We thought it would be helpful to give everyone a crash course in everything about darts and have found the 6 questions that we get asked most about them.
1. What's the difference in dart materials?
All metals are different; they vary in weight and density, so some metals are more appropriate for darts than other. Brass and copper are common metals found in lower priced darts. Because these metals are not very dense, the heavier the metal, the thicker the dart becomes. Serious darts are made out of tungsten, which is a stronger, denser metal which allows for a slimmer design
2. How do I know which type of dart tip I need?
Steel tip darts are mostly used with bristle dartboards. Steel tip darts have a very sharp point to stick in the bristles of a board. They can be complex with as many as five completely separate removable parts, and can be tuned for performance. Many models are available in different weights. Steel tip darts can be made of brass, nickel - silver, tungsten, and copper.
Soft tip darts are used with electronic dart boards. Soft tip darts have a plastic tip, which is quite flexible and easily lodges into the holes that are found on electronic dartboards.
3. Should dart weight matter to me?
Weight probably won’t make that much of a difference for an occasional player, but many serious dart players prefer specific dart weights that feel comfortable to them when they throw. There are some products out there that allow people to add a gram or two to their darts for precise weights. Darts usually weigh from 18-26 grams.
4. What dart flight do I need, are they all the same?
The main purpose for a dart flight is to provide drag, as its designed to keep the tail on track during the flight while the dart is having a battle with gravity along the way. Smooth or dimpled, all flights do the same thing and serve the same purpose with slight variations.
Heavier darts will require a larger surface area for the flights to be effective, but lighter darts can have ‘speed-flights’ that have a smaller surface area and allow for a tighter grouping.
If your still not sure what flights do, take them off your darts and try and throw them at the board.
5. What is a barrel knurl?
The Knurl is the patter/grip that can be found on the dart. It’s a pretty important feature, as it is a determinant of quality and worth. The better the grip, the more control, consistency and accuracy you will experience.
6. What is a retractable point on a dart?
Some steel tip darts offer retractable points. When a dart strikes the wire (also called the "spider") on a bristle board, the point of the dart retracts into the dart body. This allows the point to slip off the wire while the forward motion of the dart body hammers the point into the target, virtually eliminating bounce outs.
