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When it comes to darts, your throw often gets all the attention, the grip, release, follow-through, every aspect.
But the truth is, none of those matter much if your stance isn’t solid. A good stance provides the stability and consistency you need to hit your target, an important factor for what makes a great darts player. Without it, even the smoothest throwing action will break down.
In this guide, we’ll cover everything you need to know about how to stand when throwing darts, helping your goal to throw for 180! From the basics of foot placement and body alignment, to different stance styles and practice drills, this article will help you find the approach that works best for you.
Why Stance Matters in Darts
Your stance is the foundation of your throw. Think of it as the base of a house when you are planning how to stand when throwing darts: if it’s shaky, everything above it wobbles.
A solid stance helps you:
- Stay balanced throughout your throw.
- Keep your aim consistent from dart to dart.
- Reduce unnecessary movement that throws you off target.
On the other hand, a poor stance often leads to leaning too far, wobbling on release, or overreaching. All of these create inconsistency. That’s why learning the proper stance in darts is one of the fastest ways to improve your game, a key darts tip to get you moving in the right direction.
The Basics of a Proper Darts Stance
When you first step up to the oche, the way you stand sets the tone for your entire throw. Here’s what to focus on:
- Feet position: Place your lead foot directly on or just behind the oche This is a rule for how to stand when throwing darts, you cannot cross the oche line.
- Body alignment: Your body should be angled toward the board, not square on.
- Weight distribution: Around 70–80% of your weight should rest on your lead foot.
- Shoulders and head: Keep your shoulders steady and your head still, directly over your lead foot.
This combination keeps you balanced, reduces sway, and ensures your throwing arm has a clear, consistent line to the target. The best pro darts players are ultra consistent with their throw, the closer you get to the same throw time after time, the better you will be.
Foot Placement in Darts
One of the most overlooked parts of stance is foot placement in darts. It makes a huge difference in your comfort and accuracy, get these right when you’re working out how to stand when throwing darts.
- Lead foot: Most players place their front foot directly against the oche, with the toes pointing either straight at the board or slightly angled.
- Angle: Some prefer a 0° angle (pointing straight ahead), others turn their foot outward by 30–45°. The right angle is whichever feels stable and natural.
- Back foot: This acts as a stabilizer. Keep it lightly touching the floor, shoulder-width behind your lead foot. Avoid leaning so far forward that it lifts off completely when working out how to stand when throwing darts.
Common mistakes:
- Standing too square-on, which restricts arm movement.
- Leaning too heavily, which causes imbalance.
- Shifting weight mid-throw, making your aim inconsistent.
Master your foot placement, and you’ll immediately notice better balance and control.
Different Types of Dart Stance
Not every player stands the same way, and that’s okay. The key is finding the best way to stand in darts for you. Here are the three main styles for how to stand when throwing darts:
- Front-on stance
- Shoulders face the dartboard directly.
- Great for beginners because it feels natural.
- Stable, but can restrict your throwing motion.
- Side-on stance
- Your body is turned sideways, with only the throwing arm facing the board.
- Offers a small target profile, which some players like.
- Can feel restrictive and awkward for taller players.
- Angled stance (the most common among pros)
- A mix of the two above. Your front foot is angled at 30–45° toward the board.
- Combines stability with freedom of movement.
- Allows for consistent alignment of eyes, shoulders, and throwing arm.
Each stance has its benefits and drawbacks. Experiment with all three to see which feels most natural, then commit to practicing that stance consistently. Make sure you’ve enough room around you in your home darts setup to be able to try every position out, and move around the oche if needed.
Finding the Best Stance for You
Here’s the truth: there’s no “perfect” stance. Even among the pros, you’ll see big differences. What matters most is consistency. So when you’re working out how to stand when throwing darts, there’s no right answer, and you shouldn’t copy others, just find your own way, for you.
Tips for finding your stance:
- Test all three styles over several practice sessions.
- Pay attention to your comfort, are you tense or relaxed?
- Notice your balance, do you wobble or feel steady?
- Once you find a stance that feels natural and repeatable, stick with it.
Remember, comfort and repeatability beat forcing yourself to copy a pro’s exact stance. You will never be someone else, you will only ever be you.
It doesn’t matter how much you spend on your first darts setup, without a true stance, you’ll not improve as much as some other players.
Practice Drills to Improve Your Stance
Finding your stance is one thing, but locking it in takes practice. Here are three simple drills to help how to stand when throwing darts:
- Stand and throw drill: Focus on keeping your feet completely still while throwing. Notice if you lean or shift weight unnecessarily.
- Video feedback: Record yourself from the side to check whether your stance stays consistent throw after throw.
- Repetition games: Play “around the clock” or “301” while consciously focusing only on stance, not score.
By repeating these drills, you’ll train muscle memory so your stance becomes automatic.
Troubleshooting Stance Problems
Even experienced players sometimes struggle with stance issues. Here are a few common ones:
- Leaning too much forward: Causes instability and shoulder strain. Solution: shift more weight onto your back foot.
- Feet moving mid-throw: Breaks consistency. Solution: plant your lead foot firmly against the oche and keep it there.
- Feeling uncomfortable: Stance should feel natural. Try adjusting your foot angle slightly until it feels right.
Fixing these small issues can have a big impact on your accuracy and confidence.
How to Stand When Throwing Darts: Final Tips & Summary
Your stance is the foundation of your game. Without a solid base, your throw will always feel inconsistent. You can buy the best darts in the world from our darts buying guides, but without a proper stance, you’ll never get the best from them.
By mastering foot placement in darts, choosing the best way to stand in darts for your body, and practicing until it becomes second nature, you’ll see your accuracy and confidence improve dramatically.
The most important thing? Consistency. Find a stance that feels natural, repeat it every time, and you’ll be well on your way to hitting more trebles and chasing that 180.
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