Darts Terminology Glossary: Slang and Scoring Terms Explained
Commentators talk about tons, madhouses and the oche as if everyone already knows what they mean. Here is every common darts term explained in one place — scoring, match structure, board slang and nicknames.
Scoring Terms
Darts has its own vocabulary for big scores, built up over decades of pub play and TV commentary. These are the terms you will hear every time a player picks up three darts.
| Term | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Ton | A score of 100 or more in a single visit of three darts. |
| Ton 40 | A visit worth exactly 140 — commonly treble 20, treble 20, single 20. |
| Ton 80 / Maximum | The highest possible score from three darts: treble 20 three times, worth 180. |
| Bed | Any individual scoring segment on the board — a single, double, treble or bull bed. |
| Shanghai | Hitting the single, double and treble of the same number in one visit. |
| Bull / Bullseye | The centre of the board. The outer ring scores 25; the inner "double bull" scores 50. |
| Bust | Throwing a dart that takes a player's score below zero, to one, or to zero without a double — the turn's score is then reverted. |
Match Structure Terms
Beyond individual visits, darts matches are built from legs and sets, with their own stats and milestones attached.
| Term | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Leg | A single game, almost always starting from 501 and played "double out". |
| Set | A group of legs — typically first to 3 or first to 5 — used to structure TV majors and match play. |
| Checkout / Finish | The combination of darts that reduces a player's score to exactly zero, ending on a double or the bull. |
| Average | A player's total points scored divided by the number of darts thrown, multiplied by three — the sport's headline scoring stat. |
| Nine-darter | A leg of 501 finished in the minimum possible nine darts — the rarest and most celebrated feat in the sport. |
| Whitewash | Winning a match without dropping a single leg (or set) against the opponent. |
| Bogey number | One of the seven scores between 2 and 170 with no valid three-dart route to a checkout: 169, 168, 166, 165, 163, 162 and 159. |
Board and Throw Terms
A handful of terms describe the physical setup and the board itself — where players stand, and the segments and nicknames attached to specific spots on the board.
| Term | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Oche | The throwing line. In PDC play it is 7 feet 9.25 inches (2.37m) from the face of the board. |
| Madhouse | Double 1 — nicknamed for how unwelcome it is to be left needing it, since missing it leaves only a finish of 2. |
| Robin Hood | Landing a dart in the back of another dart already in the board, splitting its shaft. |
| Tops | Double 20 — the most commonly targeted double to finish a leg, sitting at the top of the board. |
| Trebles | The inner scoring ring, worth three times the segment value — most famously treble 20, worth 60. |
Why the Slang Matters
Darts commentary leans heavily on this shorthand — a caller announcing “one hundred and eighty!” or a co-commentator noting a player is “gone to the madhouse” assumes the viewer already knows the terms. Once the basics click, the sport is far easier to follow, whether you are watching a Players Championship on the floor or a major like the World Matchplay on TV. For the mechanics behind finishing a leg, see our full checkout chart guide, and for how legs and sets combine into a match, see our scoring formats explainer.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does "ton" mean in darts?
A "ton" is a score of 100 or more in a single visit of three darts, with "ton 40" for 140 and "ton 80" for the maximum 180.
What is the oche?
The oche is the throwing line players must stand behind. In PDC play it sits 7 feet 9.25 inches (2.37m) from the face of the board.
What is a shanghai in darts?
Hitting the single, double and treble of the same number in one visit. In some informal variants, a shanghai wins the leg outright.
What is the madhouse in darts?
Double 1 — nicknamed for how unwelcome it is to need it, since missing leaves only a finish of 2.
What counts as a bust in darts?
A bust is a dart that takes a player's score below zero, to exactly one, or to zero without a double. The turn's score then reverts to what it was before that visit.
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