Buying guide
Choosing darts: weight, barrels, shafts and flights
Start with a mid-weight set, then adjust the weight, grip and flights once you know how you throw. There is no single best dart.
The parts of a dart
| Part | What it does | What to compare |
|---|---|---|
| Point | Enters the board | Steel or soft tip; length and grip |
| Barrel | Where you hold the dart; carries most of the weight | Material, weight, length, shape and grip pattern |
| Shaft (stem) | Connects barrel and flight | Length and material |
| Flight | Steadies the dart in the air | Shape and size |
Weight
Dart weight is quoted in grams, and most of it is in the barrel. Heavier darts fly flatter and feel more stable. Lighter darts need a firmer throw and a higher arc.
Many players start somewhere in the middle of the range and adjust from there. Soft-tip darts are usually lighter than steel-tip darts. Leagues can set limits, so check the rules if you play competitively.
Barrel material
| Material | Pros | Cons |
|---|---|---|
| Brass | Cheap, durable | Thick barrel for the weight; darts crowd each other |
| Nickel-silver | Cheaper than tungsten; slimmer than brass | Less common |
| Tungsten alloy | Dense, so barrels are slim for the weight | More expensive; quality varies with tungsten content |
Tungsten darts are sold with a percentage that shows how much of the alloy is tungsten. A higher percentage allows a slimmer barrel for the same weight.
Barrel shape and grip
Straight barrels give a consistent grip position. Torpedo and bomb shapes put the weight towards the front.
Grip patterns range from smooth to heavily knurled or ringed. A firmer grip helps if your fingers slip, and a smoother one suits a light touch. If you can, try a few before buying.
Shafts and flights
Shafts and flights are cheap and wear out, which makes them the easiest way to fine-tune a set. Longer shafts and larger flights generally add stability. Shorter shafts and smaller flights suit a faster, flatter throw.
Both break, so keep spares.
Steel-tip and soft-tip
Use steel-tip darts on bristle boards and soft-tip darts on electronic boards. Some sets come with conversion points, so you can use the same barrels on either.
Common mistakes
- Buying very heavy or very light darts before you know how you throw.
- Using steel-tip darts on a soft-tip board.
- Not keeping spare flights and shafts, which break regularly.
Questions
What weight darts should a beginner use?
A mid-weight set is a sensible start. Change the weight once you know whether you prefer a heavier, flatter throw or a lighter, more arced one.
Are tungsten darts worth it?
Often yes, for regular players, because slimmer barrels let darts group more tightly. For occasional family play, brass darts are fine.
How this guide is written: from published specifications and standards. We do not claim hands-on testing or give product scores. Editorial standards · Affiliate disclosure.