9 Dart Finish Explained: The Perfect Leg

A 9 dart finish is the lowest number of darts in which a game of 501 can be completed. It means starting from 501 and reaching exactly zero in just three visits to the board -- nine darts total -- finishing on a double. It is the rarest and most celebrated achievement in the sport, the equivalent of a hole-in-one in golf or a perfect game in bowling.

The quick answer: To finish 501 in nine darts, you must average 167 per three-dart visit. The standard route is two rounds of 180 (T20 T20 T20), followed by a 141 checkout (T20 T19 D12). That gives you 180 + 180 + 141 = 501.

This guide breaks down exactly how a nine-dart finish works, what routes exist, who has done it on the biggest stages, and what makes it so difficult.

What Makes a 9 Dart Finish So Difficult?

To understand the difficulty, consider the maths. You have nine darts to remove exactly 501 points, and the last dart must land on a double. That means your first eight darts must all hit high-value treble segments, and then you need a precise checkout with your final dart or two.

Here is what that looks like in practice:

• Darts 1-3: Score 180 (three treble 20s)
• Darts 4-6: Score 180 (three treble 20s)
• Darts 7-9: Score exactly 141 and finish on a double

The treble 20 bed is roughly 8mm wide. Hitting it seven times in a row, then switching to a different treble and a double, requires extraordinary accuracy and composure.

The Different Routes to a Perfect Leg

While 180, 180, 141 is the most well-known path, it is not the only one. Any combination of three three-dart visits that total 501 and end on a double qualifies.

The Standard Route: 180, 180, 141

This is the route most commonly seen on television. Seven darts at treble 20, then treble 19, then double 12. Players prefer this because treble 20 is their primary target anyway -- they only need to move to a different part of the board for the last two darts.

Alternative 141 Checkouts

The third visit does not have to follow T20 T19 D12. Any valid 141 checkout works:

Routes That Skip 180

A nine-dart finish does not require two maximums. Any three visits totalling 501 work, as long as the last dart is a double.

The 180-177-144 route (finishing T20 T20 D12 after T20 T20 T20 and T20 T20 T19) is sometimes seen when a player hits treble 19 instead of treble 20 during the second visit and then adjusts in the third.

How Many Ways Can You Hit a 9 Dart Finish?

Mathematically, there are 3,944 possible combinations of nine darts that total exactly 501 while finishing on a double. However, the vast majority involve low-percentage targets like treble 17, treble 18, or obscure double finishes that no player would deliberately pursue.

In practice, nearly every nine-dart finish at professional level follows one of these patterns:

1. Two 180s + 141 checkout -- the standard
2. 180 + 177 + 144 checkout -- when one T19 sneaks in during the second visit
3. 180 + 174 + 147 checkout -- rare but recorded

The reason is simple: professional players always aim at treble 20. A nine-dart finish almost always begins with six consecutive treble 20s because that is where the player was aiming anyway.

Famous 9 Dart Finishes in History

John Lowe -- The First on Television (1984)

John Lowe threw the first televised nine-dart finish during the MFI World Matchplay on 13 October 1984. His route was unusual by modern standards: he used T17 T18 D18 for his final visit (a 141 checkout avoiding the 20 segment entirely). He won a prize of 102,000 pounds for the achievement.

Phil Taylor -- The Record Holder

Phil "The Power" Taylor holds the record for the most televised nine-dart finishes, with 11 across his career. His most famous came in the 2010 Premier League final against Adrian Lewis, where he hit back-to-back nine-darters in consecutive legs -- something never seen before or since on television.

The Modern Era

As scoring standards in the PDC have risen, nine-dart finishes have become more frequent, though still rare. Players like Michael van Gerwen, Gary Anderson, and Adrian Lewis have all achieved them on the biggest stages. The PDC World Championship has seen multiple nine-darters, each greeted with enormous crowd celebrations.

Breaking Down the Maths

To appreciate why this is so hard, consider the probability. A top professional hits treble 20 roughly 40-45% of the time when aiming at it. For the standard route, you need:

• Seven consecutive treble 20s (darts 1-7)
• One treble 19 (dart 8)
• One double 12 (dart 9)

Even with a generous 45% accuracy on trebles and 40% on the double, the probability of all nine landing perfectly is approximately:

0.45^7 x 0.45 x 0.40 = roughly 0.0007%

That is about 1 in 150,000 attempts. In practice the odds are slightly better because a player in form may be hitting above their average, but it illustrates why nine-dart finishes remain headline news even at the highest level.

