I recently ordered a new set of darts which arrived today. I don't usually look at all of the packaging, but the back came apart as I opened it and out dropped a 'Checkout Table'. I gave it a glimpse and was a little surprised that a reputable darts manufacturer would mathematically get something right - but actually get the table very wrong.With three darts in your hand, and an opponent in close proximity threatening to steal the leg - having a chance with dart number three must be in every players mind. As a 'dartist' you must aim to give yourself as big an opportunity as possible and so common sense is to throw at a treble where if you only hit the 'big number' you are still alive with dart number two. It's likely that you will have a tough do or die dart at a treble to leave a finish but better this, than using darts two and three to set up a shot you might never have. A.N.Opponent is sitting on Shanghai after all, and fancying a dart at double top.
The 3 DART FINISHES Table
123 = T20+T13+D12
121 = T19+14+BULL
119 = T20+19+D20
Based on the paragraph above, what error can you see in the table? You might say, that yes 123-60-39-24=0, that 121-57-14-50=0 and 119-60-19-40 also equals zero, and so mathematically the table is correct, but miss the first treble on either of the three checkouts listed above and dart number two becomes purely a set-up dart.
So let us think logically about this. What should the table look like?
'Stayin' Alive' 3 DART FINISHES Table
123 = T19+16+BULL
121 = T20+11+BULL
119 = T19+12+BULL
Dart number two is key in this argument. Let us now break down what happens if you miss the treble in both scenarios.
Comparison
3 DART FINISHES Table
123 = Miss T20 but hit 20, 103 required. No finish with two darts.
121 = Miss T19 but hit 19, 102 required. No finish with two darts.
119 = Miss T20 but hit 20, 99 required. No finish with two darts.
'Stayin' Alive' Table
123 = miss T19 but hit 19, 104 required. With two darts in hand, T18 and BULL is still on.
121 = miss T20 but hit 20, 101 required. With two darts in hand, T17 and BULL is still on.
119 = miss T19 but hit 19, 100 required. With two darts in hand, T20 and D20 is still on.
Now obviously we might stray into small numbers, which adds to my point. Whilst my advice is not bullet proof because of human error, it will give the novice to professional much more of an opportunity to use all three darts and win legs. Next time you watch darts on TV see what players throw at when at 170 or under with three darts in hand, when their opponent is applying pressure. Chances are that you will never see them throw at the three finishes I've picked out that are recommended in the 3 DARTS FINISHES Table. Only in a situation where the opponent is out of checkout range would a top player consider those finishes.
When practising I can only urge you to think logically. I'm sure that I once read that Bobby George memorised checkouts at the start of his career. I would argue that checking out is the most important part of the game, especially when we witness the high scoring but at times poor finishing of a world class player like Gary Anderson. As Bobby would say, "trebles for show, doubles for dough".
Please make sure that you give yourself a chance to hit the double!
