Darts Trainer
The Manual
Table of Contents 1. Downloading Darts Trainer Firewall settings Launching Darts Trainer 2. Main Menu Games Resizing Forms Keyboard access for controls Colour Schemes menu Records 3. 501 Practice Colour Schemes 501 Set-up Practice game play 4. Scoring Session Scoring game play 5. Invisible Man Invisible Man settings Invisible Man game play 6. Doubles & Trebles Doubles and Trebles game play 7. Finishes Finishes game play 8. Team Taylor Challenge TTC game play Skill Tests
1. Downloading Darts Trainer Go to www.small-punters-club.com and click on Darts Trainer on the main menu.
When using Darts Trainer for the first time there are 4 components required for the software to work, all part of the .NET Framework. These are available for free download on the MSDN website (Microsoft Download website), but to make it easier they can all be downloaded simultaneously by clicking on the “Download” link.
Firewall settings If you have Norton installed on your PC you may need to adjust the settings so that Norton allows the set-up file to download the software. Open Norton, click on settings, and then click on Firewall. You should then see a screen similar to the one below.
Because the Darts Trainer software is new and Norton is not familiar with it yet, Norton can stop your PC from downloading it, fearing it could be a threat. When more Norton users download the software, Norton will become more familiar with Darts Trainer and allow it to download normally. In the mean time you simply need to turn off “Download Intelligence” by clicking it and then clicking “Apply”.
When you click apply it will give you an option of how long you want to turn off the “Download Intelligence” setting, the “30 mins” option will be fine, Norton will automatically turn back on the Download Intelligence itself after 30 mins.
The Norton settings will be changed to ‘off’ as per below. If you have other firewall software which prevents the Download link from executing correctly you can perform similar actions to enable the download.
Setting is now turned to off
Now you can continue with the download, click on the download link
Click ‘run’ on the pop-up that is displayed, and you will then see the below screen
Click ‘Accept’, and downloads will begin. This will install the necessary components for the software to work correctly, it can take a few minutes so please be patient.
Once the components are installed, you will no longer require any further installations. Simply click on the Launch link on the website whenever you would like to use the software.
Launch link You will need to be a subscriber, and logged in to have access to this link. It will not be visible to Guests or Registered users, only Subscribers.
2. Main Menu Games There are 6 games to choose from the Main Menu which opens on start up – 501 Practice, Scoring Session, Invisible Man, Doubles and Trebles, Finishes, and Team Taylor Challenge. Clicking on any of the buttons will open the relevant screen for that game.
There is a menu at the top of the main screen with 3 options – Resize, Colour Scheme, Records.
Resizing Forms To resize the forms to fit your whole screen, you can click on the ‘Resize’ on the menu at the top of the screen, or you can press Ctrl + f, or you can press Alt + R then enter. To return the screen to normal size you simply do the same again. This works on all forms for each game. All of the menu items, including the buttons, can also be accessed using the keyboard, without needing to be clicked with the mouse. Simply press the Alt key, each menu item and button will then have one letter underlined, pressing this letter on the keyboard is the same as clicking with the mouse, i.e. it executes the control.
After pressing the Alt key you can then press the underlined letters for each button control to play your game of choice.
Keyboard Access for controls 501 Practice
Alt + P
Scoring Session
Alt + S
Invisible Man
Alt + I
Doubles and Trebles
Alt + D
Finishes
Alt + F
Team Taylor Challenge
Alt + T
Exit
Alt + X
Colour Schemes There are 6 colour schemes which can be chosen at any time by clicking on ‘Colour Schemes’ and choosing one from the drop down list. You can also access using Alt + c.
Each individual colour scheme can also be selected with the ctrl key combo per below: Green Gold Chocolat Olive Teal Gold Maroon Mix Bullue
Ctrl + g Ctrl + c Ctrl + o Ctrl + t Ctrl + m Ctrl + b
Records Every time you finish a game, your results from that game will be saved automatically when you exit the screen. On the Main Menu click on Records at the top of the screen, this will show a drop down where you can select the records for any of the 6 games.
The below screen will then pop up showing records for the selected game. You can move the columns to re-order them if you wish, or resize them by hovering over the edge of the column. You can also sort the data by clicking on any of the column headers, for example, to sort by date simply click on the Date header
You can maximise the records dataset to fit your screen, and use the scroll bars to view data not currently on screen.
If you wish to export this data to excel for further analysis, such as creating your own tables for filtering or pivot tables, simply do the following. - click on the dataset anywhere to highlight one of the rows, this will highlight yellow. - press Ctrl + a, this will select all data on the data set. - press Ctrl + c, this will copy the data to the clipboard. - click on the excel spreadsheet where you want to copy the data. - press Ctrl + v, this will paste the data to the excel spreadsheet, you can then format as you wish.
Deleting Records To delete records, highlight the row you wish to delete by clicking on it.
Press the delete button
and then press save
If you press delete without pressing save the row will not be deleted, and will appear the next time you open the records. If you delete a row by accident, simply close the form without pressing save and reopen it, the deleted row will still be there. The delete action is only confirmed when you press save.
