English Pub Darts.
The traditional English pub type darts game that was carried over to America by European settlers
had its origins in archery practice where the bottom of a barrel was used as the target. The dart
was a shortened version of the arrow and more convenient to use in the pub. When it was raining the
archers could continue to "sharpen their eye" in comfort.
A barrel is awkward to hang on a wall so a slice of tree trunk was substituted. A slim, log offcut
has natural growth rings and tends to crack into segments on drying. This led to the present darts
board pattern of doubles, trebles, bull and sections numbered one to twenty.
It wasn't long before everyone wanted to play this fun game, archer or not, and its popularity
spread all over the country. The Pilgrims on the Mayflower passed the long hours of their voyage
playing darts and helped to carry the game to their new home in America.
Native Americans and Darts.
Native American peoples played a kind of darts made from two feathers stuck through a corn husk and
aimed at a ring. Commonly called the Wheel and Dart game. It has many variations using different
materials and rules. Some hoops are made from corn husks others a simple loop formed from a slender
branch.
The object is to land inside the loop and gain a point. Sometimes the loops are rolled by a helper
to add to the difficulty. This game would most likely have evolved from the everyday task of hunting
- allowing the young men to practice their aiming skills with bow and lance.
The Inuits and Darts.
The Inuit peoples have a traditional dart-like game where they make a dart called a "niortut" from
a piece of caribou antler with a point of bone. This developed from an ice-piercing tool. It is
balanced on the forehead and the head tilted forward to drop it onto the target object on the ground
or snow. Nearest wins.
Development of Darts.
The formal rules, and terms such as "oche", we use to play with today began to take shape about the
beginning of the twentieth century. This standardization led to darts tournaments in most countries
and a World Championship.The commonest game being "501".
With the digital age, darts games are now common as downloadable software or to play online. The
methods of "throwing" the dart varies a lot but most calculate scores and some offer "professionals"
to play against.
The Future of Darts
No doubt the game will continue to prosper around the globe but imagine this for a minute. Supposing
you set up a game of darts on the moon? You could have an enormous length of throw as there is no
air resistance and little gravity. You would need a telescope, and could have a coffee while you
waited to see if you had hit the target. Can't wait to try it!
