Can You Lean Over The Line In A Dart Game?

Whether you are completely new to darts or you have been playing darts for years, there is a very good chance that you are not all that familiar with the rules. Maybe your recent game with a group of friends brought up some questions or maybe a newbie turned to you for some insight.

Whatever the situation is, you need to know that there are always going to be some variations when it comes to the rules and regulations of darts, depending on the game that you are playing and the individuals that you are playing with.

This is why it is imperative to have a basic understanding of the rules and regulations of darts and that is exactly what you are going to learn below.

One of the most common questions is can you lean over the throw line?

The General Rules Of Tournament Play

When it comes to tournament play, players must stand at a throw line that is located 96 inches horizontally from the front of the dartboard.

During tournament play, it is completely illegal to lean over the line whatsoever.

Players might be allowed to step on the line, but they are not allowed to step over it.

With that being said, wheelchair–bound players must adhere to a different standard.

Wheelchair-bound players are allowed to have their torso on the line, but they are not allowed to get their torso over the line (the oche). In addition to this, players are required to use their own darts, which must meet certain specifications.

Why Aren’t Players Allowed To Lean Over The Line?

By this point, you might be wondering why players are allowed to step on the line, but not lean over it. Well, the basic concept is that not all players all created equal.

For instance, some players are taller, while other players are shorter. Taller players will probably have longer arms, so they are already at an advantage because they don’t have to throw the dart as far.

When longer players lean over the line the distance is even shorter, which can give taller players a huge advantage.

In addition to this, taller players are either above or at eye level with the bull’s eye, so they aren’t forced to throw upward. Shorter players are forced to throw upward, which can be more difficult than you think.

By ensuring that all players don’t lean over the throw line this makes the game more even and fair.

Certain Dart Specifications

As mentioned above, each player will be required to throw his or her own darts and these darts must meet certain requirements.

With that being said, keep in mind that the requirements for each tournament might be different, but the general requirements for a tournament player’s darts will be listed below.

• The darts must have a plastic tip
• Flights are allowed to be any length, but the dart cannot exceed 8 inches in length
• Flights cannot contain more than three wings and cannot be wider than ¾ inches
• Darts are not allowed to weigh over 20 grams in weight
• Broken or cut off tips are not permitted
• All darts can be inspected upon the request of players or officials.

Just remember that all these rules are for tournament play and certain individuals might play by different rules when they are playing at home or in a pub.

The best approach is to ask before you start playing, so that you don’t run into any conflicts. And of course, be cautious of proper dart etiquette.