How to Play 10 Rounds at the Bull - Gain the Advantage!
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A simple darts game you can incorporate into your practice routine is 10 Rounds at the Bull, which draws inspiration from a similar drill for shooting guns. In this article, we'll teach you the rules of 10 Rounds at the Bull, the benefits of playing, and more games at the very end!
How to Play 10 Rounds at the Bull
In this video, Will Stuart from USA Darts demonstrates how to play 10 Rounds at the Bull and explains the game's rules. Let's go over each aspect of how to play 10 Rounds at the Bull and what you'll need to know before playing the game:
The Goal of 10 Rounds at the Bull
The goal of 10 Rounds at the Bull is to hone your accuracy when aiming for the bullseye. This not only helps you score better points in games like darts 501 but also offers you a huge advantage: getting to go first.
In many darts games, the order of who plays first is determined by throwing 1 dart at the bull and whoever lands closest gets to play first. It's called "corking" or "diddle for the middle" — if you're from the UK, you'll hear it as "go for bull" or "bull off". It goes without saying that playing first in a darts game is a HUGE advantage, so practicing 10 Rounds at the Bull will help you in the long run! In games like darts 501, it means you have a head start in getting your points down to 0. For cricket darts, you can easily open a number and start scoring faster than your opponent.
What You Need to Play 10 Rounds at the Bull
Like any darts game, all you need to play 10 Rounds at the Bull are some darts, a dartboard, and something to keep track of your points on (optional). Simple, right? You probably already have some of these items lying around the house if you play a lot of darts. It's best to practice with a friend to keep yourself in the mentality of having to wait for someone else to throw before you approach the oche.
1 or more players
Scoreboard (optional)
While you absolutely don't need a scoreboard for 10 Rounds at the Bull, it might be nice to have around to keep track of your score. No doubt you'll be able to count up to 30 points on your own, but in case you lose track of your points midway through the game, logging your points will help you keep your head on straight. You can use a simple pen and paper or any chalkboard/whiteboard scoreboards available for purchase on our website.
Playing 10 Rounds at the Bull
Like the name suggests, to play 10 Rounds at the Bull you must throw 10 rounds of darts at the bullseye for a total of 30 darts thrown. A single bull (outer green ring) is worth 1 point and a double bull (inner red ring) is worth 2 points. Simple, right?
If you're a beginner to darts and want to try out this practice routine, aim for a total of 5 points in your first few games of 10 Rounds at the Bull. Once you're comfortably at an intermediate level, try to shoot for 15 points per game. For those who consider themselves upper-level or pro in terms of skill, shoot for the stars and set a goal of 30 or more points.
Winning 10 Rounds at the Bull
You can't really win 10 Rounds at the Bull if you're playing solo, but you can definitely grab a friend or two and turn the game into a friendly competition! Take turns throwing one round until you've all thrown 10 rounds per person and whoever has the most points at the end of those 10 rounds wins the game. Most games are more fun with a friend, and 10 Rounds at the Bull is no exception.
10 Rounds at the Bull | More Practice Routines
Practicing your darts skills is a constant uphill challenge and 10 Rounds at the Bull is certainly not a one-off practice routine! Here are a couple more practice routines that you can work into your day-to-day games:
Game of 9
The Game of 9 is another practice routine to 10 Rounds at the Bull, designed to hone your grouping and accuracy. Throw 9 darts in a row at the board starting with the 20 segment and working your way down to the 15 segment, making sure all 9 darts land in the correct section. For the bullseye, you only have to get 1 mark per round 3 times in a row.
To learn more about the Game of 9, follow along with Jen Mounts in our Youtube tutorial to the left or read our blog article on the routine:
Practice Routines for Beginners
Lending a helping hand to all darts beginners, Cali West gives a few beginner-friendly practice games to try out in your darts room. Follow along closely in this edition of Garage Darts to expand your practice routine games beyond 10 Rounds at the Bull!
Cricket Darts
Cricket darts is one of those games where hitting the bull can carry you closer to winning, making 10 Rounds at the Bull a perfect practice routine to boost your cricket skills! A-Z Darts sponsored player Cali West covers all the bases of cricket darts in the video to the left.
If you're looking to read about cricket darts instead, check out our full in-depth tutorial on how to play cricket darts below:
Around the World Darts
Around the World darts is another practice game that challenges your accuracy, much like 10 Rounds at the Bull. Aim for each number on the board in order starting from 1, working your way to the bull. It's a lot harder than it sounds!
To learn more about how to play Around the World, read our blog below:
10 Rounds at the Bull Summary
Aim for only the bullseye in all 10 Rounds at the Bull games.
Throw 10 rounds of 3 darts each for a total of 30 darts thrown.
The single bull is worth 1 point and the double bull is worth 2 points.
Beginners should aim for 5 points. Intermediate players can set a goal of 15 points, while advanced players can easily earn 30+!
Final Thoughts
Don't underestimate the power of the bullseye! Try out 10 Rounds at the Bull during your next darts practice session and watch your accuracy skyrocket the more you play. We hope you enjoyed this blog about 10 Rounds at the Bull, and stay tuned for the next practice game we'll feature!
