How to Hang a Bristle Dartboard at Regulation Height and Distance

Having a practice dartboard at home can bring your dart playing to the next level.

Steel-tip dart games can be a fun diversion at home or on a night out with friends at the local bar. As with other sports, you can also join local dart leagues or participate in blind draws and dart competitions for money. Hanging an official bristle dartboard at home gives you the opportunity to practice more often and take your dart playing to the next level. It's important to have consistency when practicing darts; so you'll want to hang your bristle dartboard at the regulation height and distance.

Difficulty:

Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need

• At least 7 foot high ceilings
• At least 11 feet by 4 feet clear playing space
• Measuring tape
• Pencil
• Regulation bristle dartboard
• Wall mounting bracket (included with dartboard)
• Level (optional)
• Three heavy duty screws (included with dartboard)
• Screwdriver or power drill with screwdriver bit
• Three rubber stoppers (included)
• Three small nails (included)
• Hammer
• Scrap paper or cardboard (optional)
• Chalk
• Masking or blue painter's tape
• Ruler or other straight edge

Hanging the Dartboard

1. Use the measuring tape to measure 5 feet, 8 inches up from the floor. Mark this spot on the wall with a pencil.

2. Place bracket on wall. The pencil mark should be within the bottom curve of the center U-shaped opening.

3. Screw the bracket into the wall. Center the screws in the circular openings on either side of the U-shaped opening. You can use a small level to make sure the bracket is straight or just eyeball it.

4. Turn the dartboard over and use the measuring tape to find the center. Mark with a pencil. (Some dartboards come already marked with a small indentation in the center).

5. Attach a screw to the center of dartboard back. Do not screw it all the way in; leave enough space between the screw and the backing so it can slide into the mounting bracket.

6. Place three rubber stoppers on the back of board, about 2 inches from the edge, roughly equal distances from each other.

7. Place a nail in the center of the first stopper and hammer into place until the stopper sits firmly against the board.

8. Place the dartboard back against the wall, slightly above the bracket. Slide it down until the screw slips into the U-shaped opening on the wall bracket. Turn until the 20 is centered at the top. The dartboard should fit snugly against the wall. If there is still some small movement, remove dartboard and tighten the center screw. Rehang dartboard.

Setting Up the Throw Line

1. Measure the thickness of your dartboard.

2. Measure along the floor, from the wall, 7 feet, 9 1/4 inches plus the thickness of your dartboard. Regulation measurement is 7 feet, 9 1/4 inches from the front of your dartboard. For extra precision, you can hang a plumb line down from the dartboard bullseye. Measure 7 feet, 9 1/4 inches from where the plumb touches the floor.

3. Mark the measurement on the floor with chalk or tape, depending on your floor surface. This marks the front edge of your throw line. To create a straight throw line, measure twice from the wall, starting at either side of the dartboard. When you have the two marks at the proper distance, use the straight edge to draw the line between them.

4. Affix 2 feet of at least 1-inch tape in a straight line to the floor with the front edge of the tape touching your chalk or tape line from Step 3. The front edge of the tape is the closest a player can stand when throwing; they can not step over it. You can use a raised piece of wood or metal trim to mark the throw line, but this can present a tripping hazard. If the dartboard is in an area where people don't normally walk through, this can be a more permanent toe line option.

Tips & Warnings

• An easy way to find placement for the rubber stoppers is to use the 20 section, the wire between the 10 and 15 sections and the wire between the 8 and 16 sections on the front of the dartboard as a guideline. Gripping the edge of the board and placing your index finger on the number, and your thumb on the corresponding area on the back of the dartboard, will help easily you find your mark.

• If the dartboard still wobbles, you can insert folded pieces of paper or cardboard between the dartboard and wall. It's a common practice, especially in bars and pubs, as few people have completely straight walls.

• Steel-tip darts can sometimes miss the dartboard and land in your walls. You can buy special dartboard backing to help protect your drywall.

• Dart supplies vendors have specialty adhesive throw lines to use instead of plain tape.

• Some dartboards are labeled "regulation size," but they're not. A regulation dartboard that the professionals use is 18 inches in diameter and 1 1/2 inches thick.

References

• A1 Darts: Dart Rules -- Hanging a Dart Board