If a dart hits another dart, the score normally depends on the point of the dart that was just thrown. In steel-tip darts, it usually only scores if its point remains in, or is touching, the face of the dartboard inside the outer double wire when the score is called.
Last reviewed: 24 August 2026. This guide covers steel-tip scoring first, then explains common pub situations, referee etiquette and how soft-tip machine darts can differ.
The direct answer
When a dart hits another dart, there are three common outcomes. First, the new dart may still enter the board; it scores the segment where its point enters and remains. Second, it may be supported by another dart but its point is not in or touching the board face; in steel-tip darts, that normally scores zero. Third, it may knock an existing dart out of the board, which can affect the earlier dart if it falls before the score has been called and retrieved under the rules being used.
The key is not whether the dart looks impressive. The key is contact. If the point is in or touching the board face within the scoring area, it can score. If the point is only stuck in another dart, a flight, a shaft or a barrel, it normally does not score in steel-tip play.
What is a Robin Hood in darts?
A Robin Hood is when one dart sticks into the back of another dart, usually into the shaft or flight area. It looks spectacular, and it is common enough that most regular players have seen it at least once. The name comes from the arrow-splitting-arrow idea, but the scoring rule is much less romantic.
If the second dart is only lodged in the first dart and the point is not touching the board, it normally scores zero. If the second dart's point is actually touching or embedded in the board face, the marker or referee must judge the segment where the point is located. Do not pull the darts out before the score is agreed.
The point decides the score
In steel-tip rules, the score is based on the dart point, not the barrel, flight or angle. A dart hanging strangely can still score if its point remains in or touches the face of the board. A dart that is beautifully wedged into another dart can score nothing if the point never reaches the scoring surface.
This is why players and markers should look from the side if needed. The question is simple: where is the point? If the point is hidden by the barrel of another dart, avoid guessing. In organised play, call the referee or match official before anyone removes the darts.
What if the dart hits a dart and still goes in?
If the dart clips another dart and then enters the board, it scores where the point finishes. It does not score where the barrel points, and it does not score the target the player intended. A deflection into single 5 is single 5. A deflection into treble 20 is treble 20. Intention does not matter once the dart has been thrown legally.
This is part of the skill and risk of grouping darts. Tight grouping can produce big scores, but it also creates blockers and deflections. A first dart in the wrong angle can close the bed for the next two darts.
What if it knocks the first dart out?
If a later dart knocks an earlier dart out before the score is called and retrieved, the fallen dart may not count in many steel-tip rule sets. This is why bounce-outs and fall-outs are frustrating: the dart may have landed well, but it did not remain for scoring.
House rules can vary in casual play, especially when no marker is present. For fair play, agree the rule before starting. In competition, follow the event rule book and the referee's decision. Once darts have been pulled, later protests are much harder or impossible to uphold.
What if the dart is touching the board but not embedded?
A dart does not always need to be deeply embedded to score. Several rule sets describe a scoring dart as one whose point remains in or touches the board face within the outer double wire. That wording matters. A point resting against the face may still count if it stays there until the score is called and the dart is retrieved.
The judgement can be delicate. If the point is touching the board face, it may score. If the point is touching only another dart or a wire in a way that is not contacting the board face, it may not. This is where a neutral marker or referee is valuable.
Can you rethrow it?
In normal steel-tip darts, no. If a dart bounces out, falls out or hits another dart and does not score, it is still a thrown dart. You do not get another throw simply because the outcome was unlucky. A three-dart visit remains a maximum of three darts unless the format has a specific exception.
Beginners sometimes assume a Robin Hood should be replayed because it feels unusual. It should not be replayed unless your local house rules say otherwise. Treat it like a bounce-out or miss: unfortunate, but part of the game.
Soft-tip darts can be different
Electronic soft-tip darts can work differently because the machine records impacts. Some soft-tip rules treat the machine's registered score as valid even if the dart later falls, while other situations allow correction before player change if both sides agree. This is a major difference from traditional steel-tip scoring.
If you play soft-tip leagues, read the local machine and league rules. Do not import steel-tip assumptions into a machine-scored match. The same physical event can be handled differently because the scoring system is different.
