What is darts?
Darts is a precision sport that involves throwing small pointed projectiles at a circular target divided into numbered sectors, suspended at a standard height. Simple to understand yet infinitely difficult to master, darts combines skill, mental arithmetic, and stress management in a resolutely convivial atmosphere.
Long confined to the back rooms of bistros, darts is currently enjoying a new lease of life in Paris: next-generation gaming bars, interactive social darts, corporate tournaments… The discipline is shedding its dusty image to settle into hybrid, stylish, and festive venues.
History and Origins
Darts originated in 19th-century England, in pubs. Soldiers reportedly began throwing their crossbow bolts at severed wooden logs, then at paper targets stuck onto beer barrels. The circular target as we know it today—with its 20 segments, doubles, and triples—was standardized in the early 20th century.
In 1954, the British Darts Organisation (BDO) was founded, marking the beginning of the sport’s official structuring. In 1992, the Professional Darts Corporation (PDC) was born from a split with the BDO, propelling darts toward a spectacular professional model with sold-out arenas, television broadcasts, and players becoming true stars.
Darts in Paris
The French Darts Federation (FFD) was founded in 1976—it celebrates its 50th anniversary in 2026. The Île-de-France league is one of the most active in the country, with several affiliated Parisian clubs and a calendar of regular tournaments throughout the year. Paris is also one of the French cities where the social darts scene is growing fastest, driven by the opening of new darts bars in the eastern districts of Paris.
Darts in Paris in 2026
A scene in full revolution
Paris is experiencing a true turning point for darts. The discipline is progressively moving out of dark back rooms into modern, bright, and festive venues. Two major trends are shaping the Parisian scene in 2026:
Traditional darts bars offer sisal or cork boards in a British pub atmosphere. You play 501, order a pint, and spend the evening aiming for the triple 20.
Social darts, a concept imported from the UK and Ireland, represents the novelty of 2026. Interactive boards equipped with sensors automatically calculate scores, offer different game modes on touch screens, and transform the game into an immersive social experience. It is the trendy evening activity in Paris in 2026.
Where to play darts in Paris?
Les Petites Flèches is the leading darts bar brand in Paris, with three locations in the capital. Friendly atmosphere, professional boards, regular events, and private spaces for groups.
Shuffled – Boom Boom Villette (30 avenue Corentin Cariou, Paris 19th) is the next-generation darts bar to discover in 2026: 5 interactive social darts boards and 17 shuffleboard tables in a bright and festive space. Ideal for groups and private events.
Parisian sports bars are also increasing their darts areas: particularly in the 10th, 11th, and 20th arrondissements, which account for nearly 60% of the darts establishments in the capital. Private spaces for corporate events have seen 45% growth since 2022.
Types of dartboards in Paris
| Board type | Characteristics | Ideal for |
|---|---|---|
| Sisal board | Professional board, steel-tip darts | Competition, clubs |
| Electronic board | Automatic scoring, multi-mode | Beginners, bars, events |
| Interactive social darts | High-precision sensors, touch screen, varied games | Groups, afterworks, events |
Official Equipment
The board
| Characteristic | Official Measurement |
|---|---|
| Total diameter | 45.1 cm |
| Scoring zone | 34 cm |
| Center of the bull (height from floor) | 1.73 m |
| Material (competition) | Pressed sisal |
| Number of segments | 20 + bull + bull’s eye |
The throw line (oche)
| Profile | Official distance |
|---|---|
| Steel darts (steel tip) | 2.37 m from the center of the board |
| Soft darts (plastic tip) | 2.44 m from the center of the board |
The darts
| Type | Characteristics |
|---|---|
| Steel tip | For sisal boards — FFD competition |
| Soft tip | For electronic boards — FEF competition |
| Weight | Between 12 g and 50 g (20 to 26 g recommended) |
| Barrel | Brass, nickel, or tungsten (90% tungsten for pros) |
Official Rules
501 — the competition standard
501 double out is the official rule for professional competitions.
Objective: be the first to reduce your score from 501 to exactly 0, necessarily finishing on a double (or on the bull’s eye at 50 pts, which counts as a double 25).
Gameplay:
1. Each player starts with 501 points
2. Each turn, the player throws 3 darts and subtracts their score
3. If the player goes below 0, the visit is void (bust) and they return to their score from the previous turn
4. The game ends when a player reaches exactly 0 on a double
301
Same principle as 501, but each player starts with 301 points. Games are shorter, ideal for beginners or fast formats. In France, regional tournaments frequently use 301 for qualifiers, reserving 501 for the finals.
Cricket
Cricket is a strategic game very popular in competitions and social settings. The objective is to close segments 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, and the bull by hitting them 3 times each, while scoring points on segments closed by your team but not yet by the opponent. The first to close all segments with the highest score wins.
