The Ultimate Guide to Finding the Best Dartboard for Your Game Room

You may find dartboards everywhere. This adaptable game is the ideal complement to any Friday night gathering, whether it’s in your favorite bar or your garage-turned-game room. So, a dart board is a guaranteed thing to find if you’re seeking for a cheap yet exciting addition to your recreation area.

It can be a a bit of a challenge to purchase the rigtht dart board. A dart board is exactly what you need if you want to promote some furious competition or provide guests with a widely enjoyed past time. When the time comes to buy, though, you could be overwhelmed by the variety of boards available. Knowing exactly what you want is important because they vary greatly in both quality and cost.

6 Types of Dartboards

There are six different types of dartboards available, and each one has benefits and disadvantages that you should consider.

1. Bristle Dartboard

The conventional bristle dartboard is the first, oldest, most prevalent, and most widely used type of dartboard available. The only dartboards permitted in competitions are those that are used by professionals. They have a 15.5-inch playing surface, which is the required size for tournaments.

Despite their name, bristle dartboards don’t actually have bristles. Hemp or sisal, but typically sisal, is used to make the board’s surface. These lengthy sisal fibers are tightly woven from one side to the other. The sisal fibers split when a dart strikes the board, allowing for dart penetration. The fibers are so closely woven that they keep the dart in place.

Although it is the only sort of dartboard a professional would ever use, it is perfect for both competitive and recreational play as well as for game practice. Professional dart players wouldn’t even consider using any of the other kinds. Here, you get true steel-tipped darts that strike hard and fly straight, as well as a sturdy board that is often affordable and should last for a very long time. It also doesn’t suffer from bounce-out. This is the original.

2. Electronic Dart Board

The electronic dartboard is a bit more contemporary and sophisticated, as you can obviously infer from the name. These dartboards include sensors built into the surface of the board that detect when a dart hits and sticks.

This type of board’s electronics enable automatic scorekeeping, the ability to remember players and scores as well as incomplete games, and yes, they do come loaded with playable games. Additionally, if you don’t have someone else to play with, it’s wonderful that these games let you play versus the computer.

These boards are wonderful for novices, great for having some fun, and relatively portable. They look cool and are frequently flashy. However, because of the tiny holes that the darts must pass through, electronic dartboards frequently experience bounce-out, which results in poor dart adhesion.

Additionally, this style of dartboard isn’t exactly renowned for its endurance, especially considering how quickly the electronics age and are susceptible to failure. It just doesn’t feel like the real thing, so a professional player would never use this kind of dartboard. Particularly since the lightweight, plastic-tipped darts that are commonly used don’t fly properly.

3. Magnetic Dartboard

Close up on Magnet Darts on the Target

Magnetic dartboards are a highly unusual sort to take into consideration; no professional player would ever use one of these. This is due to the fact that modern dartboards don’t faithfully represent the original game. There are numerous differences between how the darts fly and how they adhere to the board. Every time a dart strikes the board, there is a distinct metallic clinking sound that can be a little annoying.

Since these dartboards are typically made of magnetic materials, which means that there is always a significant amount of metal involved, they are now sufficiently durable. However, a dart’s impact can make it to move about a little bit, which reduces accuracy and can interfere with scoring. The dart may also ricochet off the board if it strikes too forcefully.

Magnetic dartboards’ main appeal is that they are really simple to use and don’t really need any setup. Additionally, because they are lightweight and safe for toddlers to use, magnetic dartboards are regarded as excellent for some simple family fun.

On a magnetic dart board, darts are blunt at the front rather than being thrown around with a metal tip that is extremely sharp like on a standard dart board. With magnetic darts, no eyeballs will be removed. Additionally, magnetic dartboards are typically affordable and frequently come in small portable versions.

4. Wooden Dartboard

Dartboards made of wood look fantastic and are a classic. However, because the darts need to travel at a good speed to pierce the wood surface, they might be challenging to utilize. The wood used is soft enough for darts to pierce it, but it still doesn’t compare to sisal.

The truth is that a wooden dartboard is more of a curiosity item than anything else. It looks gorgeous on your wall and is extremely expensive to purchase.

They aren’t particularly durable, they’re not particularly functional, and they’re not particularly easy to play on. Long-term use will only raise the likelihood of the wood splitting or cracking because it is brittle.

5. Cork Dartboard

Bristle and cork dartboards are quite comparable, and the cork dartboard’s surface may even be covered in a thin layer of sisal. Despite the similarities between these two varieties of dartboards, there are a few differences to consider.

