Darts

Darts is a great pub game that can also be enjoyed from the comforts of your own home. As a matter of fact, it is such a popular game that it holds a strong competitive following, both at amateur and professional levels. This guide will attempt to address how to buy darts and dartboards whether you are a recreational player or an enthusiast. Let's start with the basics.

Your first plan of action should be determining whether you just want something to play with for fun or if you want something suitable to advanced, frequent, or tournament playing. Keep in mind that many stores sell basic sets that combine both a board and darts, which for the occasional player are fine. Eventually they will wear out and can be thrown away without incurring any major monetary loss. However, if you want something to last, you are better off buying separate equipment that is of better quality. That doesn't necessarily mean that it has to break the bank.

Choosing Darts and Boards

The first step in selecting what type of dart to buy is to deciding on the type of board on which you would prefer to play. That is because bristle boards  are made of tightly bound plant fiber called "sisal", and require steel tip darts.  Electronic boards soft tip dartboards  utilize soft tip darts.  Avoid cheap paper boards at all costs. The choice between a bristle board and an electronic one is mostly a matter of personal taste, especially for the recreational player. For your first board, an inexpensive bristle board will do just fine. In that case you might also want to invest in a backboard to protect your walls. If you are interested in buying an electronic dart board then you might want to check out this Web page by gameroomsUSA.com that has a side by side comparison chart of various electronic models and the features of each.

The Right Darts

The consensus amongst darts players is that there is no better way to choose darts than to actually go to a dart store where you can test the darts yourself. In fact, you can spend up to an hour trying out various sets. Experiment with different shapes, weights, and brands until you can narrow down your selection to a few top picks. Don't focus on the price tag, nor on how well you are throwing in the store. Simply test the darts, see what feels best, and stick with that. Now let's move into the finer points of selecting darts piece by piece. Note that the tips and flight protectors are not discussed in this guide.

Dart Barrel -- The barrel is the part of the dart that you grip and it directly correlates to the price of the dart. While they can be made with either a smooth or knurled finish (best for gripping the dart), what is most important about their construction is the metal. The stronger the metal, the thinner the barrel can be. The thinner the dart, the closer they can be grouped together without bumping each other out of the way. This is especially important for advanced and competitive players who have a very accurate aim. Another thing to remember is the weight of the metals, which also affects game play. Below you will see the three types of barrels to choose from.

• Brass  -- Generally has the largest and heaviest barrel. They typically cost less than $15 and are what you normally see in bars. While they are basic and cheap, they have a downside, which is that the grips get worn down quicker than on other types of barrels because this metal is rather soft.
• Nickel-silver  -- These fall in the middle of the bunch as far as cost goes, ranging from $15 to $25. They are just as heavy as brass darts, but slightly thinner. Because they are harder, they are also more durable. You can expect these barrel grips to maintain their feel without being prematurely worn down. A good choice for beginners who want a decent set of darts without spending too much.
• Tungsten  -- The strongest, densest, and heaviest metal makes the thinnest, most durable darts. These range anywhere from $25 to $185, depending on the brand and features. You can expect to see varying percentages of tungsten in darts. The most expensive ones will contain 95% to 98% tungsten and they will cost $100 to $185. If you are still a beginner or intermediate player and don't want to spend that much look for darts aimed between $35 and $100 to be certain that you are getting 80% to 90% tungsten; a sign of a good quality dart that will last a long time.

Weight -- Darts come in a wide range of weights with most being between 16 and 32 grams. Some tungsten steel tip darts may weigh as much as 40 grams.

• Lighter darts take less effort to throw to the board but are subject to even the slightest influence during your release. These are good for people with a skilled throw and good aim.
• Heavier darts take more effort to get to the board, thus they may tire your arm more if you are not a strong player. On the other hand, they are less subject to minor misdirection during your release, which may be the best choice for beginners.

Dart Shafts -- Shafts (also known as stems) are the short "stick" that connects the body of the dart with the "flights" or "feathers". A longer shaft adds stability to the dart. They are made of three different types of materials: metal, plastic, and nylon. There are also composite shafts that contain both plastic and metal. This combination makes for a strong, yet inexpensive dart.

• Metal Shafts
• A metal shaft will not break, however they may bend slightly, causing them to alter their path no matter how great an aim you have personally.
• Metal shafts last longer and tend to be more expensive than plastic or nylon shafts.
• They have the tendency to loosen when the darts are heavy.
• Plastic and Nylon Shafts
• Plastic or nylon shafts can be either soft and flexible to hard and brittle.
• Plastic shafts tend to break as opposed to bending.
• The up side is that you can be sure your shafts are straight, the down side is that they need to be replaced fairly often.
• Spinning Shafts
• These are a special type of shaft that is good for advanced players.
• The shaft spins the flight out of the way when two darts are close to each other so that they can align as tightly as possible.
• They minimize the chances of ruining your flights.
• Generally more expensive than normal shafts.

Dart Flights -- Flights or feathers are the "wings" at the back of the dart that guide it and keep it flying straight. The bigger the flight the more stable the flight and the more drag. However, keep in mind that large flights can get in the way if you're good enough to group darts right next to each other. Choose according to your experience level. Beginners should start with a large or standard flight and experiment with different shapes and sizes after their throw has developed. Advanced to professional players tend towards the smaller flights because their throws are very accurate and do not need the extra stability that a large flight offers. You might also want to consider the type of material with which your flights are constructed.'

• Soft Flights -- These are made of soft plastic that has been glued together along the seams. That means that when two darts hit, the flight can split apart. The good thing is that you can simply press them back together to reseal them. '

• Hard Flight -- These polyester plastic flights won't split apart, but rather they will pop off the dart allowing for the darts to be spaced closer together.
• Nylon Flight -- Ripstop nylon is one of the most durable materials used to made flights.
• Dimplex -- If you want more drag and a more stable throw from a large, textured surface, then these are the flights for you.

Examples of Flight Shapes and Sizes
Traditional	Coal Cracker Flight	Teardrop Flight	Cut Down Kite

Related Products
Replacement Points	Dart Cases	Dart Tools	Flight Protectors	Dart Boards