What About Amateurs?

For a pub or club player who hits treble 20 around 10-15% of the time, the maths become astronomically unlikely. Hitting seven consecutive trebles at that accuracy is a roughly 1 in 100 million proposition before you even factor in the checkout.

The more realistic milestones for improving players are:

If you are working on your accuracy, our guide to dart accuracy drills covers practical routines for improving treble consistency.

The 170 Checkout: The Big Fish

The 170 checkout (T20 T20 Bull) is closely related to the nine-dart finish and deserves its own mention. It is the highest possible checkout in 501 -- the maximum you can take out in a single three-dart visit.

While a 170 checkout can happen at any point during a leg (not just during a nine-dart attempt), it shares the same DNA: consecutive high trebles followed by a precise finish on the bullseye.

Our 501 checkout chart covers every finish from 170 down to 2, including the routes you will actually use in matches.

How to Practice for Big Scores

You are not going to deliberately practice nine-dart finishes -- that would be like practicing hole-in-ones. Instead, focus on the building blocks:

1. Treble 20 Consistency

Spend dedicated practice time throwing at T20. Track how many out of 30 darts you land in the treble. Your percentage here directly correlates with your overall scoring ability.

2. The 180 Challenge

Throw sets of three darts at treble 20 and count your 180s over a session. Even recording your first 180 is a significant milestone. If you want a structured approach, our practice games guide has several routines built around scoring improvement.

3. High Checkout Practice

Set yourself up on 141 and practice finishing it in three darts. Then try 144, 147, and 150. These are the checkouts that appear in nine-dart finishes, and they are also common checkouts in competitive play.

4. Pressure Simulation

The mental side matters as much as the physical. When you hit two 180s in practice, force yourself to go for the nine-dart checkout on the next visit rather than relaxing. Getting comfortable with that pressure -- even in practice -- builds the composure needed in matches.

The 9 Dart Finish in Context

The nine-dart finish sits at the very peak of darts achievement. To put it in perspective:

• A typical pub game of 501 takes 15-25 darts per player
• A strong club player might finish in 12-18 darts
• A professional averages around 12-15 darts
• The absolute minimum is 9 darts

The gap between a professional's average and the theoretical minimum shows just how special a perfect leg is. Even the best in the world usually need 30-50% more darts than the minimum.

For more on the double out rule that makes the final dart of a nine-darter so crucial, and the scoring system that underpins the entire game, check out our dedicated guides.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you score 501 in only nine darts?

You need to score exactly 501 in three visits of three darts each, finishing on a double. The most common route is seven treble 20s, a treble 19, and double 12: 180 + 180 + 141 = 501.

How many ways can you hit a 9 dart finish?

There are 3,944 possible nine-dart combinations in 501. However, most involve impractical targets. In competitive play, nearly every nine-darter uses some combination of treble 20s and treble 19s with a double to close out.

Has anyone hit a 9 dart finish on TV?

Yes. John Lowe threw the first televised nine-dart finish in 1984. Since then, dozens of players have achieved it on television, with Phil Taylor holding the record at 11. The feat has become more frequent in the modern PDC era but remains a headline event.

Is a 9 dart finish possible for amateur players?

Technically yes, but practically it is almost impossible. It requires seven consecutive treble hits and a precise checkout, all under pressure. Even top professionals only manage it a handful of times across a career. For most players, throwing a 180 is the more realistic milestone.

What is the most common 9 dart finish route?

The most common route is 180, 180, 141 -- six treble 20s followed by T20 T19 D12. Players prefer this because treble 20 is already their primary target, so the first seven darts require no adjustment from their normal game.

Summary

The nine-dart finish is the perfect leg of 501: three visits, nine darts, exactly zero. While there are thousands of mathematical combinations that work, the standard route of 180, 180, 141 dominates because it aligns with how professionals already play -- aiming at treble 20 and adjusting only for the checkout.

Whether you are chasing your first 180 or dreaming of something bigger, the skills are the same: treble consistency, checkout knowledge, and composure under pressure. Track your progress with Dartsy and see how your scoring averages improve over time.