Let’s Play
LAWN DARTS
How To Play
Setup
Object: To throw your darts in or nearest to the circle, being the first team to score exactly 21 points.
Games can be played with 2 to 4 players.
Traditionally, red throws first, but players can determine who goes first.
Rings are set up 35’ apart, and players cannot step in front of the ring on their end when throwing.
Lawn darts must be thrown in an underhand motion.
Gameplay
Games are played to exactly 21 with 3 points being awarded for each dart in the rings and 1 point for each dart within a dart length of the ring.
Cancelation scoring is in place with one team scoring the difference between the two totals.
Bust rules are in place with a team going over 21 subtracting any extra points from their total score.
Scoring
Scoring involves earning 3 points for each dart in the rings and 1 point for each dart within a dart length of the ring.
Cancelation scoring is used, and the difference between the two teams' totals is the score for the round.
History
Lawn Darts has reached almost mythological proportion propelled forward by game being outright banned in the United States and other countries. Often used as a symbol of the freedom kids experienced in the 70’s and 80’s images of lawn darts often show up in pop culture appearing on signs and shirts.
The game which is synonymous with dangerous toys and outside summer fun was invented by John F. Chmela who filed for a patent in 1943. Lawn Darts grew in popularity and was manufactured by many different companies and went by a variety name with Jarts being a popular version. While one can imagine an individual dreaming up a weapon like projectile game, Chmela may have had inspiration for the creation of Lawn Darts.
The plumbata was an ancient weapon used by the Greeks and Romans as far back as 500 BCE. This weapon looked and functioned almost identically as a Lawn Dart with using the same underhand throwing motion so that the weapon would come down on enemies.
Currently Lawn Darts in their original design are banned and have been since the late 80’s. In 1997 the Consumer Product Safety Commission doubled down on their ban recommending that all sets be destroyed. This ban derived after reports of thousands of injuries and three deaths. Most injuries and all deaths were children.
Safer versions of similar style games derived out of lawn darts and have been produced under different names. With soft, weighted tips, the game can be played without the injuries and deaths frequently caused by the original version.
