I never liked it Playing darts, but I did a complete 180 with this auto scoring system. This gadget has sparked my new love for the old pub favourite. It’s a light-colored ring with four high-def cameras that slot into your board. Connect to the DartCounter app via Wi-Fi and you get automatic scoring with an announcer calling out your points and telling you what you need to check.

I’ve been testing the Target Darts Omni Auto Scoring System for the past few weeks, playing locally by myself and family, and playing the odd match online. It’s a pricey system, but for darts fans and players looking to improve their game, it can be worth the investment. As a casual fan, I find that a week’s game of darts is a great way to wind down your day.

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The Target Darts Omni Auto Scoring System pairs with the Dart Counter app (Android or iOS) attached to your board via magnetic legs, it’s quick and easy to put together, but you’ll need to run the power cable to an outlet. Connect to Wi-Fi, run a brief calibration, and it’s time. I experimented with Target Star Wars Millennium Falcon Around and Dartboard ($200) or £150) and a set Darth Vader Darts (40 340 or £250) oth amazing Star Wars gifts for the fan in your life – but it should work with most boards and any darts.

The LED ring illuminates the dartboard beautifully. Four HD cameras accurately record the score of each dart thrown. The Dart Counter app compiles comprehensive statistics on your game. You can configure all the match parameters in the app for a tailor-made session, and there are also several practice modes and games, such as Around the Clock, where you have to hit each number in sequence and then Bull’s Eye, and Bob’s 27, where you start with 27 points and hit the doubles shown.

Online multiplayer is probably the best selling point, and you can find matches or create your own lobby in the Dart Counter app. I never had a problem finding a match, and there were over 100 live matches going on every time I checked. You get three free online matches every week. To unlock all the features, including tournaments, unlimited online games, more detailed stats, and a master caller using your name, you’ll need to subscribe for $6 a month or $40 a year (£6 and £40 in the UK). You get a free three-month trial with the system. Local play is free, except for a couple (121 checkouts and a half), so you don’t Need to subscribe.

I’ve played a lot of games in the past few weeks, but I enjoyed playing tournaments with my brother the most. We had a dartboard in the garage when I was a teenager and spent hours throwing darts, but neither of us had played in years. After much reminiscing about how incompetent we had become, we both set our sights, and things got competitive. I won a best-of-five Classic 501 match, but then my brother beat me round the clock (I got caught on the bull’s eye).