The Darts Fan

64 Finish

Use this 64 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

T12 → D14

Safer route

D12 → D20

Key risk

Route discipline: chasing a low-percentage recovery dart often costs more than a controlled setup leave.

🗺️ Finish flow diagram

Read this finish as a simple sequence: choose the route, react to dart one, then close on a legal double.

Start

Start with 64 remaining.

D1

Dart 1: aim T12.

D2

Dart 2: aim D14.

Win

Reach exactly 0 with a valid double to close the leg.

Standard line

T12 → D14

If dart 1 misses

Switch to the safer continuation: D12 → D20. If no clean finish remains, set up a preferred double for next visit.

📸 Finish board example

Route visual: T12 → D14

61–80 visual example: repeatable three-dart control around the center.

Standard line on this score: T12 → D14

  • Use board landmarks around your first target before throwing dart one.
  • If dart one misses, switch to the safer continuation instead of forcing the original route.
  • When no clean close remains, use dart three to leave a preferred double for next visit.

🎬 PDC finish example

Official PDC examples from practical under-100 routes.

Best checkouts pre-Christmas (2023/24)

Top PDC players · 2023/24 World Darts Championship

  • Official PDC checkout compilation from world-stage play.
  • Good for studying route selection and miss recovery.
  • Covers a broad range of practical finish scenarios.

🎯 Main route

64 Finish main route table
Dart Target Points Score left
1 T12 36 28
2 D14 28 Checkout

🛡️ Safer route

64 Finish safer route table
Dart Target Points Score left
1 D12 24 40
2 D20 40 Checkout

↪️ If you miss the first dart

  • If T12 lands as 12, 52 remains: switch to T12 → D8.
  • If dart one scores 0, 64 remains: re-enter with T12 → D14 rather than forcing a panic treble.
  • Call the new total out loud after dart one so your second and third darts follow a valid route.

🎯 Bull decision

  • Bull is optional here, not mandatory. Use it only if your bull grouping is strong under pressure.
  • Standard double routes are often cleaner for repeatable checkout percentage.

⚠️ Common mistakes

Mistake 1

Forcing low-percentage recovery darts from 64 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 64 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

❓ 64 Finish FAQ

What is the standard 64 finish route?

A common route is T12 → D14. Route choice can still vary by preferred doubles and miss coverage.

Is there a safer 64 checkout option?

A safer alternative is D12 → D20, especially when you want cleaner backup options after a miss.

Should I force the finish from 64 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 64?

Bull can appear in valid routes, but only use it when the hit and miss outcomes both stay practical.

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.

📚 Related checkout guides

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