Bob's 27: The Doubles Practice Game

Last updated 10 November 2026

Bob's 27 is the best-known doubles practice routine in darts, devised by former world champion Bob Anderson. It goes around every double on the board and punishes misses, which makes it a good test of finishing under pressure.

The rules

1. You start with 27 points.
2. Throw three darts at double 1, then three at double 2, and so on up to double 20. Then finish with three darts at the bull.
3. Each dart that hits the target double adds that double's value: double 1 adds 2, double 2 adds 4, double 20 adds 40.
4. If all three darts miss, you lose the value of the double instead: 2 points for double 1, up to 40 for double 20.
5. If your score falls below zero, you have bust.

The bull round

On the DartScore.uk scoreboard an outer bull adds 25 and an inner bull adds 50. Missing with all three darts costs 50.

A worked example

• Start: 27.
• Double 1: all three miss. Lose 2, leaving 25.
• Double 2: one hit. Add 4, making 29.
• Double 3: two hits. Add 6 twice, making 41.
• Double 4: all three miss. Lose 8, leaving 33.

Because the penalties grow with every double, the early rounds decide whether you survive. Missing the first five doubles in a row takes you from 27 to below zero (27 − 2 − 4 − 6 − 8 − 10 = −3).

When you bust

In the classic version, going below zero ends your game. The DartScore.uk scoreboard marks you as bust but lets you finish all 21 targets, so you still get the practice. Your final score shows how far below zero you ended.

Scores to know

• Maximum: 1,437. That is every dart hitting: three of every double from 1 to 20 (1,260), three inner bulls (150) and the 27 you started with.
• Positive score: finishing above zero is a solid target for club players starting out.
• Your own best: the most useful benchmark is your last few results. Record them and try to beat your rolling average.

How to get the most from it

• Play it at the end of a session as well as the start. Doubles when you are tired are closer to doubles in a match.
• Look at where you fail. If you always lose points on the same doubles, those are the ones to practise.
• Combine it with a full practice routine and the checkout chart to learn which doubles you will actually need.

Frequently asked questions

What is the maximum score in Bob's 27?

1,437: three hits on every double from 1 to 20, three inner bulls, plus the starting 27.

What happens if you go below zero in Bob's 27?

In the classic game you are bust and the game ends. On DartScore.uk you are marked as bust but can keep playing to the end for practice.

Who invented Bob's 27?

It is named after Bob Anderson, the 1988 world champion, who devised it as a doubles practice routine.