Darts stats explained: how to read your game
Every darts player ends up staring at the same handful of numbers: 3-dart average, checkout percentage, first-9, 180s. This is a plain-English guide to what each one means, what counts as a good score at amateur and pro level, and how to track your own darts stats automatically instead of working them out on paper.
The 3-dart average
Your 3-dart average is the single most important number in darts. It is the average number of points you score per three darts (one visit), across a whole leg or match. The maths is simple: total points scored, divided by darts thrown, multiplied by three.
So if you score 501 in 18 darts, that is (501 / 18) x 3 = an 83.5 average. The higher the number, the faster you are clearing the board.
What is a good 3-dart average?
It depends entirely on your level. Here is a rough guide to where most players sit:
| 3-dart average | Level |
|---|---|
| Under 40 | New to darts / casual pub player |
| 40 - 55 | Regular pub and league player |
| 55 - 70 | Strong county / Super League standard |
| 70 - 85 | Semi-professional, top amateur |
| 85 - 95 | Professional tour standard |
| 95+ | Elite - the very top of the PDC |
For context, a 100+ average wins almost any professional match, and the televised record sits just above 123. If you are averaging in the 50s and 60s, you are a genuinely good darts player.
First-9 average
The first-9 average is your 3-dart average over just the opening three visits of a leg, before checkouts come into play. It is a pure measure of scoring power, because it strips out the slower finishing darts. A big gap between your first-9 and your overall average usually means your scoring is fine but your finishing is costing you time.
Checkout percentage
Your checkout percentage is how often you take out a finish when you have a dart at a double. If you had 10 chances to win the leg and converted 4 of them, that is a 40% checkout rate. Doubles win legs, so this number often matters more than your scoring. Pros sit around 40-45%; club players are commonly in the 15-30% range, which is exactly where most legs are won and lost.
180s, tons and scoring breakdown
A 180 is the maximum score with three darts (three treble 20s). Counting your 180s, 140+ visits and 100+ visits ("tons") shows how often you hit the big scores. A scoring breakdown groups every visit into bands so you can see whether you are consistently posting 60s and 80s or spiking the odd big score between weaker visits.
How to track your darts stats automatically
You can work all of this out by hand, but it is far easier to let an app do it. If you already log your games in DartCounter, CSWStats reads your match history and turns it into proper darts stats: your 3-dart average over time, checkout percentage, first-9, 180s, a full scoring breakdown, a head-to-head record and your rank against other players. With an Omni smart-board you also get a heatmap of where every dart actually landed.
Want to see your own numbers? Score a quick game in the browser, or link your DartCounter account for your full history.
Common questions
What is the average 3-dart score for a pub player?
Most regular pub and league players average somewhere between 40 and 55. Breaking 60 consistently puts you among the stronger players in any local league.
Is a higher or lower darts average better?
Higher is better. The average is points-per-visit, so a bigger number means you are scoring more and clearing the board in fewer darts.
Do I need an Omni board to use CSWStats?
No. Every stat except the throw-coordinate heatmap works with any DartCounter account. The Omni board only adds the dart-by-dart "where did it land" map. See the FAQ for more.