Risk and Reward!
This leads us to the more intrinsic of the pegging opportunities. I personally have examined this on many occasions. I have hit and miss enough times to be able to determine the method that best suits the average player. However, nothing is set in stone and the opportunities exist only if they can be taken.
I recently found myself on 100. The opposition was on 122. A possible peg. I thought long and hard before my shot and decided that my loathing of double ten would convince me to do something a little different. My first dart was high and sat just above the triple twenty, leaving me eighty with two darts. I had decided that should this occur, that I would apply my knowledge of percentage finishing and utilise the confidence I had gained over previous years of experience. My second darts was for double twenty. Now before I continue. I will defend the action. The obvious choices were simple, Triple 20 for double 10, or triple 16 for double 16. Here in lies my theoretical ideal. The size of my target. It is that simple. Not being a professional player, I had to allow for diminishing skill and the potential for missing by a small distance. I looked at the triples over several weeks and then looked at the size of the double. Of course the double is bigger, quite a bit bigger. It also allowed me the luxury of falling short and still being able to leave a double after my last dart. So my second dart found it’s mark and here I was with a dart left in my hand and double twenty on the board. Suffice to say I managed to follow the second dart through and won the leg. However, the battle ensued as to why this was considered to be several things, including rude and egotistical. Hense my defensive stance. I had to actually describe my theory and relate it to percentage finishing to escape the marauding crowd.
As I described, the double field is almost twice the size of the triple area. So it made sense to me to have to aim for that area. Of course we run the risk of wasting the darts outside the scoring area, however, the potential wins obtained will make up for any indignation experienced as a result.
I stand by this as a legitimate opportunity to present the best possible outcome for the leg…… To win it!

A Practical Application
There are more simple examples and certainly ones that present a more practical application. Let us have a look at 17 as an example. This is not the worst of numbers to be left on but it does present it’s own issues. Getting to a double from 17 can cause some heartache that is for sure. So if we were on 17 there are some obvious ways to peg it. A single 1 double 8 is the most obvious. However the risk is the wayward dart that goes into a 20 or 18 and ends your walk with two darts in hand.

Here is the solution. That nervous first dart, you know the shakey one. Could be directed at the 9. Why? Well either side of the 9 are 14 and 12. Shooting too high or low will still leave you with a shot to go single number double with the two darts you have left. Most other reasonable combinations on the board will end your shot if you miss with the first dart. 19 is another number that can cause grief. Going 15 double 2 can solve that problem as well. Are you seeing a pattern. Its about safety. About guaranteeing that I get a shot at the double in that walk. The only way I can give myself the best chance of winning the leg is to make sure I have a shot at the double. Power scoring will help, but once I am down there I cannot rely on my opponent missing to give me a second walk at the double. I have to, at least have a shot. Percentage finishing is about creating that shot. Choosing options that give me that chance to win. It does not always work and perhaps practice in general will resolve that issue, but that is another chapter. The first step is to develop a method that creates opportunity for me and to be in a position to take advantage of every dart in my hand.
Percentage finishing can create that opportunity.
Avoidable Mistakes!
Ok so we have discussed what to do. Let’s now talk about what not to do!
We have all done it! A tight leg, both players playing ok and you know it is going to be about the peg. You are on 259, Sweet as a nut! You score a casual 100. Whilst receiving the accolades from team mates at the calls of Great Darts from the gallery of three at the back of the room, you realise that you can’t actually peg the leg in your next wallk. You have left a bogey. In a practical world we know that we may not be likely to peg such high numbers regularly, but it is important to assume that we can. Especially if you are laying doubles and leaving your partner to finish the leg. On this occasion, they cant. Simply because you didn’t think to examine the next shot. You didn’t leave a total that can be pegged in three darts. The potential is always there and therefore must be assumed.
There aren’t that many bogey number. Of course, anything over 170, but the remaining ones are easy to remember ;- 169, 168, 166, 165, 163, 162, 159.
Leaving 162 will diminish the opportunity to win the leg. It actually eliminates the opportunity to win in the next walk. As opposed to 167 or 161 which actually provides you with the chance to peg and win. This comes into play more often than you realise.
The impact of such decisions on your opposition is well documented and should never be trivialised. I personally have witnessed many an opponent suffering a ‘choking experience’ simply because of the confidence shown by a player is making such a move. This is covered in many other psychological analysis’ of the game.
Breaking It Down
Now shall we examine a more regular area failure that has become more common in recent years.
We rarely talk about preparation to miss. But to be honest it is a fact of like. I often have young people tell me that they just missed a 180. I respond by telling them that I miss one every time I walk to the board.
So what can go wrong. If you are on 103 with the opposition breathing down your throat. The top of the board would be inviting disaster. Any dart that strays into the one would leave you with two darts in your hand and no chance to peg. 104 would leave you in a similar fate if you hit either a one or a five with your first dart.
I have witnessed players on 121 fire their first dart into the twenty and follow it with the second dart. Not even considering the possibility of pegging. It is something that I have seen on a weekly basis. Players with some experience tend to say things like, ‘its ok, they can’t count’, or ‘they wouldn’t have pegged it anyway’. The fact is they never created to opportunity in the first place, therefore giving themselves absolutely no chance of pegging. And of course winning that leg.

How Hard Is It?
It is not hard at all!
Actually it becomes an autonomic response after a short time practicing.
It revolves around the thought process for finishing the game. It runs alongside percentage finishing as they complement each other. Such a simple process is overlooked on so many occasions. Here is how you do it. From the score of around 250, think about what you can leave that would give you a peg and make shot choices around that. Eg. When on 250 and you have a triple twenty and a twenty in the board, there are some decisions to be made. A hundred will leave a respectable 150 left. But a miss in either the 1 or 5 will eliminate the opportunity to peg at all, in that next walk. Other options are the bull, a 19, 18, or 17. All will give you a peg, but moreover a miss will permit an out shot. For example a miss into a three will still leave 167. A three dart finish.
So the only change we have made is to think more about what is possible and to eliminate what is not possible, in relation to scores. No change to your darts, or flights or your stance, just a change to the way you think about pegging and we have already increased the chances of winning by a substantial amount. It is that easy.
Confidence and a small amount of thought can produce amazing results. Don’t ignore the opportunity.

Location

Newcastle