Question: What number is at 12 o’clock on a dartboard?
Show answer
20.
The game of darts, while simple in its concept, involves a unique and specific configuration of numbers on the dartboard, which is crucial to the strategy and scoring of the game. On a standard dartboard, the number positioned at the 12 o’clock spot is 20. This placement is integral to the design of the dartboard and the way the game is played.
The dartboard’s layout is not sequential like a clock; instead, it is designed to penalize inaccuracy and reward skill and precision. The numbers are arranged in such a way that high-scoring segments are flanked by low-scoring ones. For instance, the 20 segment, which is the highest single scoring area on the board, is bordered by the 1 and the 5 segments. This arrangement means that a slight miss to the left or right of the 20 segment can result in a much lower score. Therefore, the 20 segment’s placement at the top of the dartboard, a prime target area, adds an element of risk and skill to the game.
Professional and competitive dart players often aim for the 20 segment, as consistently hitting this area can yield the highest possible scores. In particular, the narrow band at the outer edge of this segment is the ‘triple-20’ area, which scores three times the number hit, offering 60 points, the highest score possible with a single dart.
The design of the dartboard has evolved over the years, but its current layout dates back to the early 20th century and is credited to a carpenter from Lancashire, England, named Brian Gamlin. His layout aimed to reduce the element of luck and increase the skill required, which helped darts to transition from a pub pastime to a competitive sport.