What the marker should do
The marker should avoid touching the darts and should make the call before the player retrieves them. If the position is unclear, ask the players to wait and inspect the point. In a formal match, the referee's call governs the score. In a casual match, the fairest method is to agree the score before the darts leave the board.
Players should not reach in quickly after a strange collision. Pulling the darts too early removes the evidence. If money, league points or tournament progress are involved, slow down and get the call right.
Common examples
| Situation | Likely steel-tip result | Reason |
|---|---|---|
| Second dart sticks into the shaft of the first | No score | Point is not in or touching the board |
| Second dart deflects into single 1 | Single 1 | Point enters and remains in that segment |
| Second dart rests with point touching the board face | May score | Point contact is the key judgement |
| Later dart knocks an earlier dart onto the floor | Earlier dart may not count | It did not remain for scoring under many rules |
How to reduce Robin Hoods and bounce-outs
You cannot eliminate dart-on-dart collisions entirely, but you can reduce them. Replace damaged shafts, use flights that sit square, rotate a worn board, and avoid blunt or burred points. If your darts enter the board at a steep or messy angle, work on release and follow-through as well as equipment.
A quality dartboard with healthy sisal can reduce fall-outs. A dartboard surround protects the wall when deflections miss the board. If you cannot wall-mount securely, a dartboard stand can give you a consistent practice setup. Keep spare flights, stems and points, and choose darts or dart sets that group cleanly for your throw.
Etiquette in casual games
In pub darts, the cleanest etiquette is simple: stop, look, agree, then pull. If both players can see the point clearly, call it. If it is uncertain, use the conservative reading or replay only if your group has agreed that rule before the match. Avoid inventing a favourable rule after the collision happens.
Never twist another player's dart to inspect it without permission. Do not shake the board. Do not pull one dart to see whether another is supported by it. Those actions change the evidence and create unnecessary arguments.
How to handle a dispute
If there is a disagreement, keep the darts exactly where they are. Step to the side, look for the point, and ask a neutral player or marker to make the call. If you are playing in a league, the match rules should decide who has authority. If you are playing casually, agree a simple process before the first leg: the marker's call stands, or uncertain darts are treated as no score.
The worst option is arguing after the darts have been removed. Once the board is clear, nobody can prove whether the point touched the face, whether the dart was supported by another dart, or whether a fallen dart came out before or after the score was accepted.
Why setup quality affects these incidents
Frequent dart-on-dart problems can point to setup issues. A very worn board may grip poorly and increase fall-outs. Bent points, mushroomed tips, cracked shafts and loose flights can make darts enter at unstable angles. Poor lighting can also make point contact harder to judge.
Technique matters too. If your darts stand up steeply or kick sideways, later darts have more chance of hitting barrels and flights. A flatter, repeatable entry angle often makes grouping cleaner and reduces random collisions.
Why this rule matters
Most dart-on-dart moments are worth only a few points, but they can decide legs. A Robin Hood on a finishing dart can be the difference between winning and returning next visit. A knocked-out treble can turn a strong score into a poor one. Knowing the rule prevents a strange moment from becoming a dispute.
The best habit is to remember one phrase: follow the point. That phrase handles most cases quickly. If the point is in or touching the board face, judge the segment. If the point is not contacting the scoring face, do not count it in steel-tip play.
Visual guide: how to apply this at the board
Related reading
For more rule clarity, read the simple rules of darts, how to score darts, what happens if you go past zero, what counts as a foul in darts and how beginners learn darts.
Sources used
- PDC rules of darts overview.
- Red Dragon darts rules: throw, bounce-out and scoring wording.
- National Dart Association soft-tip rules.
- Soft Darts World official rules.
- DartCounter darts rules guide.
Bottom line
If a dart hits another dart, follow the point. In steel-tip darts, the new dart normally scores only if its point remains in or touches the dartboard face inside the scoring area when the score is called.
FAQ
Does a Robin Hood count in darts?
Usually no, not if the dart is only stuck in another dart and its point is not touching the board.
What if the dart hits another dart then lands in the board?
It scores where its point lands and remains, even if the deflection was accidental.
Can I throw again after a dart-on-dart bounce-out?
Normally no. It counts as one of your thrown darts.
Do soft-tip machines use the same rule?
Not always. Machine-scored soft-tip formats can count registered impacts differently, so check league rules.
