One of the most common issues darts players have is their darts dropping low. This can be really frustrating and sometimes its hard to figure out the root cause. I’ll explain the most common causes and solutions so you can adjust either your technique or your darts to prevent them drop dropping low.
Why Do My Darts Keep Dropping Low?
The most common reason why darts drop low after they are thrown is because the thrower’s elbow drops during the release. To prevent this, the elbow should stay at the same height throughout the throw. Other causes include using darts which are too heavy, and releasing the dart too late.
| Cause | Fix |
| Elbow drop | Record a video of your throw and practice your throw in a mirror |
| Not Using Enough Force | Focus on trying to throw the dart through the board, rather than just hitting it |
| Late release | Try letting go of the dart sooner and moving your fingers away more quickly |
| Using heavy darts | Try darts which are around 3g lighter than your current darts |
| Dart weight-imbalance | Switch to front-weighted darts or use a larger flight |
Most Common Cause: Elbow Drop
The most common reason why your darts may be dropping low is because your elbow is dropping low when you release the dart.
When you throw a dart, you should keep your body as still as possible and the only things that should be moving is your forearm, and of course your fingers when you release the dart. The elbow should simple act as a hinge, fixed in the same position throughout the throw and release.
However, many players drop their elbow slightly which causes the dart to drop significantly lower than anticipated. It can be hard to notice when this happens though, especially if your elbow only drops a tiny bit.
The best way to check if your elbow drops is to analyse your throw. You can do this by recording yourself on your phone. Alternatively, ask a friend to record your throw.
If you notice that your elbow is dropping, you need to take steps to prevent this. As well as trying to stay conscious of your elbow position during each throw, here are several others things you can try:
- Ask a friend to watch your throws and call out if your elbow drops
- Place your opposite arm under your elbow to prevent it from dropping
- Practice the throwing motion in the mirror
Here’s a video which shows how to throw a dart with the correct technique.
Other Technique Issues
The elbow drop isn’t the only technique fault that can cause your darts to drop lower. Here are several other aspects of your technique that you should analyse and adjust if necessary.
- Not using enough force: throwing the darts too lightly can cause the darts to drop. Throw the dart with power in a smooth, quick motion but do not allow your body to become tense.
- Release timing: releasing the dart too late can cause it to drop. Make sure you release the dart in a quick motion.
- Too much tension: having tension particularly in your wrist and shoulders can cause your throws to be inconsistent.
- Standing up too straight: most players find it easier to lean forwards slightly when throwing the dart compared to standing completely straight.
Changing the Darts
If you have analysed your technique and there aren’t any issues then you can look to change your darts to address the issue.
However, you should make sure you have really dealt with any technique problems first. Of course, certain types of darts will suit different players throws and that is completely fine, but you shouldn’t be changing your darts if you have poor technique as this won’t help you long-term.
With that said, here are some things you can look to change in your system if your darts keep dropping low.
Dart Weight
Using heavy darts can cause the dart to drop low when it is thrown. Using a heavy dart requires a forceful throw, and if you use a lighter throw then the dart will drop because it does not reach the board fast enough.
Most darts weigh between 20g and 30g, with 22-25g being the most popular weight range. Reducing the weight of your dart by 2-3g can help to fix the issue you’re having.
Try and see if anyone you know has lighter darts before purchasing new ones though, as this may not fix the issue and could be a waste of money otherwise.
Take a look at my article comparing heavy and light darts to learn more about how the weight of the dart will affect your throw.
Weight Balance
If you find that your darts are dropping low and are at an extreme angle then you can look at the weight-balance of your darts as well as the overall weight.
- If your dart lands flight-down then try using front-weighted darts (most common)
- If your dart lands flight-up then try using rear-weighted darts
Check out my article comparing front, centre and rear-weighted darts for more information.
Flight Shape
The shape of your flight should complement your throw style and the weight of your dart.
Using a heavy dart with a smaller flight (e.g. slim or super kite) will cause it to drop more in the air and make the dart point downwards at the flight because it does not provide enough lift to balance the dart.
To give your dart more lift and stability in the air, try using a larger flight for example a standard or shape flight which will suit softer throws and heavier darts.
Here’s a link to my article comparing flight shapes so you can learn more about the influence the flight has on your throw.
Here are some more articles you might find useful: