Whether you wish to reach that upper echelon of play or just beat your friends at the pub, you will have to practice to improve your skills beyond what the occasional play session can provide. This is why I believe every home should have a dartboard hanging on the wall.
If you find yourself looking to set up a dartboard on which to practice, but are wondering how to hang it, this guide is just for you.
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How Do You Hang A Dartboard?
Most dartboards come with mounting equipment so that you can easily hang it in the desired location. Simply measure the correct height for the dartboard and follow the manufacturer’s hanging instructions.
That is the basic answer. The truth is, hanging a dartboard does require a little more consideration, measuring, and planning than that.
When you buy a dartboard, no matter if it is an electronic dartboard or a traditional bristle board, a few very important questions inevitably arise: what is the proper way to hang or mount a dart board? What is the correct distance and height at which to hang a dartboard? Where is the best spot to hang a dartboard?
Considerations For Hanging A Dartboard
Let us start with the “where” first because it can be the most important choice you make after choosing which dartboard to purchase.
Where To Hang A Dartboard
Finding the right place to hang your dartboard can be a deceptively complex choice. When it comes time to choose where in your home you will hang your dartboard you should, ideally, consider the following variables.
Optimally, you will want to have your dartboard in an area that has very low foot traffic. This is because the higher the chance of people walking by your game, the more you will have to interrupt play to allow them to get through.
Additionally, the more traffic you have to deal with when playing darts, the higher the chance of accidental injuries, especially with steel tips.
You should also avoid places that are heavily populated with the type of bric-a-brac that is so common in homes nowadays.
I personally keep all fragile and breakable objects entirely separate from my darts set up. At the very least, if possible, you should keep your fragile items 3 to 5 feet away from the dartboard on each side.
If you are mounting to a door, make sure it can not be opened from the other side mid-throw. And stay away from windows completely.
Optimally, you should find an empty area that measures 5 to 6 feet across and 10 to 12 feet in length. Imagine having to throw over an object, such as a coffee table, or having to walk around a piece of furniture to collect your darts after a throw. No thanks.
Another very important yet often ignored variable to consider when finding the perfect spot for your dartboard is the flooring underneath.
For example, you should be aware that concrete floors will destroy any darts that fall off the board and land tip first on the ground below. This will also happen if your dartboard is placed over other hard floors such as stone or tile.
On the other hand, if you place your dartboard over a soft floor, such as hardwood, linoleum, or vinyl, your fallen darts will cause considerable damage to the floor’s surface.
With this in mind, you may want to consider investing in a good dart mat to protect both your floor and your darts, depending on the material of your home’s flooring.
5 feet 8 inches
While different regulatory agencies across the world may have slightly different rules and regulations in their dart tournaments, there are very specific measurements that have to be considered when hanging a dartboard in your home.
The board must hang exactly 5 feet, 8 inches from the surface of the floor to the center of the bullseye.
Better quality boards typically have a centered hanging bracket or disc, which makes them far easier to mount to your wall. If your board has a top-side hanging mechanism, you will have to measure the 5 feet, 8 inches, and add the length of the board’s radius to find the correct spot.
Don’t Forget About the Oche
The oche, also known as the throw-line or toe-line, should be found exactly 7 feet 9 ¼ inches from the horizontal face of the dartboard (for steel tip).
Some of the rubber dart mats mentioned above will come with the throwline built in and pre-measured. In a pinch, a piece of tape will do.
If your darts area is multi-functional and you don’t want the tape down all the time you can opt for a laser oche. Laser oches are great because they can be turned off when not in use leaving your floor clean and clear.
Lighting
Dartboard Lighting is very important since shadows can easily affect your aim. Make sure you have proper lighting hitting the board from the right angles. Consider purchasing an LED lighting kit for your dartboard.
Cabinets And Surrounds
If you plan on adding a dart cabinet or surround, make sure you include those measurements in your planning. You will need additional space on all sides of the board.
The market offers a plethora of choices when it comes to dartboard cabinets, and you are sure to find something to match your tastes and preferences. I live in a very small space and opt to mount my board inside a cabinet because it provides me with a couple of perks.
For one, it “hides” the board very well when I’m not using it. It also has the added benefit of including a full-size scoreboard on each side, and lastly, it provides me with plenty of storage space for my growing collection of accessories.