Other popular games
| Game | Description | Recommended level |
|---|---|---|
| Around the Clock | Hit each segment from 1 to 20 in order | Beginner |
| Shanghai | Hit the single, double, and triple of the same segment in one turn | Intermediate |
| Killer | Each player has a segment to defend and must eliminate opponents | Intermediate |
| High Score | Score the maximum possible in 3 darts | All levels |
Strategy and Technique
The stance
- Lead foot forward, aligned with the throw line (oche)
- Body slightly side-on, lead shoulder pointed toward the board
- Elbow high, arm forward — only the forearm moves during the throw
- Eyes fixed on the target zone, not on the dart
Strategic zones
In 501, the priority is the triple 20 (60 pts per dart), then the triple 19 (57 pts), then the triple 18 (54 pts). The world’s best players systematically aim for the triple 20 to go down quickly.
At the end of the game, calculation becomes crucial. Classic checkout combinations:
– 170: triple 20, triple 20, bull’s eye (the maximum possible finish)
– 121: triple 20, triple 11, bull’s eye
– 40: double 20 (the most common finish)
Dart weights by profile
| Profile | Recommended weight |
|---|---|
| Beginner | 22 to 26 g |
| Intermediate | 20 to 24 g |
| Expert | 18 to 22 g |
| Soft-tip player | 14 to 18 g |
Corporate darts and team building in Paris
Darts is establishing itself as an essential corporate activity in Paris in 2026:
- Accessible to all: in 5 minutes, a beginner understands the rules and can score points
- Compact and flexible: one board, 6 darts — no minimum space required
- Unifying: perfect for afterworks, seminars, and end-of-year parties
- Social darts: interactive boards add a screen, animations, and spectacle — ideal for groups
- Customizable: boards and darts branded with your company colors
Private spaces for corporate events have seen 45% growth since 2022, proof that darts has become a go-to choice for Parisian teams.
Recommended Formats for a Corporate Event
| Number of Participants | Recommended Format |
|---|---|
| 10 to 20 people | Individual 501 tournament, single group |
| 20 to 40 people | Doubles tournament, pools + final |
| 40 to 80 people | Several boards in parallel, Swiss format |
| 80+ people | Social darts on interactive boards, hosted activity |
Organizing a darts tournament in Paris with Panache Club
Looking to offer an original team-building activity to your teams in Paris? Panache Club, a specialist in games of skill and corporate events since 2012, organizes darts tournaments and activities in Paris in a turnkey format.
Whether in your offices, on a rooftop, or at an event venue, Panache Club takes care of everything: professional equipment, dynamic hosting, team management, and scoring.
What Panache Club Offers:
- Darts tournament for companies: format adapted to your group, from 10 to 100+ participants
- Social darts activity: interactive boards with screens, varied games, guaranteed atmosphere
- Turnkey: installation, initiation, refereeing, and score management included
- Combination with other activities: Pétanque, Cornhole, Mölkky, quizzes, drinks — for a 100% convivial evening
Ideal for an afterwork, a seminar, a team-building day, or an end-of-year party, darts offers a British and festive experience accessible to all levels.
👉 Contact Panache Club to organize your darts tournament in Paris
Official competitions in 2026
In France
- French Darts Cup 2026: organized by the Lyon Darts Academy in Écully (69) on April 3-5, 2026, marking the 50th anniversary of the FFD. Competition reserved for FFD members, with Opens available to everyone on Friday, April 3 and Saturday, April 4.
- National Masters 2026: major summer event in Bray-Dunes, from June 25 to 28, 2026
- Regional Masters: individual and doubles events in May 2026 across all leagues
Internationally
- PDC Premier League 2026: 17 European nights (Berlin, London…) featuring the world’s best players
- PDC World Championship: Alexandra Palace in London remains the temple of world darts
- WDF World Championship: World Darts Federation world championship, open to amateurs and non-PDC pros
Buying a darts set
For What Use?
| Use | Recommendation |
|---|---|
| Occasional leisure | Sisal board + 2 sets of brass darts, ~€30–60 |
| Regular practice | Pro sisal board + 80% tungsten darts, ~€80–150 |
| FFD Competition | Certified sisal board + 90% tungsten darts, ~€150–300 |
| Corporate event | Electronic or social darts board, upon request |
Purchase Considerations
- Prioritize a sisal board (self-healing) rather than cork or paper
- Check the installation height: center of the bull at 1.73 m from the floor
- Respect the official distance: 2.37 m for steel tip, 2.44 m for soft tip
- Choose tungsten darts for better grip and a slimmer profile
Glossary
| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| Bull’s eye | Center of the board, worth 50 points (double 25) |
| Bull | Outer circle of the center, worth 25 points |
| Triple | Narrow outer band, multiplies the segment value by 3 |
| Double | Wide outer band, multiplies the segment value by 2 |
| Oche | Official throw line |
| Bust | Exceeding 0 in 501 — the visit is void |
| Leg | One game of 501 or 301 |
| Set | A collection of legs (usually 3 to 5) |
| Double out | Official rule: must finish the game on a double |
| Social darts | High-tech interactive boards imported from the UK |
| Steel tip | Steel-pointed darts — for sisal boards |
| Soft tip | Plastic-pointed darts — for electronic boards |
| FFD | French Darts Federation |
| PDC | Professional Darts Corporation — world professional circuit |
| WDF | World Darts Federation — world amateur federation |
Guide updated in 2026 — Sources: French Darts Federation, Professional Darts Corporation, World Darts Federation, Les Petites Flèches, Shuffled.
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