Home darts setup ideas for the next generation of Luke Littlers
While the renowned atmosphere of the Ally Pally is impossible to recreate in your own home, there are plenty of ways to bring the arrows to life with these home darts setup ideas.
If Luke ‘The Nuke’ Littler has inspired you, your family, and your mates to aim for a bit of dart-throwing at home, here’s how to create an enviable darts lane in your own palace.
The ultimate home darts setup ideas
Luke reportedly started playing darts on a magnetic board while still in nappies at just 18 months old.
So whether you’re planning a darts lane for a young family, a brood of teens, or for you and your mates, follow this guide and you won’t go far wrong.
Where to put a home dartboard
Before planning your home darts setup, think about where you’re going to play.
Darts is traditionally an indoor sport, so if you have a garage that’s crying out to be converted, why not create a multi-sports games room?
Related content: Find out how much it costs to convert your garage.
Choosing the right type of dartboard
Choose between a steel tip or soft tip dartboard for indoor use. Or if you want a mobile home dartboard setup (or you can’t drill holes in the wall if you’re renting), consider a travel stand or door hanging system.
- Soft tip boards are considered safer if you have young children
- Steel tip boards are better for outdoor use
- Soft tip dartboards can be electronic (with touch screen technology and WiFi functionality), but you’ll need power for it to be used properly
Protect the walls with a dartboard surround
If you’re new to the game, have youngsters, or a landlord, a dartboard surround is key to protect your wall (and darts) from damage.
Choose a basic corkboard background, or opt for something more fancy for a professional home darts setup. You could even go the whole hog and install a personalised dartboard surround!
How to hang a dartboard
Unless you’re starting your kids as young as Luke Littler, you’ll want a home darts setup to match the professional game.
- Regulation height is 1.73m (5ft 8in) from the floor to the centre of the board (the bullseye)
- The throw line (the oche) from where you throw your darts is measured from the face of the board at 2.37m (7ft 9.25in) for steel tip and 2.44m (8ft) for soft tip
- Lay a darts mat or a toeline oche as a reminder of where to throw from
For more information, check out Darts Corner’s complete guide to hanging a dartboard.
If you want to go all out with your home darts setup
To really impress, add a few bells and whistles to help set the atmosphere:
- Dartboard lights will ensure a well-lit board whatever the time of day
- A dartboard cabinet will keep everything safely tucked away
- An electronic scorer will take the pressure off the grey matter
- And a home bar will make sure you’re the most popular house on the street!
Related content: Price up the cost of adding a bar to your home dartboard setup.
Find a quality tradesperson to create your own Ally Pally at home
If Luke Littler has got you inspired, look no further than the Checkatrade professionals to create your ideal home darts setup.
Just add your postcode to the search box below to find quality, approved tradespeople in your area.
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