3. 501 Practice Bullue colour scheme
Press ‘Pause Session’ to stop the timer during a session, then click ‘Continue Session’ to resume. Green Gold colour scheme
Chocolat colour scheme
Maroon Mix colour scheme
Olive colour scheme
Teal Gold colour scheme
501 Practice Game Play Using Darts Trainer is very straight forward. Each game records important results in order to compare your game play over successive sessions. Simply enter your score in the score box and either press enter on your keyboard (fastest method), click the enter button or use the Alt + E keys. After entering a score, your remaining score is reduced, the scorebox is automatically highlighted and ready for your next score so all you have to do is type your next score and press enter
If you hit the same score twice in a row, you can simply press Enter without typing as it will already be in the scorebox. For example, the last score above was 45,
which is still highlighted in the scorebox.
Should you hit 45 again simply press the enter key without any need to re-type the score.
If you enter an incorrect score just click on the Undo button or press Alt + u. To take a break during a session press Pause Session or Alt + s, and this will pause the timer; Press Alt + s to continue, or click on the Continue Session button which will appear after a session has been paused. If you wish to scrap your current session and begin a new one, click on New Session or press Alt + n. If you have already completed at least one game the session details will be saved.
The 501 Practice session records the following stats: Scoreboard for the current leg Darts thrown for the current leg No. of games played for the session No. of visits to the board for the session Length of the session 3 Dart average Doubles percentage Number of scores above 180, 140+, 100+, 80+, 60+, under 60 and what percentage these scores relate to the total visits for the session. Records number of darts for each leg, 10-12 darts, 13-15 darts etc.
Set-up
Some users may position a laptop or wireless keyboard beside their dartboard so they can type the score quickly when retrieving their darts; others may position a laptop or wireless keyboard beside the oche so they can type quickly before turning to face the board. Another excellent method is to have a wireless keypad beside the dartboard, like in the pic below. Everyone has their own preferred method of entering their scores.
Again, each button and menu can be accessed using the keyboard, via the Alt and Ctrl keys.
When you have finished a leg during a 501 practice session, the below screen will request the checkout details of your final visit to the board for the leg in question. It requires only two inputs 1. No. of darts thrown for your last visit of the leg 2. No. of darts thrown at a double during the leg
You can type the number, press tab to move to the next box, type the second number and then press enter on the keyboard. You can also use the mouse, if you click on the entry boxes a drop down will appear and you can select the correct number. If you enter the wrong score by mistake simply press the Undo button or Alt + u, and the score is removed and stats reset to their previous levels before the incorrect score was entered. To start another leg / game just press enter or click on the New Game button. The New Session button resets all stats to zero, and saves your current session if one leg or more has been completed.
When you exit a session on any of the games, the below pop-up will request confirmation that you want to exit. This is simply a precaution in case the Exit command is pressed accidentally. Pressing ‘yes’ will exit will save your session details and return to the main screen; pressing ‘no’ will return to the game in progress and continue as normal.
4. Scoring Session
When recording your scoring session you shoot for highest scores. Scores are entered the same as for the 501 Practice session. For each score you will be awarded points: 170 += 4 pts
140+ = 3 pts
100+ = 1 pt
60+ = -1 pts
40+ = -2 pts
less than 40 = -3 pts
The score will record your cumulative totals as you play.
80+ = 0 pts
When you exit the game the stats are
automatically saved, and can be accessed on the main screen, ‘Records’ menu item on the top menu.
The stats recorded during you Scoring Sessions are: Cumulative points total 3 Dart average Session length Number of visits for the session Number of scores and percentages within specific ranges: 170+, 140+, 100+, 80+, 60+,40+, <40.
It may be a good idea to have similar length sessions so that they are comparable.
5. Invisible Man Settings When playing the Invisible Man game you play against a virtual opponent. The first screen requests you to set the level of your opponents skill, which is the number of darts it will take your opponent to finish each leg. Opponent skill levels can be set to anything between 9 and 39 dart legs (in increments of 3). You can play any match length from best of 1 to 51.
Set the levels you wish and click enter. The invisible man screen will appear.
Scores are entered in the same fashion as previous games, your score is on the left, opponents score on the right. Your opponents 3 dart average is calculated from the settings you have previously entered, and their score will be reduced each time you enter a score, so that they finish on the number of darts you selected on the settings screen. Above the 3 dart average of 62.62 is based on a 24 dart leg.
When your opponent wins a leg their legs won score is incremented by 1; press ‘Enter’ or click on ‘Next Leg’ to play the next leg of the match, or alternatively press Alt+L. When you win a leg you will enter your checkout details, which is simply the number of darts you threw during your last visit. Press 1, 2 or 3 and press ‘Enter’, or use the arrow keys on your keyboard to select the number 1, 2 or 3 and press ‘Enter’, or just use the mouse.
