Short answer: there is no single hardest number to hit in darts in every situation. The inner bull is one of the smallest targets, doubles are thin and pressure-heavy, and numbers such as double 1 feel brutal because the consequence of missing is so high. The hardest target is usually the one where size, pressure and recovery all work against you.
Last checked: 26 June 2026. This guide is written for steel-tip darts players learning standard 501-style scoring. Local games and soft-tip formats can vary, so always follow the rules of the match you are playing.
Why the answer is not just bullseye
If difficulty were only about physical size, the inner bull would be the obvious answer. It is a small central target and, unlike a large single, gives you very little room for error. But darts is not just a geometry test. It is a scoring game played under pressure. A target can be physically small, tactically awkward, psychologically uncomfortable, or dangerous because a miss leaves a poor next dart.
That is why players argue about this question. A beginner may say treble 20 is hardest because it is the target everyone wants and misses most. A finishing player may say double 1 because it can trap you. A checkout-focused player may say bull because it often appears at the end of big finishes. All three views contain some truth.
Difficulty has three parts
| Type of difficulty | What it means | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Physical size | The target area is small | Inner bull, trebles, doubles |
| Pressure | The dart matters more because it can win or lose a leg | Double 16 for the match |
| Consequence | A miss leaves a worse position | Double 1, awkward setup singles |
The inner bull
The inner bull scores 50 and is one of the most precise targets on the board. It matters in finishes such as 121, 125, 132 and 170, and it is also central in practice games. It is difficult because a small miss can become 25, a single number, or nothing useful depending on where the dart lands.
For beginners, bull practice is valuable because it teaches straight-line control. But it should not dominate your practice. In standard 501, you will use treble 20, treble 19, big singles and doubles far more often than you will rely on bull checkouts.
Double 1 and the madhouse problem
Double 1 is not smaller than any other double, but it has a reputation because it is a horrible place to be at the end of a leg. If you are left on 2, the only normal double-out finish is double 1. Miss outside and you still have 2 left. Miss inside and you score 1, leaving 1, which cannot be finished with a double. That is why players call it the madhouse.
The stress is not just the target. It is the feeling that you have run out of good options. A player can throw relaxed darts at double 1 in practice, then tense up badly when it appears after several missed doubles in a match.
Treble 20
Treble 20 is difficult because it is small and repeatedly targeted. It is the highest-scoring segment on a standard board, so many players build their scoring around it. The challenge is not hitting one treble 20 once; it is building a repeatable throw that groups around it visit after visit.
Treble 20 also has recovery issues. A miss into single 20 is fine. A miss into 5 or 1 can damage a visit. That is one reason stronger players develop cover shots, especially treble 19, when the bed is blocked or the angle feels wrong.
Treble 19 as a cover target
Treble 19 is not as glamorous as treble 20, but it becomes essential as players improve. It is a strong cover shot, useful for scoring, setting up finishes and switching when the treble 20 bed is blocked. Many beginners under-practise 19s because they are obsessed with 180s. That leaves them exposed in real legs.
If you want to become a steadier player, spend deliberate time on treble 19. It teaches board movement, counting flexibility and confidence away from the top of the board.
Hard setup singles
Sometimes the hardest number is not a treble or a double. It is the single you need to leave the right finish. Imagine needing a clean single 16 to leave tops under pressure, or needing to avoid a big single that leaves a bogey number. The target is physically large, but the consequence of missing is high.
This is why counting is a real darts skill. The board does not reward only aim. It rewards aim plus route knowledge. A player who knows the route can throw with commitment; a player who is still doing the maths at the oche often tightens up.
How pressure changes target size
Pressure does not physically shrink the board, but it changes the player. Grip pressure increases, the follow-through shortens, the eyes jump away from the target, and the third dart gets steered instead of thrown. A target that felt simple in practice can become difficult because the throw is no longer the same throw.
That is why the hardest number for you may not be the hardest number for someone else. One player fears double 16 because they have missed it for matches. Another hates treble 19 because it feels visually awkward. Another is fine on trebles but becomes stiff on bull finishes. Difficulty has a memory.
How to practise difficult targets
- Bull drill: throw 30 darts at bull and count inner and outer separately.
- Doubles ladder: work through D20, D10, D5, D16, D8, D4, D2 and D1.
- Cover drill: alternate visits between T20 and T19.
- Pressure finish: give yourself three darts at a double; if you miss, step back and restart the score.
- Setup singles: practise leaving 40, 32, 36 and 24 from common small scores.
How to decide your own hardest target
Track misses for a week. Do not rely on memory, because players remember painful misses more than ordinary ones. Write down which target you were aiming at, where the dart landed, and whether it was practice or match play. After a few sessions, patterns appear. You may discover that the problem is not double 1 itself, but your route choices leaving you there too often.
Once you know the pattern, practise the cause. If bull finishes are weak, practise bull. If double 1 keeps appearing, practise earlier doubles and checkout routes that avoid it. If treble 20 is inconsistent, work on grouping and cover shots rather than chasing one lucky 180.
Equipment and visibility
A worn board can make hard targets feel worse because wires, faded segments or loose sisal reduce confidence. You do not need expensive equipment to improve, but you do need a board that is easy to read and rotates properly. If your doubles are chewed up or the bull area is tired, browse our dartboards. If your darts feel uncomfortable, compare dart sets and darts accessories.
Bottom line
The hardest number in darts depends on context. The bull is physically tiny. Double 1 is psychologically awkward. Treble 20 is demanding because you aim there so often. Setup singles become hard when a leg depends on them. The best players respect all of these targets and practise the board as a whole, not just the glamorous trebles.
FAQ
Is bullseye the hardest target?
It is one of the smallest, but not always the hardest in match context.
Why is double 1 called madhouse?
Because it can trap players at the end of a leg, especially if they miss inside.
Should beginners practise trebles or doubles more?
Practise both, but do not neglect doubles. Finishing wins legs.
What is the best hard-target drill?
A doubles ladder plus bull practice gives beginners useful pressure and precision work.