For starters, sisal is significantly denser and more robust than cork, therefore cork dartboards occasionally allow darts to pass through all the way to the wall.

Additionally, cork is not often the most durable substance. Cork can physically start to fall apart after just a few months or even just a few years of use. The advantage is that buying these boards is relatively affordable.

6. Coiled Paper Dartboard

The coiled paper version of dartboard is the most affordable. These are created from paper coils that have been very closely packed. They are reasonably priced, entertaining to use, and adequate.

Paper’s lack of durability is a major issue. Every shot, and when you take the darts out, does irreparable harm. They simply don’t endure.

Factors to Consider Before Buying a Dartboard

Darts

Choosing a dart involves a lot of factors. This list will assist you in making the best decision possible when it comes to buying darts, whether you are wanting to upgrade or are just buying your first set.

Steel Tip or Soft Tip

You must choose whether you want steel or soft tip darts before even beginning your search for a new set. Most people won’t need to give this choice much thought. Based on where you are throwing your darts, it will happen. You should get the darts that are appropriate for the board and stick with that whether you are playing at home, in a bar, or in a league.

The pricing is the first factor you need to take into account when choosing which darts set to purchase.

This is challenging because the price is in no way the best indicator of the caliber of your encounter. To put it another way, spending more money does not guarantee that you will enjoy yourself more or improve as a player.

However, even if more costly darts are frequently better built and made of higher-quality materials, the key question is whether the price increase is worthwhile. You must do some analysis and examination of your own situation at this point to determine whether you are alright with spending 30 or 300 bucks.

The more expensive end of the spectrum can provide darts that are thinner and more durable, which can improve your level of play and the longevity of your investment. However, you will also find “flashy” darts at this end of the spectrum that are priced higher solely for aesthetic reasons and offer no additional cost-benefit. You will find cheaper darts that are not as consistently constructed, which will somewhat reduce their precision.

Aside from giving you some financial breathing room, purchasing less expensive sets will enable you to buy more darts, which is always a good thing. In fact, it’s advised to have two sets of darts because, with time, you’ll discover that your preferences can change from night to night.

The basic fact is that your playing ability will eventually determine how you are rated, not how wealthy you are.

There is no shame in choosing less expensive darts, which is what many professionals do. In either case, there are great choices at both ends of the pricing range, so think it over carefully.

Material

You should consider the barrel’s construction material as well while making your choice. The barrel’s material is important because it will determine other crucial factors including weight, size, sturdiness, and feel.

The most typical metals used to make dart barrels include brass, nickel, tungsten, or a mixture of several metals.

Brass barrels are usually the least expensive alternative, although they are not very strong.

Nickel barrels often last longer but are more expensive.

Professionally, tungsten barrels are selected because to the metal’s distinct physical properties.

Due to tungsten’s high density, manufacturers may create smaller barrels without reducing the weight of the dart. This enables tighter groupings to be achieved. Most people will choose tungsten darts unless they prefer the feel of a larger dart.

Weight

Darts target isolated on white vector

One of the most variable and personal factors that can influence your performance is your weight. To suit their unique throwing style, each player must carefully select the weight of their dart.

Generally speaking, heavier darts will fly straighter in the air. Players who are skilled or advanced should utilize heavier darts because they demand greater accuracy. Contrarily, lighter darts fly in a more parabolic trajectory, making them the best option for beginners who place less value on precision.

In any case, nothing here is fixed in stone, and experts might like lighter darts just as much as amateurs might favor heavier ones. The simplest way to choose what weight darts to buy is to play a few games with different weights until you feel satisfied with your selection.

The most typical dart weights range from 16 to 26 grams, but current regulations permit darts to weigh up to 50 grams.

Start your practice sessions with darts that weigh about 20 grams. These are the most typical and will let you progress to heavier or lighter weights. You should generally use heavier darts if you typically throw too high, and vice versa.

Length and Shape

Similar to weight, barrel length and shape are a matter of personal preference. Darts are available in a wide variety of sizes and shapes, from short torpedo-style to long, slender cylinders.

Your choice of barrel size will depend on how large your hands are and how you grip a dart. Generally speaking, the longer a barrel you need depends on how many fingers you need to grip your dart. Unless you prefer to hold something with the tips of your fingers resting.

