Game Room
Scoreboards and game room gear for building out a real home dart setup.
The pieces that turn a board on a wall into somewhere people want to play.
Buying guide
Game Room Setup Guide
A dart game room needs a clear lane, a board at the right height, a marked throw line and a scoreboard everyone can read. Plan on a lane roughly 4 ft (1.2 m) wide and 11 ft (3.4 m) long as a practical minimum. This collection has the scoreboards and tournament supplies. Boards, cabinets and throw lines are in cabinets and backboards and dartboard accessories.
How much space do I need for a dartboard?
Allow about 4 ft (1.2 m) of width and 11 ft (3.4 m) of length for one board. That covers the throw distance plus room to stand behind the line and step up.
- Bullseye height: 5 ft 8 in (173 cm) from the floor, for both steel tip and soft tip.
- Steel tip throw line: 7 ft 9¼ in (237 cm) from the face of the board.
- Soft tip throw line: 8 ft (244 cm) under NDA rules.
The 2 ft by 9 ft 9 in Vinyl Dart Mat is printed with both lines and protects hardwood or tile from dropped darts.
Chalk or dry-erase: which dart scoreboard should I get?
Choose chalk for a traditional look and dry-erase for a quick wipe with no dust. All three of our scoreboards are laid out for 01 and Cricket.
| Scoreboard | Size | Worth knowing |
|---|---|---|
| Chalk Scoreboard | 23.5 x 15.5 in | Wooden chalk tray; chalk sold separately |
| White Dry Erase Scoreboard | 15 x 23 in | Wipes clean between games |
| Wall Clinging Dry Erase Scoreboard | 15 x 23 in | No nails; adhesive back reapplies up to 40 times; made in USA; marker sold separately |
How do you keep score in 501 and Cricket?
In 501 you subtract each turn from your starting score and must finish on exactly zero. In Cricket you close 15 through 20 and the bull with three marks each, and score points on numbers you have closed but your opponent has not.
- 01 games (301, 501): write each three-dart total and the new remaining score. A turn that goes past zero, or leaves 1 in a double-out game, is a bust, and the score goes back to where the turn started.
- Cricket: list 20 down to 15 plus the bull. Mark a single with a slash, a double with an X and a triple with a circled X. The first player to close everything with equal or more points wins.
Our Chalk Scoreboard and White Dry Erase Scoreboard are both laid out for 01 and Cricket.
How do I protect the wall around a dartboard?
Mount a cabinet, backboard or surround behind the board so missed darts hit it instead of the wall.
- Cabinet: the pine Steel Tip Wood Cabinet has doors that open to a chalk scoreboard, an out chart and dart holders. Made in the USA.
- Backboard: the carpeted, wood-framed Back Board measures 25 x 28⅜ in.
- Surround: the Viper Wall Defender II snaps around a regulation 17.75 in bristle board with no hardware and covers 3.8 sq ft with 1 in thick foam.
What is the best way to light a dartboard?
Light the board from the front, or with a ring of light around it, so the darts in the board do not cast shadows across the segments. Ordinary room lighting often leaves part of the board dim, which makes it hard to read where a dart landed.
The Shadow Buster Dartboard Illuminator mounts to any flattop cabinet, has adjustable LED light pods and flips up out of the way when you are done. It runs on 4 AA batteries or an optional AC adapter.
How do I run a dart tournament at home or at a bar?
Use a printed bracket, a scoreboard everyone can see and a checkout chart on the wall, so nobody argues about the math.
- Tournament Bracket Pads: 15 tear-off 11 x 15 in sheets per pad, each for up to 16 players or teams, single or double elimination, instructions included.
- Wall Out Chart: a 14 x 20 in checkout poster in Double Out for steel tip or Single Out for soft tip.
- A side game: the A-Holes Bean Bag Game has LED lighting and built-in scoring for up to 8 players, indoors or out.
Mark the big turns of the night with award pins.