Third-Dart-Itis: Why Your Last Dart Always Misses (And How To Fix It)

First dart: Treble 20. Second dart: Treble 20. Third dart: ... Single 5.

This isn't bad luck. This is third-dart-itis.

Every player experiences it. Your first two darts group beautifully, then the third one goes rogue. It's not random. There's a specific cause, and once you understand it, you can fix it.

The most common cause: Your non-throwing hand (the hand holding your remaining darts) changes position between dart 2 and dart 3.

What Is Third-Dart-Itis?

Third-dart-itis: When your third dart consistently lands worse than your first two

Classic pattern:

Dart 1: Good
Dart 2: Good (often right next to dart 1)
Dart 3: Completely different location

Not third-dart-itis:

All three darts scatter randomly
First dart good, second and third both bad
Gradual degradation (each dart slightly worse)

Actual third-dart-itis: First two darts are consistent with each other, third dart breaks the pattern

Why this is important: If the problem is specific to dart 3, the cause is specific to what changes between dart 2 and dart 3.

The Off-Hand Problem

Your non-throwing hand holds your remaining darts. Most players call this the "off hand" or "dart hand."

What most players do:

Before dart 1: Off hand holds 3 darts, positioned somewhere comfortable (chest level, waist level, etc.)

Before dart 2: Off hand holds 1 dart (you just grabbed dart 2), still in roughly the same position

Before dart 3: Off hand is empty (you just grabbed dart 3)... and moves to a different position

Why does it move?

Reason 1: Your off hand is now empty - no darts to hold means it naturally wants to drop, relax, or move

Reason 2: You're running out of darts, subconsciously preparing to retrieve them

Reason 3: Holding one dart (in throwing hand) feels different than holding two or three, so you adjust your off hand position

Reason 4: You're looking at your grouping (first two darts), your off hand drifts while you're focused on the board

Reason 5: You start thinking about the throw instead of executing, and your body position changes

The result: Your off hand is in a different position for dart 3 than it was for darts 1 and 2.

Why Off-Hand Position Matters

Your body is a linked system. Everything affects everything else.

If your off hand moves:

Your shoulder position changes
Your torso rotation changes
Your balance shifts
Your throwing arm alignment changes

Even small changes in off hand position affect your throw.

The Balance Effect

Off hand at chest level: Weight distribution is balanced

Off hand drops to waist level: Weight shifts slightly backward or to the side

Off hand moves closer to body: Shoulders rotate inward slightly

Off hand extends away from body: Shoulders rotate outward slightly

Your throwing arm compensates for these balance changes, usually without you realizing it.

Result: Throwing arm alignment for dart 3 is different than for darts 1-2.

The Shoulder Effect

Your shoulders work as a unit.

Off hand (left hand for right-handed throwers) position affects left shoulder position.

Left shoulder position affects right shoulder position (they're connected).

Right shoulder position affects throwing arm alignment.

Chain reaction: Off hand moves → Left shoulder shifts → Right shoulder compensates → Throwing arm angle changes → Dart 3 goes different direction than darts 1-2.

The Reference Point Effect

Your body uses proprioception (awareness of body position) to maintain consistency.

Off hand is a reference point. Your brain knows where it is in relation to your throwing hand.

If off hand is in same position for darts 1-2: Your brain has a consistent reference

If off hand moves for dart 3: Your brain recalculates the reference, and your throwing arm adjusts accordingly

Sometimes the adjustment helps. Usually it doesn't.

Other Causes of Third-Dart-Itis

Off hand is the most common cause, but not the only one.