In contrast to shorter barreled darts, which will restrict your options for gripping the dart, choosing a longer barrel will provide you more room to do so.

Your darts’ flight is influenced by weight distribution, which is greatly influenced by the shape of your dart. The balance or front-heavyness of your dart will depend on its shape.

Since it is simpler to fit more of them in a small space, professional players typically utilize a narrower barrel. This is something you should think about as your grouping gets closer over time. 

Grip

Considerable thought should go into the grip because the barrel serves as the point of contact between your fingers and the actual dart.

You will surely observe that some dart barrels are smooth while others are substantially knurled as you learn more about darts and the numerous nuances of the game. This is so that a suitable grip can be obtained, which requires friction, which the dart barrel’s texture offers.

In an effort to make a dart easier to handle and decrease slippage, dart manufacturers will add grooves, cuts, ridges, and bumps to their products.

The more knurling there is, typically, the more secure a grip you can get. The finest grip is provided by knurled rings because they have a highly rough surface, but on the down side, heavy knurling can occasionally make the dart stick to your fingertips when you release it, which can seriously affect your game.

Shaft

Green dart arrow hitting in the target center of dartboard with modern city and sunset background. Target business, achieve and victory concept

The flight is joined to the barrel by shafts, which are also referred to as stems. Because it will give the dart stability as it soars through the air, the shaft’s length is especially important.

The dart’s flight path will often be more unstable the longer the shaft gets. Long shafts, however, significantly lower both the possibility of bounce-outs and the risk of crowding the dartboard. Shorter shafts, on the other hand, make throws more stable but also increase the chance of bounces.

The makers of darts provide variants with shafts that might have spinning ends and vary in length. Better players may customize their experience and adjust their strategy on the fly thanks to the greatest dart shafts’ ease of replacement.

By reducing friction at the point of impact, the spinning bodies are a clever little engineering accomplishment that aids players in forming tighter group clusters. The spinning shafts can pass each other easily, increasing the likelihood that your dart will land on the board.

Plastic, aluminum, and a variety of other metal alloys, including tungsten, can all be used to make shafts. Your dart’s shaft material has more of an impact on how the dart reacts after contact than it does on how the dart flies.

The material you choose here will have a significant impact on the overall durability of your dart. Although readily available, choices made of plastic or nylon tend to be more brittle and prone to shatter. On the other hand, metal shafts offer far better durability and resistance.

Flight

The kind of flight your darts will have is a crucial consideration when selecting the best dart set for you. Dart flights are similar to the fletching on traditional arrows; these are fins, or vanes, formed of different materials that stabilize the dart’s flight through aerodynamics.

It is crucial to choose a flight type that complements your dart throwing technique because it will significantly affect how your dart will move through the air once it is launched.

Generally speaking, there are two major sorts of flights: fast flights and slow flights.

Fast flights will be shorter and narrower than their slower counterparts, which results in a lower total surface area and more aerodynamic force to efficiently cut through the air. Fast flights will be more advantageous for players who favor faster pitching since they will offer more accuracy and stability at high speeds.

As opposed to fast flights, slow flights often have a bigger surface area ratio and are typically shorter. The flight can create much higher air resistance across the surface of the dart by having a little bigger surface area, which results in the flight taking a longer course through the air. Slower flights are often preferred by players with better pitch control.

There is a lot of variation in flight lengths and sizes available on the market. Finding a choice that is well suited to your specific throwing style shouldn’t be too difficult if you take your time and do some research. Again, the best method to achieve this is through practice. Play a few games of darts using flights of various lengths and widths to find which subtype suits your playing style the most.

Accessories

The last item on this list is frequently ignored, but if you purchase some accessories in addition to your darts, you will end up saving money over time. You have a large selection of accessories to choose from, and depending on the kind of dart you choose, you’ll need to decide which ones you want.

For instance, you will require a sharpener and tightening tool if you opt to buy some steel tip darts with screw-on shafts. In a similar vein, metal dart ring grips are required if you choose nylon shafts to prevent the flights from moving around while you play.

Additionally, you’ll need to keep your darts in a secure location to prevent unneeded warping or cracking. Consider investing in a high-quality protective case.

Conclusion

There are a few reasons why you should conduct some basic research. You’ll find it much simpler to choose the ideal dartboard for you once you know what to search for. Because of this, you and your friends will have a better experience playing darts. The game can even become much more enjoyable, bounce-outs can be decreased, and you’ll simply want to play more if you choose a nice dartboard.