In darts, 10 points can mean a dart in single 10, a dart in double 5, or any visit total that adds up to 10. If a player has 10 left in standard double-out darts, the direct finish is double 5.
Last reviewed: 24 August 2026. This guide explains 10-point scoring, 10-left checkouts and the common beginner decisions around double 5.
The direct answer
Ten points in darts can be scored by hitting single 10. It can also be scored by hitting double 5, because doubles count twice the number. A visit can also total 10 through several darts, such as 5, 3 and 2.
The phrase "10 points" is simple, but the meaning changes with context. Scoring 10 during a visit is different from having 10 left to finish a leg.
Where is 10 on the dartboard?
The number 10 has its own wedge on a standard dartboard. A dart in the large single 10 area scores 10. A dart in the outer double ring of that wedge scores 20, and a dart in the inner treble ring scores 30.
That means single 10 is only one way to score ten points. Double 5 also scores 10, and smaller single numbers can combine to make 10 across a three-dart visit.
What does 10 left mean?
If you have 10 left in standard double-out 501, you need double 5 to win. Double 5 is the segment on the outside ring of the 5 wedge. Hitting single 5 does not win; it leaves 5 remaining.
That is why 10 is a common beginner checkout lesson. The maths is easy, but the double is narrow and can create awkward follow-up decisions if missed.
What if you hit single 5?
If you need 10 and hit single 5, you have 5 left. In double-out darts, 5 cannot be finished directly because there is no double worth 5. You need to hit a single that leaves an even number, then aim at the double.
For example, from 5 left, single 1 leaves double 2. Single 3 leaves double 1. Beginners should pause after hitting single 5 rather than throwing quickly at another random target.
Is double 5 a good double?
Double 5 is a real finishing double, but many players do not love it because missing inside leaves 5. From there, the player needs another setup dart before a finish is possible. That makes double 5 feel less comfortable than doubles such as double 20, double 16 or double 8.
Still, beginners should practise it. You cannot control every checkout leave in a real leg, and 10 comes up often enough that double 5 needs to be part of your board confidence.
Common ways to score 10
| Darts thrown | Total | Context |
|---|---|---|
| Single 10 | 10 | One dart in the 10 segment |
| Double 5 | 10 | Also a double-out finish from 10 |
| Single 5, single 3, single 2 | 10 | Visit total |
| Single 6, single 4 | 10 | Two-dart total |
Best route from 10 left
The direct route is double 5. Aim at the double 5 bed with a steady throw and avoid rushing the second dart if the first one misses. If you hit single 5, stop and recalculate. Do not keep throwing at 5 automatically.
If double 5 is a weak target for you, the better long-term answer is practice, not avoiding it forever. In matches, you will eventually leave 10. Knowing how to handle it calmly is part of becoming a better finisher.
Recovery routes after missing double 5
The common problem from 10 is hitting single 5. That leaves 5, and 5 is awkward because it is odd. From 5, single 1 leaves double 2. Single 3 leaves double 1. Both routes are valid, but many beginners prefer single 1 because double 2 is less cramped than double 1.
The main rule is to avoid throwing the next dart without a plan. Once you are on an odd number, the next dart should be a setup dart that leaves an even double. This is a small piece of checkout discipline that prevents a simple finish becoming chaotic.
Why 10 appears so often
Ten appears often because it is part of many common finishing chains. Double 20 can become double 10 after a single 20 miss. Double 10 can become double 5 after a single 10 miss. A player who works down the board through missed doubles will eventually meet 10 regularly.
This is why double 5 should not be ignored. Even if it is not your favourite double, it is part of real checkout play. Practising it makes you calmer when a leg moves from a preferred double into a less comfortable one.
A simple double 5 practice drill
Start on 10 and give yourself three darts to finish. If you hit double 5, score one success. If you hit single 5, continue from 5 and practise the setup. If you miss outside the 5 segment, score the dart honestly and work out the new leave.
Repeat for ten attempts and record how many finishes you complete. This is more useful than throwing randomly at double 5 because it includes the real consequences of misses.
Review the misses after the drill. If most darts land inside the double, adjust your aim slightly outward. If most miss outside, check whether you are pulling away from the board edge.
A second drill: the finishing chain
Start on 40. If you hit double 20, the attempt is complete. If you hit single 20, move to 20 and aim at double 10. If you hit single 10, move to 10 and aim at double 5. If you hit single 5, practise the recovery from 5.