Cause 2: Mental Pressure

First two darts: Relaxed, executing naturally

Third dart: "Don't mess up the group" pressure

What happens: Conscious mind interferes, you try to "aim" the third dart perfectly

Result: Overthinking breaks the natural execution, third dart goes wrong

Cause 3: Looking At Your Grouping

After dart 2 lands: You look at the two darts in the board

While looking: Your body position drifts (off hand moves, feet shift, posture changes)

Before dart 3: You're in a different body position than you were for darts 1-2

Result: Third dart launches from different alignment

Cause 4: Fatigue/Rushing

Dart 1: Fresh, focused

Dart 2: Still focused

Dart 3: Rushing to finish the turn, arm is slightly fatigued

What happens: Mechanics break down slightly, elbow drops or follow-through shortens

Result: Third dart trajectory changes

Cause 5: Dart Hand Grip Changes

Darts 1-2: Picking dart from multiple darts in off hand

Dart 3: Picking the last dart (different finger/hand position to grab it)

What happens: The way you grab the dart changes your pre-throw routine

Result: Inconsistent setup for dart 3

How To Diagnose Your Third-Dart-Itis

Film yourself throwing 3 rounds (9 darts total) at treble 20.

Watch the video. For each round, compare:

Check 1: Off-Hand Position

Dart 1: Where is off hand? (Chest, waist, side?)

Dart 2: Same position? (Yes/no)

Dart 3: Same position? (Yes/no)

If off hand moves for dart 3: This is your primary issue

Check 2: Body Position

Dart 1: Stance, posture, shoulder position

Dart 2: Same? (Yes/no)

Dart 3: Same? (Yes/no)

If body position changes for dart 3: Why? (Looking at board, shifting weight, etc.)

Check 3: Timing/Tempo

Dart 1: Time from previous dart landing to next throw

Dart 2: Same tempo? (Yes/no)

Dart 3: Same tempo? (Yes/no)

If dart 3 is rushed or delayed: Tempo issue

Check 4: Mechanics

Dart 1: Setup, pause, throw, follow-through

Dart 2: Same mechanics? (Yes/no)

Dart 3: Same mechanics? (Yes/no)

If dart 3 mechanics differ: What specifically changed? (Shorter pause, dropping elbow, pulling follow-through, etc.)

Most players will find: Off hand moves for dart 3, and body position changes as a result.

The Fix: Lock The Off Hand

Solution: Keep your off hand in exactly the same position for all three darts.

Step 1: Choose A Position

Where should off hand be?

Option 1: Chest level, centered

Natural, balanced
Easy to maintain
Most common among pros

Option 2: Chest level, offset to side

Keeps off hand out of your visual line
Still balanced
Some players prefer this

Option 3: Waist level

Lower center of gravity
Can be harder to maintain consistency
Less common

Option 4: Against your body (darts tucked against ribs/chest)

Very consistent (physical reference point)
Unusual but works for some players

My recommendation: Chest level, centered or slightly to the side. Natural and balanced.

Step 2: Mark The Position

For 50 throws, be hyper-aware of off hand position:

Before dart 1: Note exact position (mentally or physically touch a reference)

Before dart 2: Check - is off hand still in same position? (Adjust if not)

Before dart 3: Check - is off hand still in same position? (This is the critical one)

Make it obvious: Deliberately place your off hand in the exact same spot before each dart.

Step 3: Physical Reference Point

Make it impossible to move off hand by using a reference.

Option 1: Touch your body

Rest off hand against your ribs or chest
Physical contact = can't move without noticing

Option 2: Touch your clothing

Rest off hand on your belt or pocket
Consistent reference

Option 3: Visual reference

Line up off hand with something in your peripheral vision
Edge of dartboard surround, wall feature, etc.

Why this works: Physical or visual reference makes movement obvious. You catch it immediately and correct.

Step 4: The "Freeze" Cue

Mental cue: "Off hand stays frozen"

What this means: Once you set your off hand position for dart 1, it doesn't move for darts 2-3

The only movement: Fingers to grab next dart, but hand position stays locked

Use this cue for 100 throws to build the habit.

Step 5: The One-Motion Drill

This drill forces consistency:

Set up with all 3 darts in off hand
Lock off hand position (reference point)
Throw dart 1
Without moving anything except fingers, grab dart 2
Throw dart 2
Without moving anything except fingers, grab dart 3
Throw dart 3

Only your throwing arm moves. Off hand and body stay frozen.

