156 Finish
Use this 156 checkout guide to pick the best route, manage first-dart misses, and keep your finish decisions calm in real matchplay.
- Exact double-out finish Protect familiar doubles to keep finishes repeatable under pressure.
- Standard and safer routes Choose route risk by miss coverage, pressure, and opponent position.
- Missed-dart recovery Have a clear recovery branch before dart one to avoid panic lines.
- Setup-first decision support When direct routes break, convert quickly to your best next leave.
🎯 Quick answer
Best route
T20 → T20 → D18
Route note
No major safer alternative. Use T20 → T20 → D18 with strict setup discipline.
Key risk
Treble dependency: missing the first big treble usually turns this visit into setup mode.
🗺️ Finish flow diagram
Read this finish as a simple sequence: choose the route, react to dart one, then close on a legal double.
Start with 156 remaining.
Dart 1: aim T20.
Dart 2: aim T20.
Dart 3: aim D18.
Reach exactly 0 with a valid double to close the leg.
Standard line
T20 → T20 → D18
If dart 1 misses
Stay on the main line with controlled rhythm: T20 → T20 → D18. If no clean finish remains, use dart three to leave a preferred double for the next visit.
📸 Finish board example
141–160 visual example: three darts grouped on pressure sectors.
Standard line on this score: T20 → T20 → D18
- Use board landmarks around your first target before throwing dart one.
- If dart one misses, reset on the main line and prioritize leaving a clean next-visit double.
- When no clean close remains, use dart three to leave a preferred double for next visit.
🎬 PDC finish example
Official PDC examples from the 141–160 high-pressure checkout zone.
Best checkouts post-Christmas (2023)
- Official PDC compilation with high-pressure finishing moments.
- Useful for score-band pattern recognition.
- Shows different player preferences on similar totals.
🎯 Main route
| Dart | Target | Points | Score left |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | T20 | 60 | 96 |
| 2 | T20 | 60 | 36 |
| 3 | D18 | 36 | Checkout |
↪️ If you miss the first dart
- If T20 lands as 20, 136 remains: use dart two to leave a preferred double for next visit.
- If dart one scores 0, 156 remains: abandon forced finish attempts and prioritize a clean setup leave.
- Call the new total out loud after dart one so your second and third darts follow a valid route.
🎯 Bull decision
- Bull is usually low value on this finish. Prioritize treble-to-double or setup-to-double routes.
- Route stability matters more than flashy bull attempts when conversion is the goal.
⚠️ Common mistakes
Mistake 1
Forcing low-percentage recovery darts from 156 instead of switching to setup when the first route breaks.
Mistake 2
Ignoring bogey and awkward leaves after dart two.
Mistake 3
Rushing arithmetic and throwing dart three before confirming the legal finish.
🧩 Setup and preferred leaves
- If 156 cannot be finished after dart one, use dart two to protect a clean double (40, 32, 24, or 16).
- Prefer leaves that match your strongest finishing double rather than chasing maximum points blindly.
- Avoid leaving 1 in double-out formats; plan setup darts to keep even finish options.
🔁 Neighbor finishes
❓ 156 Finish FAQ
What is the standard 156 finish route?
A common route is T20 → T20 → D18. Route choice can still vary by preferred doubles and miss coverage.
Is there a safer 156 checkout option?
There is no clearly safer mainstream alternative than T20 → T20 → D18. The safer decision is usually to protect setup if dart one misses.
Should I force the finish from 156 if dart one misses?
Not always. If a high-probability two-dart close is gone, switch to setup mode and leave your best double for next visit.
Does bull matter on 156?
Bull is usually not a priority on this score. Standard treble-to-double pathways are typically stronger.
Build the full skill around this route
Checkout execution improves faster when rules, setup, and route choices work together.
🔎 Sources and Editorial Review
Written by
The Darts Fan editorial team
Reviewed against
WDF Playing Rules and PDC Rules of Darts
Last reviewed
March 2026
How this page was built
This guide combines official rules, standard matchplay conventions, and beginner-focused checkout explanations.
Editorial note
Routes can vary by player preference, but all examples here respect standard double-out logic.