The dart board should be mounted on a wall with a flat surface and plenty of open room to catch stray darts. Many people mount their dart board on a backboard or in a cabinet to protect the wall from poor throws. Each dart board has its own hanging system, so consult your owner's manual for specifics on the hardware necessary to hang your dart board.

The regulation height of a dart board is 5 feet 8 inches from the center of the bullseye to the floor. The standard distance of the toe line (where the player stands to throw the darts) is 7 feet 9 ￂﾽ inches from the face of the dart board.

Differences: Bristle vs. Electronic Dart Boards

Are you a traditionalist or a modernist? Do you like to listen to the old-fashioned CD or an MP3 player? Knowing which style you're more comfortable with may help you determine which type of dart board is right for you.

Today we can choose from a wide variety of dart boards and materials from paper, wood, bristle, and electronic. These dart boards can be found in bars, pubs, and homes all over the world.

Two of the main types of dart boards are bristle and electronic. If you're trying to choose between a bristle and an electronic dart board, consider the following.

The Traditionalist: Bristle

Bristle boards receive their name from hog hair, or boar bristle, that was originally used in their construction. Today boar bristle in many cases has been replaced by African sisal or nylon. African sisal "heals" itself back to form after the dart is removed from the board.

As a result of this self-healing characteristic, bristle boards wear and last longer than paper dart boards. Bristle boards are the choice for professional dart competitions. One of the reasons professional dart players prefer bristle dart boards is that scoring is more accurate.

The Modernist: Electronic

Plug it in, and turn it on. You're ready to play darts. And no one else is around. That's OK. One of the features of electronic dart boards is that you can play against the computer.

Whereas bristle boards require steel-tipped darts, electronic dart boards use darts that are soft-tipped. These soft-tipped darts are softer and safer, making these boards the preferred choice for children and beginners.

Electronic boards also have the ability to communicate with you through sound, not only telling you your score but also razzing you. The good news is that you usually have the option to turn this feature off, while still maintaining the score being recorded visually.

Whether you choose a bristle or an electronic dart board, you'll have many hours of fun no matter what your means of playing it.

Dart Board Anatomy

Dart boards come in many colors and sizes, but all dart boards feature the same scoring lay out. The target area is composed of 20 wedge shaped segments numbered 1 through 20. Each number represents the amount of points that the corresponding segment is worth. The area surrounding the dart board target area is called the outside circle. This is worth zero points.

There are two thin rings of higher scoring segments on the target area as well. The ring that runs along the outside of the target area is worth double points; the ring that runs between the bullseye and the outside ring is worth triple points. The very center circle on the dart board is called the double bullseye, and this is worth 50 points. The outer ring encircling the bullseye is called the single bullseye, and it is worth 25 points.

Darts 101

Compared with some other skillful activities, it takes just a short time to learn how to play darts - and you can have a lot of fun while learning. Plus, you can play darts in a league, with a group of friends, or alone. This fantastic game of swiftness and accuracy has also become all the rage as an online or electronic dart game.

Darting History
Legend has it that darting was developed by English soldiers during the Middle Ages. The soldiers used arrows "always convenient" with cross-sections of tree trunks for targets (the rings were a built-in scoring system). People began enjoying the game so much that they wanted to play it during cold months indoors. With some ingenuity, the arrows were reduced in size, becoming darts. The popularity of darting spread with the growth of the British Empire.

Eventually, darts became popular outside of the standard pub or bar scene. The National Darts Association was founded in 1954, along with the establishment of many darting competitions for the enjoyment of people from all walks of life.

Darting Supplies
Darting can be a fun way to spend hours of enjoyment with your family and friends. Basic dart supplies for setting up a darting area in your own home include a cabinet or a dart backboard, the dart board, and a set of darts. Most darts are crafted from silver or nickel, brass, or tungsten. The sets themselves range from pricey tournament quality to the less expensive sets to suit those who are just starting out. You can set up your darting area anywhere - a garage, basement, porch, or recreation room - just remember that the area should not be a high-traffic area for children to play or for walking, especially when using steel tip darts.

Different Dart Games
There are many different ways to play darting games. High Score is a great game for beginners. 01 is famous in British pubs, along with Cricket and Shanghai. For High Score, players take alternate turns, throwing three darts at each turn. Points are tallied and darts removed after each player's turn. Hitting highlighted spots bring double points - tripled for the inner highlights. The Bulls eye is worth 50 for the inner area and 25 for the outer edge. Keep in mind that house rules may vary.

Joining a League
Darting leagues exist in many cities, similar to softball and bowling leagues, and require a fee to join. Teams in the league usually have four to eight members, and generally meet once a week for playing. After playing a variety of games throughout the season, the league's winning team will be determined.