There is no official single least-hit number in darts for every player and every game. The least-hit number depends on what you mean by “hit”: the number players aim at least, the number that receives the fewest accidental darts, or the number that appears least often in a specific format such as 501, cricket or around-the-clock.
Last reviewed: 23 August 2026. This guide covers standard steel-tip board layout, 501-style scoring and common practice games. It avoids claiming a universal least-hit number because that would require player-level tracking data.
Quick answer
In ordinary 501, numbers such as 3, 7, 11 and 13 are often less deliberately targeted than 20, 19, 18, 16, bull and common doubles. But that does not mean one of them is officially the least-hit number. A beginner may rarely aim at 13, while a finishing drill or around-the-clock game may force them to aim at it repeatedly.
The better answer is this: track deliberate targets separately from accidental hits. The number you aim at least may not be the number you hit least. For example, many players rarely aim at 1, but still hit it often because it sits next to 20 and catches missed scoring darts.
Why this question is often answered badly
The tempting answer is to name a random awkward number. That is not good enough. Dartboards do not record intent. A dart in the 5 segment may be a terrible miss from treble 20, a deliberate setup single, or part of a practice game. Without context, the hit alone does not tell the full story.
That is why “least-hit” needs a definition. If you mean least deliberately aimed at in 501, lower awkward numbers may be candidates. If you mean least actually struck, the answer changes by accuracy level and miss pattern. If you mean least important strategically, the answer changes again because unusual numbers still matter in checkouts and setup play.
The four types of hit frequency
| Frequency type | What it measures | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Deliberate target | Where the player meant to aim | Treble 20 in a scoring visit. |
| Accidental hit | Where the dart actually landed after a miss | Single 1 while aiming at 20. |
| Format target | Numbers required by a game | 15 to 20 and bull in cricket. |
| Practice target | Numbers artificially repeated in training | 1 to 20 in around-the-clock. |
Why 20 dominates most hit patterns
Treble 20 is the main scoring target because it is worth 60, the highest value available from one dart. PDC Europe’s glossary explains that triples multiply the segment value and that three treble 20s produce 180, the highest three-dart score. That makes the 20 bed the natural centre of standard 501 scoring.
Because so many players aim at 20, the surrounding numbers also receive attention. Darts501 explains the dartboard numbering logic by noting that low numbers such as 1 and 5 sit beside 20 to punish inaccuracy. So a number can be hit often even when it is rarely a deliberate target.
Why 1 and 5 are not necessarily “least-hit”
Many beginners assume low numbers are rarely hit. In practice, 1 and 5 are common accidental landing zones because they flank 20 at the top of the board. A player aiming at treble 20 who drifts sideways may catch 1 or 5 repeatedly.
This is an important distinction. If you ask, “Which number do players avoid aiming at?” 1 and 5 might appear on the list. If you ask, “Which numbers appear on the scorecard after missed 20s?” 1 and 5 may appear far more than expected.
Numbers often neglected in 501 practice
In 501, numbers such as 3, 7, 11 and 13 are often neglected by casual players. They are not primary scoring beds, they are not the main cover targets, and they are not as commonly drilled as favourite doubles such as 16, 20 or 18.
That does not make them useless. Double 7 matters if you leave 14. Single 13 can appear in setup routes. Treble 13 may appear in unusual checkouts. The problem is not that these numbers never matter; it is that many players are uncomfortable when forced away from their usual scoring and finishing areas.
Why cricket changes the answer
Cricket is a different game, so the target frequency changes. Standard cricket focuses on 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20 and bull. Escalade Sports describes cricket as a game where those numbers and bull must be closed before the opponent, with scoring possible on open numbers.
That means numbers from 1 to 14 are naturally ignored in standard cricket unless a local variation changes the rules. A number that might appear in 501 setup play may become irrelevant in cricket. This is why no single least-hit answer works across formats.
Why around-the-clock changes the answer again
Around-the-clock deliberately removes the bias. Dartly describes it as a sequential game where players hit every number from 1 to 20 before finishing on bull. In that format, every number becomes an intended target.
This makes around-the-clock valuable for board coverage. It forces movement to numbers you normally avoid and quickly exposes which segments feel uncomfortable. A player who only practises 20s may look competent in scoring but fragile when asked to hit 6, 11 or 13 on demand.
Actual hits versus useful hits
Actual hit frequency is not the same as useful hit frequency. A dart in 1 may count on the scoreboard, but it may be a symptom of a poor miss. A dart in 16 may be useful because it leaves 40. A dart in 13 may be useful if it cleans up a setup route.
