Lawn Darts: The Banned Classic, Played Safe
The afternoon sun's warm on your neck as you stand barefoot in fresh-cut grass, a lawn dart balanced in your palm. One easy underhand toss and it arcs across the yard, dropping toward a plastic ring twenty-five feet away.
That's lawn darts in a single throw. It's a backyard tossing game that's simple enough for kids, competitive enough for adults, and ready to play in about two minutes.
What Lawn Darts Are
Lawn darts (sometimes called garden darts or yard darts) are oversized darts you lob underhand at target rings laid flat on the ground. You score points by landing darts inside the rings, and the first player or team to reach the winning score takes the game.
A quick note on history: the original metal-tipped "Jarts" caused serious injuries, and U.S. regulators banned their sale in 1988. Modern sets use weighted plastic bodies with soft, rounded tips, so today's game keeps the fun without the danger.
What You Need
A standard set includes four darts (two per side in different colors) and two target rings. Add a flat, open stretch of grass — a backyard, park, or campsite all work.
Look for sets labeled soft-tip or kid-safe when you buy. They're widely available online and in sporting goods stores.
Setting Up the Game
Lay the two rings flat on the grass, roughly 25 to 35 feet apart. Shorten that distance for kids or first-timers so everyone can reach the target comfortably.
Players split into two teams (or go one-on-one) and stand beside the same ring, throwing toward the far one. After each round, everyone walks down, tallies the score, and throws back the other way.
How to Throw
Hold the dart loosely near the top of its body, tip angled slightly down. Swing your arm back, step forward, and release with a smooth underhand lob so the dart arcs up and drops toward the ring.
Height is your friend here — a high arc lets the dart fall straight down and stick near where it lands. If you want to sharpen your mechanics for regular darts too, our guide on throwing darts accurately covers grip and release in more depth.
Scoring and Winning
The classic scoring is simple: a dart inside the ring scores 3 points, and a dart closer to the ring than any opponent's dart scores 1. Many house rules cancel matching scores, so if both sides land one in the ring, those darts wash out.
Play to 21 points, and some groups require you to hit 21 exactly — go over and you drop back to 11. Agree on your rules before the first toss so nobody argues at 19.
Safety Rules That Still Matter
Even soft-tip darts fly with real weight behind them, so never throw while anyone's near the target ring. Wait until the landing zone is completely clear, and keep spectators behind the throwing line.
Always toss underhand with an arcing flight, never a flat sidearm hurl. Store the set out of reach of small children between games, and retire any dart with a cracked or damaged tip.
Fun Variations
Once the basic game feels easy, mix it up. Assign bonus points for longer distances, set up trick-shot challenges, or play elimination rounds where the lowest scorer each round sits out.
Lawn darts also fits neatly into a bigger game day. Pair it with beer darts for the adults or head inside afterward for a classic game of darts.
- Regulation compressed sisal surface heals around steel tips for a long playing life
- Rotating number ring spreads out wear to extend the board's lifespan
- Includes six steel tip darts so you can start playing right out of the box
Related Questions
What are modern lawn darts made of?
Modern lawn darts use plastic bodies with soft rubber or blunt weighted tips. That design lets them stick their landing in grass without being able to puncture anything.
Can you play lawn darts indoors?
It's really an outdoor game because of the throwing distance and arcing flights. A large gym or open basement could host a shortened version, but grass is the natural home.
How many players can join a game?
Two players is the minimum, but teams make it better. Split any group into two sides and rotate throwers each round.
How do you maintain a lawn dart set?
Wipe the darts down after they've been in wet grass or dirt, and store the set somewhere dry. Check tips and fins for cracks before each season.
Grab a soft-tip set, pace off 25 feet, and settle the family championship before dinner.