pally' and was the stage setting for the world renowned 'News of the World Darts tournaments' many years ago. This event even was probably one of the hardest to win with with a best of three legs format throughout the competition including the final.

In 2001 the BDO and WDF introduced a ladies World Darts Championship which was won by England’s Trina Gulliver. Trina has won this event for seven consecutive years and made the final yet again in 2008 and 2009 but only to lose to a new up and coming star Anastasia Dobromyslava from Russia in 2008 and Francis Hoenselaar from Holland in 2009. In 2010 Trina again regained the title beating Rhian Edwards from Wales 2-0 she then repeated this feat in 2011 again beating Rhain Edwards by the same margin 2-0 Making her the most successful ladies darts player in the World, a record breaking nine World Titles.

Anastasia moved to the PDC late 2008 and played in a preliminary qualifying round for the Ladbrokes.com PDC World Darts Championship 2009. She lost Dutchman Remco van Eijden 5 legs to 3. She also tried to qualify for the 2010 championship but failed. Anastasia moved back to the BDO late 2010 early 2011

On this site you will find a brief history of this intriguing sport along with all the information you will need to set up the dart board and organise darting events. You can also learn how boards are made using sisal (a material used in rope making) and how dart weights, lengths, shafts and flights can alter the flight of the dart.

The site also features traditional games played on today’s standard dartboards and UK city boards; Yorkshire, Manchester etc. You can download rules and many games from here as well as those all important checkouts. Calculate your dart average using the tables and above all learn how to improve your game. You will also find practise routines to improve your accuracy and scoring consistency as well as information about maintaining your dartboard and darts. There are also many dart related links to professional dart organisations, manufacturers, suppliers, professional dart players and other UK local dart leagues. My thanks go to them for their help and support in building this site.

I hope you enjoy the site your feedback is always welcome and if you like the site please in form others.

David King