11/30/2007 Dear Phoebe, I am an avid dart player from Michigan who visits family in your town once or twice a year. Do you ever hold luck of the draw or open tournaments that I could join next time I am in St. Charles? Signed, MI Darter

Dear "MI Darter",

While I may have stepped outside the "dart" boundaries on occasion, I try to stick to dart or dart affiliated subjects.

Thanks for your interest.

Great to have a new darter in the area. Since you found our site, I'm sure you won't have any problems getting a hold of a member of the SCDL. Just in case, I'll get your email address to someone on the BOD.

Thanks for the message. And thanks for the well wishes!!

Thanks for the message. I hope I can help.

Slumps come and slumps go. Its often a mindset more than anything. Try not to put too much pressure on yourself.

Obviously, you should practice throwing at the numbers you are having the most problems with. For me, a little game of "around the world" makes for good practice. I throw at the outside ring in every number (dub's), then the inside (trips) and then beds (all three in one number). I don't move on until I've done this in every number ending with double and single bulls. The object being to do this as accurately as possible without having to spend too much time on any number.

I also believe practicing with someone (especially someone you consider a better player) is important. Cricket, Spanish, and Minnesota are as much strategy as ability. You can learn a great deal by playing with seasoned veterans.

Hope you get your game back! Keep 'em flying!

	7/9/2007 Dear Phoebe, Ive been throwing darts for only a couple of years. Been throwing in 2 leagues a night. Im alright, but Id like to be better. I consistently throw left of where im aiming. (i.e. hitting 5's when aiming at 20's) When I throw, it all feels comfortable and right. The release is good, the spin is tight, not wobbly. I just dont know what I'm doing wrong. Tried moving the angle of my feet to both extremes (Heel and toe on the line, to my toes being perpendicular to the line.) Any other advice? Or am I just over thinking this whole thing? Signed, Momentary Greatness

Dear "Momentary Greatness",

Practice is the only way to improve your skills. However, it seems quite possible you are trying too hard. It is a leisure sport so keep it fun. The only suggestions I have are as follows: Try moving over to the right on the toe line. If that doesn't work, go the other way. Watch your elbow. Is it straight when you release? You could be dropping it without realizing you're doing it. All the best to you and "keep 'em flying!"

	6/29/2007 Dear Phoebe, In a game where one needs to double-out is it legal to deliberately throw poorly to control one's points? For example, if I'm down to 27 and throw a 1 on my first throw of that turn, am I allowed to deliberately throw outside the scoring area with the two remaining darts? Signed, Xena

Dear "Xena",

Yes - that is acceptable. But why wouldn't you throw at the out with the other two darts? Thanks for the message. All the best to you.

	5/29/2007 Dear Phoebe, how far away do you put the throw line Signed, matt vonasten

Dear "Matt",

Thanks for the question. There is a link at the top of the column which will give you all the information you need. Keep 'em flyin'

	3/31/2007 Dear Phoebe, come to Croatia and teach me how to play against a girl Signed, Mr.Vain

Dear "Mr Vain",

You play a female the same way you play a male. The stakes are just a little different. Best of Luck to you!

	3/27/2007 Dear Phoebe, Hey: I just moved to the St Louis area from Minneapolis. There were a ton of soft tip luck of the draw tournaments up there, and I was wondering if there is any in this area. I see this site is for steel tip, and I played a few seasons of that, but I think I would prefer soft tip .... no score keeping. Anyhow, please let me know. I live in the Maryland Heights area. thanks, Signed, Bandit

Dear "Bandit",

	2/2/2007 Dear Phoebe, Can you describe the shorthand for scoring 'tons'? 0T0 is easy, and so is 2T0, but what about the other numbers like 134, 227 etc. Signed, unlikely to score

Dear "Unlikely to Score",

I am not sure how you would hit 227 in one throw - let alone score it! It is impossible with three darts. As for your question, a ton (dart slang for 100 points) is often written as simply "T", a 2T0 is 120, etc. Using this practice, your 134 would be 3T4. Thanks for the questions and best of luck to you!

	1/23/2007 Dear Phoebe, How far do you stand back to play darts? Signed, drummergirl

Dear "Drummergirl",

In case you didn't see the message at the top of this column, the measurement from the center of the bull to the toe line is 7 foot 9 and 1/4 inches. Keep 'em flyin!

	1/18/2007 Dear Phoebe, I play on a dart team of six players if someone do not show on the other team do we have to sit a player out. Also if your dart pops out of the board and you catch it can you rethrow it to count as points. Thank you. Signed, Dart Bag

Dear "Dart Bag",

Check with your dart organization on the specifics for your league. If it is like SCDL, you do not sit a player out, however one person gets an automatic win. The win, which does not count on their rating/average, is calculated much like a forfeit win. If you need all six players to throw team games, the side with less throwers obviously loses a shot, but continues to throw shorthanded. I hope that answers your question and doesn't sound too confusing. Once again, I urge you to check with your organization on their specific rules governing league play. As far as a dart popping out of the board, I have never heard of any such rule in any organized dart match. I have heard boasting of similar things in a bar full of intoxicated dart throwers mainly including the restriction that there must be a drawing of blood by said dart upon entering a person's person when bouncing back from being thrown. Then and only then, could said dart be re-thrown. (Don't try this at home kids!) At time of this message, this fictionally understood rule has never been put to test in front of BOD. Best of luck to you! Keep 'em flying!

	1/10/2007 Dear Phoebe, how high and far should a dart board hang Signed, wendy

Dear "Wendy",

Check out the link at the top of the DEAR PHOEBE column for a detailed graph. In essence, the board is 5' 8" from the floor to the center of the bull. The toe line is 7' 91/4" from the center of the bull.
Thanks for the email!