Do this drill for 50 throws (50 complete 3-dart sequences).

What this teaches: How to maintain body position across all three darts.

Advanced Fixes

Fix 2: Don't Look At Your Grouping

The trap: After dart 2 lands, you look at the group and admire/analyze it

What happens: While looking, your body drifts (off hand moves, feet shift, etc.)

Solution: Don't look at the group until all 3 darts are thrown

How:

Throw dart 1, stay focused on target (don't look at dart in board)
Throw dart 2, stay focused on target (don't look at darts in board)
Throw dart 3, now you can look at the group

This maintains body position consistency because you're not shifting visual focus mid-sequence.

Fix 3: Consistent Tempo

Count between throws:

"Dart lands, 1-2-3, next throw"

Same count for all three darts. This prevents rushing dart 3.

Why it works: Tempo consistency helps maintain mental and physical rhythm.

Fix 4: Reset Routine For Each Dart

Some players find: Completely resetting between darts works better than trying to "freeze" position

The method:

Throw dart 1
Completely reset stance (step back, relax)
Step up fresh for dart 2 (same setup routine as dart 1)
Throw dart 2
Completely reset
Step up fresh for dart 3 (same setup routine)
Throw dart 3

Pros: Ensures each dart starts from same setup

Cons: Takes longer, can break flow

Who it's for: Players who can't maintain frozen off hand position (keeps drifting)

My take: Try frozen off hand first. If that doesn't work after 200+ throws, try the full reset method.

The Mental Component

Third-dart-itis often has a mental trigger.

The Pressure

After first two darts group well: You think "Don't mess this up"

What happens: Conscious mind takes over, tries to "aim" dart 3 perfectly

Result: Overthinking breaks natural execution

Fix: Same mental approach for all 3 darts

Dart 1: Trust setup, execute
Dart 2: Trust setup, execute
Dart 3: Trust setup, execute (not "be careful and aim")

The Expectation

Mindset trap: "First two darts were good, third dart should also be good"

What happens: Expectation creates pressure, pressure creates tension

Fix: Each dart is independent

Dart 3 is not "finishing the group"
Dart 3 is just "throw dart at target"
No different than dart 1 or dart 2

Mental cue: "Every dart is dart 1"

Testing The Fix

Throw 10 rounds (30 darts) at treble 20.

Count how many times:

All 3 darts land in treble 20
2 darts land in treble 20
1 dart lands in treble 20
0 darts land in treble 20

Then specifically count for dart 3:

How many of the 10 third darts landed in treble 20?

Before fixing off hand: Most players hit 30-50% with third dart

After fixing off hand: Should increase to 50-70% (matching your first/second dart percentage)

If third dart percentage matches first/second dart percentage: Third-dart-itis is fixed

If third dart is still significantly worse: Another cause (mechanics, mental, etc.) - go back to diagnosis

The Bottom Line

Third-dart-itis is when your third dart consistently lands worse than your first two.

Primary cause: Off hand (non-throwing hand) moves between dart 2 and dart 3

Why it matters: Off hand position affects balance, shoulder alignment, and proprioception

The fix:

Choose an off-hand position (chest level, centered)
Lock it in place for all 3 darts
Use physical/visual reference to maintain position
"Off hand stays frozen" cue
One-motion drill (50 sequences)

Other contributing factors:

Looking at grouping mid-sequence
Mental pressure on dart 3
Rushing/tempo change
Mechanics breaking down

Test it: Film yourself. Watch where off hand is for each dart.

The pros don't have third-dart-itis because they maintain the same body position for all three darts.

Lock your off hand. Watch your third dart start landing where your first two did.

Related Guides

Building consistent mechanics:

Your Setup Position Matters More Than You Think - Photo 2 for repeatable body position
Why The Pause Matters - Confirmation checkpoint before each throw
Follow-Through Fundamentals - Complete the throw on all three darts

Mental game fixes:

Process Over Results - "Every dart is dart 1" mindset
Why You Miss Easy Shots - Overthinking on pressure shots