What is three bullseyes in darts called?

Apr 21, 202311 min read

Three bullseyes in darts featured image with three darts clustered in bull area

Three inner bullseyes in darts score 150 and are often called three bulls, three bullseyes or, in some darts glossaries and casual play, a hat trick. The safest scoring call is still “150” or “three bulls”, because hat-trick language is not used with the same consistency everywhere.

Last reviewed: 23 August 2026. This guide uses standard steel-tip scoring: outer bull is 25, inner bull is 50, and inner bull counts as a double in double-out formats.

Quick answer

If all three darts land in the inner bull, the score is 50 + 50 + 50 = 150. You can call it three bulls or three bullseyes. Some glossaries call three bullseyes a hat trick, and some players may also use dead-eye style slang, but there is no need to force a nickname during normal scoring.

It is an excellent accuracy visit, but it is not a maximum. A maximum in standard 501 is 180, made by hitting treble 20 with all three darts.

Three bullseyes darts scoring decoder showing three inner bulls score 150, hat trick wording, cricket marks and checkout context — Three inner bulls score 150. It is precise, but treble 20 remains the higher scoring target in standard 501.

Why three bulls score 150

The inner bull is worth 50. Three inner bulls therefore score 150. Dartshopper’s 501 rules guide lists the outer bull at 25 and the bullseye at 50. Dartist’s 501 rules also describe the inner bull as 50 and note that it counts as a double.

The outer bull is different. Three outer bulls score only 75. If a visit contains two inner bulls and one outer bull, the score is 125. That distinction is why “three bulls” should be clarified if the score is disputed.

Bull scoring table

Three-dart visit	Total	Clear call
Three outer bulls	75	Three 25s or three outer bulls.
One inner, two outer	100	Bull plus two 25s.
Two inner, one outer	125	Two bulls and a 25.
Three inner bulls	150	Three bulls, three bullseyes or hat trick.
Three treble 20s	180	Maximum score.

Is three bullseyes called a hat trick?

It can be. A darts glossary lists hat-trick as a score of three bullseyes and also references the Alan Evans shot. Other sources and players use the phrase more casually. In normal match scoring, however, the caller is more likely to call the score than make a nickname the main event.

The best answer is balanced: “hat trick” is a recognised term in some darts language, but “three bulls” or “150” is clearer for most players.

Why it is not a 180

The bullseye is famous because it sits in the centre, but it is not the highest scoring single target. Treble 20 is worth 60. Inner bull is worth 50. That means three treble 20s score 180, while three inner bulls score 150.

This surprises beginners because many target games treat the centre as the best shot. Darts rewards board value, not just centre accuracy. In 501 scoring, the top scoring target is treble 20, not the bullseye.

Can three bulls finish a leg?

Yes, from 150 with three darts, three inner bulls can finish a leg under standard double-out rules because the final dart lands in the inner bull, which counts as double 25. It is legal and memorable.

It is not usually the most sensible checkout route for most players. The bull is small, and if the first dart lands in outer bull or misses the bull area, the route changes quickly. Strong players generally choose routes that match their percentages, preferred doubles and first-dart target confidence.

150 checkout options

There is no single mandatory route from 150. Triple-based routes can create more conventional finishes. Bull-bull-bull is clean mathematically, but very hard practically. A player who loves bull practice might fancy it. A player who scores better on trebles should normally use trebles.

The lesson is not that three bulls is a bad shot. It is that checkout routes are percentage decisions. The best route is the one you can repeat under pressure, not the one that looks best written down.

150 by bulls versus 150 by scoring targets

Three inner bulls give a perfectly neat 150, but they ask you to hit the same tiny central target three times. A treble-based 150 attempt may give a player a larger first target or a more familiar rhythm, depending on the chosen route. That is why a 150 score and a 150 checkout are not the same discussion.

As a score, three bulls is excellent. As a checkout route, it has to beat your other options. If your bull percentage is lower than your treble percentage, the stylish route may cost legs. If bull is genuinely one of your strongest targets, it becomes a realistic tactical option.

Three bulls in cricket

In darts cricket, bull is usually a target to open or close. The outer bull counts as one mark and the inner bull counts as two marks. Dartsy’s darts scoring guide explains this cricket distinction, and cricket rules commonly treat doubles and trebles as multiple marks.

