Dart Scoreboard Double out in darts: what it means and how it is enforced
Double out: your last dart has to land in a double, or the bullseye, and bring you to exactly zero. Reach zero on a single or a treble, or leave yourself on 1, and the whole visit busts. Dart Scoreboard checks this for you automatically whenever Double Out is switched on — most players leave it on even in a casual game.
Double out meaning, in plain words
In 501 and the other X01 games you count down to zero. Double out adds one condition: the dart that gets you to zero must be in the thin outer ring (a double) or the bullseye, which counts as double 25.
It is the standard rule in league and televised darts because it makes the finish a real test. The usual full form is straight in, double out: you start scoring with any dart, but you must finish on a double.
The three ways to bust under double-out
- Going below zero. You are on 40 and score 45: bust.
- Leaving exactly 1. No double is worth 1, so a leave of 1 can never be finished. The visit is a bust.
- Reaching zero without a double. You are on 40 and throw single 20, single 20: that is zero, but the last dart was a single, so it is a bust.
In every case the whole visit is cancelled and your score goes back to what it was before the visit.
Worked examples, as the app scores them
| Score before | Darts | Result | Score after |
|---|---|---|---|
| 41 | 20, 20 | Bust: leaves 1 | 41 |
| 40 | 20, 20 | Bust: zero, but last dart a single | 40 |
| 40 | 20, 20, 5 | Bust: 45 goes below zero | 40 |
| 40 | D20 | Checkout | 0 |
| 32 | 16, D8 | Checkout | 0 |
| 170 | T20, T20, Bull | Checkout | 0 |
First row is the one that catches people out. 41, two single 20s, looks like progress right up until it leaves you on 1 — and 1 can't be finished, ever. The app marks it BUST — score unchanged, you stay on 41.
With Double Out off, the same 20, 20 on 41 simply leaves 1, and a single 1 next dart wins the leg.
How to set double-out in Dart Scoreboard
- On the home screen, pick 501, 301, 701 or 1001 under Game.
- Switch Double Out on for standard rules or off for straight out.
- To make your choice the default for every new match, open Settings and set Double Out in the Defaults section.
- Start the match. When you finish, tap Double and then the number for the last dart, or Bull with Double selected for the bullseye.
Why play double-out if you are a beginner?
Straight out is fine for a first game, but double-out teaches you to plan the last few visits: leave 32 (D16) or 40 (D20) rather than an odd number. Once the app is doing the checks, the rule costs you nothing to learn, and the Checkout hint shows you a route from 170 down.
Questions and answers
Does the bullseye count as a double?
What does straight in, double out mean?
Why is leaving 1 a bust?
Can I turn double-out off?
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