This is why the question should not only be “what gets hit least?” The better question is: “Which parts of the board do I avoid, and does that avoidance cost me legs?”
A practical way to find your least-hit number
Track ten sessions. For every visit, record two things: what number you aimed at and what number each dart actually hit. Keep it simple. You do not need a complex app to start; a notebook table is enough.
At the end, split the results into two lists. First, your least-aimed-at numbers. Second, your least-actually-hit numbers. The difference between those lists is where the useful insight lives. If you rarely aim at 13 but hit it more than expected, it may be a miss pattern from another target. If you never aim at 11 and never hit it, it is probably a board-coverage gap.
Ten-session tracking table
| Metric | What to write down | What it tells you |
|---|---|---|
| Aim target | The intended number before throwing | Which numbers you avoid. |
| Actual segment | The number the dart landed in | Your real board spread. |
| Miss direction | High, low, left or right | Whether the problem is line or release. |
| Game context | 501, cricket, doubles or drill | Whether the format is skewing the data. |
What your least-hit number tells you
If your least-hit numbers are mostly lower odd segments, you may be overtraining top-board scoring and undertraining movement. If your least-hit numbers are doubles, your finishing practice needs work. If your least-hit number is bull, you may be avoiding centre-board practice until it appears in a checkout.
The goal is not to make every number equally frequent. In real 501, 20 and 19 should still appear more often than 4 or 6. The goal is to remove fear from neglected numbers so they do not collapse your rhythm when they appear.
Common tracking mistakes
Do not mix warm-up throws with match-style visits unless you label them separately. Warm-ups usually exaggerate easy targets, while match visits reveal decision-making. Do not count only trebles either. A single 13, double 13 and treble 13 are different results, but they all show whether you can move confidently to the 13 segment when required.
Board layout makes misses meaningful
The standard board layout is designed to punish inaccuracy. Darts501 notes examples such as 1 and 5 beside 20, and Patrick Chaplin’s darts history writing makes the same point: the layout punishes poor aim by placing low-value numbers around high-value targets. That means your accidental hits are not random noise; they are feedback.
If you keep hitting 5 while aiming at 20, you have a left-right line issue. If you hit 1 instead, the pattern points the other way. If you hit single 20 instead of treble 20, your line may be good but your height or grouping needs work.
Practice drills for neglected numbers
Around-the-clock singles: hit 1 to 20 in order, then bull. Do not skip numbers you dislike. The point is board coverage.
Odd-number block: spend five minutes each on 3, 7, 11 and 13. Record hits in the intended segment, not just trebles.
Top-board miss audit: throw 30 darts at treble 20 and count how many land in 20, 1 and 5. This separates scoring accuracy from side drift.
Cricket coverage: rotate 20 down to 15 and bull. This builds deliberate comfort on the numbers cricket uses most.
Checkout setup drill: start from awkward totals and choose singles that leave preferred doubles such as 40, 32 or 36.
Equipment and setup notes
A worn board can distort your tracking. If the treble 20 or bull area is damaged, you may see more bounce-outs and strange deflections. Rotate the board regularly and replace it when the beds stop holding cleanly. Browse dartboards if the surface is tired, darts accessories for flights, stems and mats, and dart sets if inconsistent grouping points to grip or balance issues.
Related guides
For target choice, read the best numbers to aim for in darts. For why 20 dominates scoring, see why they shout 180. For one-dart scoring limits, read the highest score with one dart. For board-control practice, see where beginners should aim and how to aim darts like a pro.
Sources used
- PDC Europe glossary on triples and 180 scoring.
- Darts501 explanation of dartboard number placement.
- Patrick Chaplin on the dartboard numbering system.
- Dartly rules for around-the-clock darts.
- Escalade Sports rules for cricket darts.
- Red Dragon darts rules on how a scoring dart is counted.
Bottom line
The least-hit number in darts is not a universal fact. In 501, some awkward numbers such as 3, 7, 11 and 13 may be less deliberately targeted, but actual hit frequency depends on player level, game format and miss pattern. The useful move is to track what you aim at and what you actually hit, then practise the gaps.
Visual guide: how to apply this at the board
FAQ
What number do darts players aim at most?
In standard 501 scoring, treble 20 is the main target because it is worth 60.
Why do players hit 1 and 5 so often?
They sit beside 20, so they catch missed darts aimed at the main scoring target.
Are 3, 7, 11 and 13 useless?
No. They are often neglected, but they still appear in setup shots, doubles practice and board-coverage drills.
How do I find my own least-hit number?
Track ten sessions and separate intended targets from actual landing segments.