Three inner bulls therefore count as six marks. If bull was unclosed, that can close bull and create extra scoring marks depending on the opponent’s status. In cricket, three inner bulls can be strategically huge even if the point total is not the main thing.

Soft-tip and full-bull caution

Some soft-tip formats use full-bull scoring, where the whole bull area counts as 50. Other formats use split-bull scoring, separating outer bull and inner bull as 25 and 50. If you play soft-tip, check the machine and league setting before applying steel-tip assumptions.

This is another reason “three bullseyes” should be defined carefully. In standard steel-tip scoring, this article means three inner bulls.

Why three bulls is impressive

The inner bull is small and central. Hitting it three times shows strong visual alignment, clean release and calm repetition. It is especially impressive because the second and third darts can create pressure. After two bulls, the third dart is no longer just a practice throw; the player knows a rare visit is possible.

That pressure changes the throw. Many players steer the third dart, hold it too long or rush the release. A true three-bull visit requires the same rhythm three times.

Should beginners practise three bulls?

Beginners should practise bull, but not chase three inner bulls as the main measure of progress. Bull practice is useful for centre alignment. It can reveal whether your darts tend to pull left, drop low or float high. But 501 requires the whole board.

A beginner who only practises bull may become decent at one target while still struggling with 20s, 19s, setup singles and doubles. Use bull as a diagnostic block inside a wider session.

Weekly bull routine

30-dart bull count: outer bull = 1 point, inner bull = 2 points. Record the total.
Three-dart pressure: after one inner bull, try to keep the next two darts on the same rhythm.
50 checkout: practise finishing on inner bull from 50.
150 comparison: try bull-bull-bull, then compare with treble-based 150 routes.
Switch drill: alternate one visit at bull with one visit at treble 20.

What to track instead of one highlight

Do not judge bull practice by whether you hit one spectacular visit. Track outer bull hits, inner bull hits, average marks per 30 darts and miss direction. If your miss direction tightens over time, the practice is working even before a three-bull visit appears.

The same idea applies to all darts improvement. One highlight proves you can do it once. Repeated data shows whether you are becoming more reliable.

When bull is the right target

Bull is the right target when the score, format or practice goal asks for it. From 50, inner bull can finish. In a bull-up, the bull decides throw order. In cricket, bull can open or close an important scoring target. In a centre-alignment drill, bull gives clean feedback.

Bull is not automatically the right target just because it is famous. If you are scoring in 501 and have no checkout reason to use bull, treble 20 or a sensible cover target is usually worth more. Good players choose bull because it fits the situation, not because it sits in the middle.

How to score ambiguous bull visits

If a dart is close to the wire between outer bull and inner bull, score the segment where the point enters the board. The colour or visible barrel angle is less important than where the point is actually embedded. In casual play, both players should inspect calmly before pulling darts.

For practice tracking, be strict. Do not count a near inner bull as inner bull because it looked good from the oche. Accurate notes make the drill useful. Generous scoring makes progress look better than it is.

How to use bull work before a match

Use bull practice briefly in warm-up. Throw a few visits to loosen the arm and check whether the dart is pulling left, right, high or low. Then move back to the targets you will actually use in the match: 20s, 19s, common setup singles and doubles.

A strong warm-up should build confidence without narrowing your game. If you spend the entire warm-up chasing three bulls, you may start the match underprepared for normal scoring and finishing routes.

Common mistakes

Calling it a 180: three bulls are 150, not 180.
Ignoring outer bull: outer bull is 25, so three outer bulls are 75.
Overstating slang: hat trick is known, but “three bulls” is clearer in most scoring situations.
Practising only the centre: 501 needs trebles, singles, setup shots and doubles.
Choosing bull-bull-bull automatically from 150: legal does not always mean highest percentage.

Equipment notes

A worn bull area makes this practice less useful. If darts fall out of the centre, check the board before blaming your throw. Browse dartboards if the centre is damaged, dart sets if your darts are inconsistent, and darts accessories for flights, stems and point-care items.

Sources used

Bottom line

Three inner bullseyes score 150. They are usually called three bulls or three bullseyes, and “hat trick” is a recognised term in some darts language. It is a strong accuracy visit and can even finish 150 if the final dart is inner bull, but it is not a 180 and it should not replace normal treble-and-double practice.