What “Total Sets” Means in Darts Betting
In “Total Sets” betting, you are predicting how many sets will be played in a darts match — regardless of who wins.
Each match is played in a best-of format (e.g. Best of 7 sets, meaning first to 4 sets wins).
Each set is usually best of 5 legs — first to 3 legs wins the set.
Example of Total Sets Market
Let’s say we have a match:
Michael van Gerwen vs Gerwyn Price
Format: Best of 7 sets (first to 4 wins)
A bookmaker may offer:
| Bet Type | Odds |
|---|---|
| Over 5.5 Total Sets | 1.90 |
| Under 5.5 Total Sets | 1.90 |
Now let’s see what each means
➕ Over 5.5 Sets
You are betting the match will have 6 or 7 sets in total.
That means both players win some sets — the game is competitive.
Example Result:
- Van Gerwen 4–2 Price → 6 sets (Over 5.5 wins)
- Van Gerwen 4–3 Price → 7 sets ( Over 5.5 wins)
Example Result:
- Van Gerwen 4–1 Price → 5 sets ( Over 5.5 loses)
➖ Under 5.5 Sets
You are betting the match will finish in 5 sets or fewer — one player wins comfortably.
Example Result:
- Van Gerwen 4–1 Price → 5 sets ( Under 5.5 wins)
- Van Gerwen 4–0 Price → 4 sets (Under 5.5 wins)
Example Result:
- Van Gerwen 4–2 Price → 6 sets ( Under 5.5 loses)
Example with Real Betting Odds
Let’s take Luke Littler vs Peter Wright (Best of 7 sets):
| Market | Odds |
|---|---|
| Over 5.5 Sets | 2.00 |
| Under 5.5 Sets | 1.80 |
If you bet ₦10,000 on Over 5.5 Sets and the match ends 4–3,
You win ₦20,000 total (₦10,000 profit).
If it ends 4–1,
you lose your ₦10,000 stake.
Betting Tip & Strategy
- Check Player Styles
- Heavy scorers like Michael van Gerwen, Luke Humphries, or Gerwyn Price often dominate — meaning shorter matches (Under 5.5).
- Consistent finishers or close rivals (like Wright vs Clayton) often produce long matches (Over 5.5).
- Tournament Stage
- Early rounds = shorter formats → fewer sets → Under more likely.
- Later rounds = longer formats → more sets → Over more likely.
- Head-to-Head History
- Look for matches where they usually go the distance.
- Form and Pressure
- Players in good form can sweep matches easily (Under).
- Finals or tight matches can go long due to nerves (Over).
Example Tip
Match: Luke Humphries vs Rob Cross (Best of 9 sets)
- Both are top-10 players and regularly go the distance.
Bet Tip: Over 7.5 Total Sets looks valuable.
Odds usually around 1.95–2.10, with a strong chance it ends 5–4 or 5–3.
Summary Table
| Market | What You Predict | Best For | Example Winning Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| Over 5.5 Sets | Match will go long | Evenly matched players | 4–3 or 4–2 |
| Under 5.5 Sets | One player dominates | Strong favorite vs weak | 4–0 or 4–1 |
Would you like me to also explain “Total Legs” betting (which is closely related but counts every leg instead of sets)? It’s another smart market for darts bettors.