When a match has finished you can exit, and the match details will be automatically saved, or you can play another match. If you select ‘New Match’ you will be prompted to enter the settings for this new match, same as before. If you ‘Exit’ before a match has finished, the match details will not be saved as it is incomplete.
When the match is over
Match details saved to your records.
6. Doubles & Trebles You have 3 darts at every double from one to twenty, and then every treble from one to twenty. Your current target will be displayed top left, and current points top right.
Individual target points are recorded, as are cumulative points for doubles and trebles. Percentage strike rates are also recorded. 5 pts are awarded for every hit. Entered by typing 0, 1, 2 or 3 into scorebox and pressing ‘Enter’, or using arrow keys or mouse from the drop down that appears when clicking on the scorebox When you finish and exit a session it will automatically be saved. If you exit before a session is complete it will not be saved. A session is completed when all targets have been attempted and scores entered.
7. Finishes You have one attempt to checkout each finish from 41 to 170. Select ‘Hit’ or ‘Miss’ from the scorebox and hit enter to record your result for each attempt. You can use the mouse to select or simply press ‘m’ or ‘h’ to highlight either in the scorebox.
Points are awarded for each finish within specified ranges: 1 pt
41-60
2 pts 61-90
3pts 91-120
4pts 121-150
5pts 151-170
8. Team Taylor Challenge As Phil Taylor searches for his protégé he uses the below skill test to whittle down the entrants to the final few who will have a shot at qualifying for the PDC circuit via Q-school. There are 12 skill tests, each performed twice. The top 12 scores from the 24 tests are summed to produce a final score. A description of each skill test and its instructions are displayed in the Description box.
The current test in progress and target are highlighted. Each test requires 20 visits to the board. To view a skill test description other than the current test, click on the name and the description box will change to show the description of the selected test. When you move the mouse the description will revert back to the current game description. The sum of the top 12 games’ points are displayed bottom left. All session details will be saved when exiting the session, even if the session is not over. Scores are entered as before, the scorebox entries will change according to the game in progress, e.g. One game may have 0,1,2,3 as options, while another may have ‘Hit’ and ‘Miss’ as an option, the same rules apply for entering scores.
E.g. of TTC records when exiting game during week 6.
Skill Tests A description of the 12 skill tests are listed below: 1. Double Trouble – you throw 3 darts at each double in turn, i.e. three darts at double one, three darts at double two, etc through to double top. Receive 5 points for every double you hit; 15 points available every 3 darts; 300 points available overall. 2. Sweet 16 – you have twenty visits to the oche needing 32, which you have to finish in 3 darts in any combination finishing on a double. Receive 5 points every time you finish 32; 15 points available every 3 darts; 300 points available overall. 3. Tops and Tens – you have twenty visits to the oche needing 40, which you can only finish on double top, double ten or double five. Receive 5 points every time you finish 40; 15 points available every 3 darts; 300 points available overall. 4. Two Dart Combo – you have just 3 darts at each finish from 41 to 60, which you must finish on a double with any combination you wish. Receive 15 points for every finish you complete; 300 points available overall. 5. Around The Compass – you have twenty visits to the oche needing 24, using any combination but always finishing on a double. Receive 5 points every time you complete the finish; 15 points available every 3 darts; 300 points available overall. 6. Tons Up – you have twenty visits to the oche and your task is to finish 100 on a double using any combination as many times as possible. Receive ten points every time you complete the finish, and a ten point bonus for completing in just two darts. 20 points available every 3 darts; 400 points available overall.
7. Route 64 - you have twenty visits to the oche needing 64, which you have to finish in 3 darts in any combination you wish. Receive ten points every time you complete the finish, and a ten point bonus for completing in just two darts. 20 points available every 3 darts; 400 points available overall. 8. Eighty Threw - you have twenty visits to the oche needing 82, which you have to finish in 3 darts in any combination you wish. Receive ten points every time you complete the finish, and a ten point bonus for completing in just two darts. 20 points available every 3 darts; 400 points available overall. 9. Shanghai Nights - you have twenty visits to the oche needing 120, which you have to finish in 3 darts. Receive ten points every time you finish, and a ten point bonus for three double tops. 20 points available every 3 darts; 400 points available overall. 10. Switch Hitter – You have 60 darts at treble 19 (20 visits). Receive 5 points for every treble, 2 points for every single 19, and a ten points bonus for 3 trebles (score of 171). No points for a dart outside the single or treble beds. 25 points available every 3 darts; 500 points available overall. 11. Bully Bully - You have 60 darts at Bullseye. Receive 5 points for every Bull hit, 2 points for every outer bull and a ten points bonus for 3 bulls. 25 points available every 3 darts; 500 points available overall. 12. Trebles For Show - You have 60 darts at treble 20 (20 visits). Receive 5 points for every treble, 2 points for every single 20, and a 15 points bonus for 3 trebles (score of 180). No points for a dart outside the single or treble beds. 30 points available every 3 darts; 600 points available overall.
Subscription rates for Darts Trainer 3 months - €12 12 months - €25 Both options have a 21 day free trial.
