If you’re new to darts, one of the first things that probably confuses you is why every professional match starts on 501 rather than the much neater and more satisfying 500. After all, starting from a round number seems logical — so why does the sport insist on that extra point?
As it turns out, the answer makes total sense once you understand the rules and strategy behind competitive darts.
It’s All About the Double Finish
The key reason is simple:
Darts matches must end on a double.
To win a leg, a player has to reach zero by finishing on a double, such as double 20, double 16, or double 10. Because scoring in darts naturally creates a variety of combinations, starting at 501 — an odd number — guarantees that players cannot finish a leg in just one throw or by landing a single big score for an easy win.
Starting at 500, however, would allow certain very short or unstrategic finishes that break the tradition and challenge of the game.
The Odd Number Creates Better Checkout Routes
By beginning at 501, players have to use proper three-dart combinations to reach a finish. It forces:
- More strategic thinking
- More balanced scoring
- More complex checkout math
This results in the iconic 170 maximum finish (T20, T20, bull), which wouldn’t work the same way from a round 500.
Starting from an odd number ensures that after the first scoring visit, players land on a reliable set of even numbers, keeping checkout paths clean and consistent.
Prevents One-Dart Finishes Too Early
Starting from 500 opens up the possibility of awkward or anticlimactic finishes — including the potential for very short legs ending on single numbers rather than doubles.
The 501 format ensures:
- No cheap one-dart finishes early in the leg
- Finishes must be earned through proper set-up shots
- The game retains its competitive integrity
The sport is built on the drama of reaching a double, and the 501 start protects that tradition.
A Rule That’s Become Iconic
Over decades of televised darts, 501 has become a part of the sport’s identity. Fans, commentators and players are all used to the rhythm:
- Scoring to set up a finish
- Mathematical combinations
- Pressure doubles
- Big checkouts like 170, 161 or 132
Starting at 500 would change many of the classic routes that define the game.
In Short: 501 Isn’t Random — It’s Smart
The reason darts starts at 501 instead of 500 ultimately comes down to:
✔ Tradition
✔ Better scoring strategy
✔ More consistent checkout routes
✔ Ensuring the game always ends on a double
✔ Preserving the drama that makes darts great
That tiny extra point — the “1” in 501 — keeps the sport structured, challenging and exciting.
