Double out means your last dart must hit a double, or the bull, which counts as double 25, and bring your score to exactly zero. Master out also lets you finish on a triple. Straight out (also called single out) lets you finish on any segment. Double out is the standard for steel tip darts under WDF, PDC (DRA) and DDV rules.
| Double out | Master out | Straight out | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Last dart may be | a double or the bull | a double, a triple or the bull | any segment |
| Bust if you go below zero | yes | yes | yes |
| Bust if you leave 1 | yes | yes | no |
| Bust if you reach zero on a single | yes | yes | no, that wins |
| Highest finish with 3 darts | 170 (T20, T20, Bull) | 180 (T20, T20, T20) | 180 |
| Scores up to 180 you cannot finish in 3 darts | 159, 162, 163, 165, 166, 168, 169 and everything above 170 | 163, 166, 169, 172, 173, 175, 176, 178, 179 | same as master out |
We computed the last two rows by testing every combination of up to three darts.
Double out
The World Darts Federation rule reads: "to finish, and win, the player must land a dart in the double (Double Ring or Bull) of the number equal to one half of the remaining score" (WDF Playing Rules 2.02). The bull counts as 50 and, if 50 is needed, as double 25 (2.03, 2.04). The PDC's rule book (DRA Rules 2026, 6.3.1 and 6.3.2) and the German federation DDV (Sport- und Wettkampfordnung §5) say the same.
The bust rule is what makes double out hard: if you score more than you need, "the same points as remain without finishing on a double, or leaves a score of one", the visit does not count and your score goes back to what it was (WDF 2.05). You cannot finish 1 with a double, so leaving 1 is always a bust.
For every double out finish from 170 to 2, see our checkout chart.
Master out
Master out is double out plus triples: you may finish on a double, a triple or the bull. The German Wikipedia defines it as "wie Double Out, zusätzlich darf auch mit einem Wurf in ein Triple-Feld beendet werden" (like double out, but you may also finish with a dart in a triple). None of the steel tip rule books we read (WDF, DRA, DDV, ADO) mentions master out. It shows up in soft tip rules instead: the US body NDA refers to "OI/MO" (open in, master out) play, and the German soft tip league DSAB lists "301 Master out" as the format of its B league, without defining it.
Because triples can finish, more scores go out in one dart. These are the one-dart finishes master out adds to double out:
| Left | Master out finish |
|---|---|
| 3 | T1 |
| 9 | T3 |
| 15 | T5 |
| 21 | T7 |
| 27 | T9 |
| 33 | T11 |
| 39 | T13 |
| 42 | T14 |
| 45 | T15 |
| 48 | T16 |
| 51 | T17 |
| 54 | T18 |
| 57 | T19 |
| 60 | T20 |
The highest two-dart finish rises from 110 (T20, Bull) to 120 (T20, T20), and every multiple of 3 up to 180 can be finished with triples alone.
Straight out (single out)
Straight out needs no special last dart. Wikipedia's darts glossary gives the example: "Players on 15 can hit the S15 to win instead of going S7, D4." You can only bust by scoring more than you have left. Leaving 1 is fine, because a single 1 finishes it. In Germany, the DSAB C league plays "301 Single out".
Same score, three rules
| Left | Double out | Master out | Straight out |
|---|---|---|---|
| 60 | 20, D20 (2 darts) | T20 (1 dart) | T20 (1 dart) |
| 57 | 17, D20 | T19 | T19 |
| 50 | Bull | Bull | Bull |
| 45 | 13, D16 | T15 | T15 |
| 3 | 1, D1 | T1 | 3 |
| 1 | bust, no finish possible | bust, no finish possible | 1 |
| 180 | no finish | T20, T20, T20 | T20, T20, T20 |
Double out routes are from our computed checkout chart; where several routes exist, this is one of them.
Double in, master in and straight in
The start rule is separate from the finish rule:
- Straight in: every dart scores from the first one. This is the standard: WDF 2.01 requires a "straight start", and the DDV plays "straight in und double out" unless stated otherwise (§5(1)).
- Double in: you need a double to start scoring. Wikipedia describes it as "all darts thrown before hitting a double not being counted". The opening double itself counts. Example in 301 double in: your first dart hits a single 20 (no score), your second hits D20 (you are in, 301 - 40 = 261 left), your third hits T20 (201 left).
- Master in: a double or a triple opens your scoring.
Combined names you will see: double in double out (a double to start and to finish), straight in double out (the standard 501 rule), single in master out or open in master out (start freely, finish on a double or triple).
How Darts Counter handles each rule
In the X01 setup you pick a Checkout Mode (Straight Out, Double Out or Master Out) and a Starting Mode (Straight In, Double In or Master In). We checked the app's code for how each one is applied:
- Double Out: a leg ends only on a double or the bull; going below zero, leaving 1, or reaching zero on a single is a bust ("Not finished with double field").
- Master Out: a double, a triple or the bull finishes; a single, including the outer 25, is a bust on zero ("Not finished with double or triple field"), and leaving 1 is a bust.
- Straight Out: only going below zero is a bust.
- Double In / Master In: darts before your opening double (or triple) score nothing but count as darts thrown for your average.
- After a bust, the app resets your score to what it was at the start of the visit.
One thing to know: the checkout suggestions in the app are double out routes in every mode. In Master Out or Straight Out you may have a shorter finish than the one shown, such as T20 on 60.
Set the rule your league plays, and Darts Counter checks every finish for you.
Sources
Written by FLAME Apps, maker of Darts Counter since 2015. Checked 2026-09-25.
- WDF Playing and Tournament Rules, 20th revised edition, rules 2.01 to 2.05
- DRA Rules 2026, rules 6.3.1 to 6.3.3 (Darts Regulation Authority)
- DDV Sport- und Wettkampfordnung, §5 (German)
- DSAB-Liga-Regeln 2016, rule 1.1 (German soft tip league formats)
- Wikipedia: Glossary of darts, Wikipedia: Darts, Wikipedia (German): Darts
- Next: 501 rules, how to calculate your average
