A 170 Checkout In Darts Is Known As The ‘Big Fish’ And Is The Highest Possible Checkout To Win A Leg In Darts

Join us at SportsCasting as we explain how to get a 170 checkout in darts. The 170 is known as the ‘Big Fish’, and is the highest available checkout in a leg of darts.

What Is A 170 Checkout In Darts?

Darts is a sport that has grown in popularity over the years, and is more watched now than it ever has been. Whether it be the World Darts Championship, the Premier League Darts or any of the other major tournaments, millions of fans tune in each year to watch the biggest and best darts tournaments worldwide.

Teenage darting sensation Luke Littler is just one reason for the growth of darts in recent years, following his feat of reaching the 2024 World Darts Championship Final on debut. Although he was defeated by Luke Humphries in the Ally Pally finale in early January 2024, ‘The Nuke’ has helped grow the sport of darts ten-fold.

Darts is more popular than it ever has been, with more and more people investing in the sport. Whether it be watching it or even playing it, darts has had a rapid rise in recent years. In turn, the rules of darts have come to the forefront far more, with some fans confused by some of the rulings.

None more so than understanding why legs start on 501, not to mention why players get three darts and why you have to finish on the bullseye or a double. Another thing people want to know about is the famous and often talked about 170 checkout.

A 170 checkout in darts is the single highest available checkout you can achieve with three darts. As every leg must finish on a double or the bullseye, the maximum checkout any player can score is 170 to win a leg.

WHAT A LEG OF DARTS | A near 9 dart finish and a 170 checkout! 🙌🏼 🙌🏼 🙌🏼#Unibet180 #LoveTheDarts pic.twitter.com/v54oTu1l7Q

— PDC Darts (@OfficialPDC) February 15, 2018

How Do You Checkout 170 In Darts?

As previously explained, the infamous 170 checkout in darts is the highest possible outshot in the sport. Not only is a 170 outshot the highest available outshot, but it is also one that sends fans into raptures each and every time it is achieved.

This is done by hitting a treble 20 with your first dart, another treble 20 with your second dart and finally hitting the bullseye with your third dart. Voila – the infamous 170 checkout, also known as the ‘Big Fish’.

All of the best darts players over the years such as Phil Taylor and Eric Bristow, and more recently the likes of Gary Anderson, Gerwyn Price, Michael Smith and Michael van Gerwen have all hit show-stopping 170 checkouts over the years.

The 167 checkout and 161 checkout are actually more difficult than the 170, but there is no match to the ‘Big Fish’ when it comes to drama and the ultimate end of a leg of darts.

LITTLER REELS IN THE BIG FISH! 🎣

That is SENSATIONAL!

Luke Littler hits back with an inspired 170 checkout to reduce the arrears to 6-3!

📺 https://t.co/AmuG0PMn18 #PCF2024 | Final pic.twitter.com/H2beTtiBba

— PDC Darts (@OfficialPDC) November 24, 2024

The iconic 170 in darts is widely referred to as the ‘Big Fish’. But why is this? Is there a specific reason for it?

In short, the 170 checkout is likely called the ‘Big Fish’ because it is the highest available outshot. It’s a big achievement which is like catching a big fish when out fishing.

Some fans have debated that the 170 checkout is called the ‘Big Fish’ because it’s hard to believe, just like how people exaggerate their fishing stories if they have caught their own big fish.

There is no proper reason as to why is it called the ‘Big Fish’ in darts. That could be one to ask the likes of Wayne Mardle or John Part!