This drill teaches how finishes collapse into smaller doubles. It also makes double 5 feel like part of a normal finishing sequence rather than a number you only practise when a leg goes wrong.
Should beginners avoid leaving 10?
Beginners do not need to fear leaving 10, but they should understand the risk. Double 5 is narrow and an inside miss leaves 5. If you have a choice, leaving 16, 20, 32 or 40 may be more comfortable. But in a real leg, you will not always control the leave perfectly.
The practical approach is to learn both: prefer cleaner doubles when you can, and practise 10 enough that it does not cause panic when it appears.
How 10 differs from 10s, tens and double five
Players may say "ten", "single ten", "double five" or "ten left" and mean different things. Single ten is the segment. Double five is a double worth ten points. Ten left is the remaining score that points you towards double five.
Clear language helps when scoring with another player. If there is any confusion, say the segment and the remaining score: "single 10 scored, 32 left" or "10 left, going double 5."
How to teach 10 to a new player
Start by separating score from finish. Single 10 scores ten points. Double 5 also scores ten points. But if the game is double-out and the player has 10 remaining, double 5 is the winning dart.
Then show the consequence of a miss. Put a finger on single 5 and ask what remains. The answer is 5, which cannot be finished with one double. That demonstration makes the checkout rule clearer than a long explanation.
What 10 teaches about doubles
Ten is a small number, but it teaches a big idea: every double has a consequence. Missing double 5 into single 5 is different from missing outside. Missing outside leaves 10 and gives another direct attempt. Missing inside leaves 5 and forces a setup.
That is why good finishing practice is not just throwing at the double. It is learning what each miss leaves and making the next dart deliberately.
Quick reference for 10
| Context | Meaning | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Single segment | S10 scores 10 | Add it to the visit total |
| Double segment | D5 scores 10 | Can finish from 10 left |
| After S5 miss | 5 left | Set up an even double |
Match scenarios from 10
If your opponent is not on a finish, you may choose a calmer route and avoid rushing. If your opponent is waiting on a double, the direct double 5 attempt becomes more important because you may not return to the board.
That pressure changes the feel of the shot, but not the rule. Ten left still means double 5. The better you understand the recovery routes, the less one missed dart disrupts the visit.
Scorekeeping language for 10
When chalking, write the remaining score clearly and call the segment if needed. "Ten scored" means the visit total included ten points. "Ten left" means the player needs double 5. "Double five hit" means the player scored ten with a double and may have finished the leg if 10 was the remaining score.
This language matters because small numbers create fast decisions. Clear calls prevent a player from throwing at the wrong target after a miss.
Common beginner mistakes with 10
- Thinking single 10 finishes 10: in double-out, it does not.
- Rushing after hitting single 5: pause and leave an even number.
- Ignoring double 5 in practice: it appears often enough to learn.
- Confusing score with remaining score: scoring 10 is not the same as having 10 left.
- Only practising favourite doubles: awkward doubles still decide legs.
Equipment that helps
A clean dartboard makes doubles easier to see and practise. Add dartboard surrounds while working on outer-ring doubles, or use a dartboard stand if you need a measured setup.
Comfortable darts or a balanced dart set help with repeatable finishing practice. Keep darts accessories such as spare flights and stems ready so damaged parts do not affect doubles practice.
Visual guide: how to apply this at the board
Related reading
For more scoring help, read how to score darts, the simple rules of darts, what 25 points means, what 50 points means and how beginners learn darts.
Sources used
- PDC rules of darts.
- PDC Europe rules overview.
- Darts501 dart game rules.
- Dartshopper 501 rules guide.
- Red Dragon darts rules.
Why 10 still matters in a leg
Ten points can look like a throwaway score, but context decides whether it helps or hurts. Early in a leg it is just a low visit; late in a leg it can leave or remove an important double. A player on 30, for example, may use single 10 to leave double 10. That is why score value and checkout value are not always the same thing.
Bottom line
Ten points can be single 10, double 5 or any visit total adding to 10. If you have 10 left in standard double-out darts, the direct winning target is double 5.
FAQ
Can you finish on 10 in darts?
Yes, by hitting double 5 in standard double-out darts.
Does single 10 finish a leg?
Not in double-out. It scores 10 but does not count as a double.
What happens if you hit single 5 from 10?
You leave 5, so you need to set up an even double.
Is double 5 worth 10?
Yes. Double 5 scores 10 points.
