What is a bust in darts?
B · Beginner · The game · 2 of 4A leg starts straight: any dart in the board scores. It must end on a double, or the bull, that takes the score to exactly zero. If a throw goes below zero, reaches zero without a double or leaves one, it is a bust: none of that throw counts, and the score goes back to what it was.
How it works
- Straight start: a dart inside the outer double wire scores at once; no double is needed to begin.
- Double finish: the last dart must hit the double of half the remaining score.
- The bull: counts 50, as double 25, and can finish a leg on 50.
- Bust: more than the score remaining, exactly the score without a double or leaving one.
- After a bust: the throw does not count, and the score is as it was before it.
- Game shot: valid only if the finishing darts stay in the board until retrieved after the call.
- A wrong "game shot" call: the player may finish the throw if darts remain.
- After finishing: any further dart does not count.
The glossary has the straight start, the doubles out, the bust, the game shot, the bullseye and the out shot.
Tricky cases
A player needs 40, hits 20 with the first dart and then double 10. Do they win?
Yes. The first dart left 20, and double 10 took it to exactly zero.
A player needs 40 and hits 39. What happens?
Bust. Leaving one cannot be finished, so the throw does not count and the score stays 40.
The caller says "game shot" but the dart then falls out. Does it count?
No. The finishing dart must stay in the board until retrieved. If darts remain, the player may carry on.
Can a player finish 25 with the outer bull?
No. The outer bull is a single 25, not a double.
Why the rule exists
Leaving one is a bust because one cannot be finished on a double. The double finish makes the last throws a separate skill.
Where it differs
| Where | What changes | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Start | Straight start | WDF 2.01 |
| Finish | Double or bull | WDF 2.02 to 2.04 |
| Bust | Throw cancelled | WDF 2.05 |
| Game shot | Darts must stay in until retrieved | WDF 2.06, 2.07 |
From the rule book
World Darts Federation, Playing and Tournament Rules (twentieth revised edition, 28 February 2018), Playing Rules 2.01 to 2.09. Checked 14 October 2026. Official document: the WDF Playing and Tournament Rules.