501 Strategy — How to Win Consistently

Core Strategy: Play for Doubles Early

501 is won on a double, not on a treble. Strong players plan two or even three turns ahead to reach easy doubles.

Good doubles to aim for

• D20 (40)
• D16 (32)
• D12 (24)

They have large segments, clean misses, and avoid impossible numbers.

Doubles to avoid

• D1
• D3
• D5
• D7

Miss them and you fall into awkward territory.

Stay on Evens — Why It Matters

If you're on 61, you must go odd → even → double. Hit T11 (33) or 25 (36) to get back to ideal ranges. On even numbers, any single score can still leave you even → even → double.

In short: Evens = options.

When to Switch off the 20s

Switch beds the moment a dart blocks the segment.

• If first dart lands high on 20: switch from T20 to T19, or to T18/T17.
• Quick switches keep scores flowing and maintain pressure.
• 57 (T19) and 54 (T18) win games too.

Know Your Two‑Dart Routes

Score	Recommended Route	Notes
100	T20 → D20	Classic
98	T20 → D19	Or T18 → D12
97	T19 → D20	Clean
96	T20 → D18	Great setup
95	T19 → D19	Solid
94	T18 → D20	Alternative
92	T20 → D16	Pro favorite
90	T20 → D15	Or T18 → D18
88	T16 → D20	Elite consistency

If you're newer, learn 92, 96, 88, and 100 first — those alone win matches.

Avoid Bust Traps

Don’t force finishes from awkward numbers.

• 39, 37, 35, 33
• 32 (if you go 16 → 16)
• 31, 29

If you land there, reset and aim for a clean setup next turn.

Example Finish Routes

On 74

• T14 → D16
• T18 → D10

On 62

• 12 → Bull (50)
• T10 → D16

On 56

• 20 → D18
• T16 → D4

Example 501 Leg

• Throw 1: T20 – 5 – T19 → 93
• Throw 2: T20 – T19 – 19 → 98
• Throw 3: T20 – S20 – 20 → 100 left
• Throw 4: T20 → D20 → Game Shot

No hero darts. No risky routing. Always playing toward D20/D16.

Common Mistakes That Lose Games

• Forcing trebles through blocked beds
• Leaving odd numbers near doubles
• Ignoring setup shots
• Chasing bull unnecessarily
• Not knowing routes from <100
• Finishing “favorite” numbers instead of smart ones

How to Practice 501

• 60 → 40 → out (simulate endgame pressure)
• Practice 96, 92, 88, 84 exclusively
• Throw 40 doubles in a session
• Hit D16 repeatedly until automatic

One week of these drills makes a noticeable difference.

Summary

• Play into easy doubles early
• Stay on evens
• Switch beds when blocked
• Use clean two‑dart routes
• Avoid bust traps
• Practice finishing ranges 60–100