Dart Brokers

Buying Darts: A Guide

When it comes to choosing the weight and style of your darts there really isn't a wrong answer. Typically you will change darts after your first year of throwing, so don't spend a lot until you know which dart fits you perfectly. Ultimately, it all comes down to what makes you feel most comfortable when you're at the line. Here are a few guidelines to review before buying a new set of darts

Overview of Dart Types

There are many different darts to choose from: wooden darts, brass darts, nickel/silver darts and tungsten darts. The most popular dart for dart league throwers is the tungsten dart because a high-density tungsten dart will resist wear and creates a smaller barrel that allows tighter groupings of darts. Brass and nickel/silver darts are cheaper and made from softer metals and thus the knurling can wear down quickly from skin oils, friction and contact from other darts. When buying tungsten darts, make sure to pay attention to the writing on the packaging as the percentage of tungsten is very important to the quality of the dart. The higher the percentage the better, and more expensive, the dart. The main benefit of a high-quality tungsten dart is that the barrel will be smaller so you will be able to throw tighter groupings of darts, minimizing bounce outs.

Dart Weights

Your owe it to yourself to try out all of the different options available. Darts are available in weights from 12 grams to 50 grams. It is rare to see someone throwing darts heavier than 30 grams, but most dart organizations allow darts up to 50 grams. Make a visit to your local dart store and throw the same dart style in each weight class. The speed with which you throw the dart will help determine which weight to choose. The lighter the dart the harder/faster you have to throw. The location of the weight on the dart barrel is also important. Some darts are heavier towards the front of the dart (front-loaded) and others are back-weighted. Try them all and you'll develop a feel for what works best for you.

Dart Barrel Grips

Your next step is to try out different barrel grips that are available in the weight you have chosen. Some dart barrels have heavy knurling and others are smooth. Typically, the heavier the knurling the easier it is to grip the dart. Extremely heavy knurling however, can cause darts to stick to your fingers and mess with your accuracy. For the typical dart player, there is more than one dart barrel that will work. Just make sure to choose the one that feels the best.

Dart Flights

There are many different sizes and styles of flights, including smooth and dimpled surfaces. Try them all out. The size and style of your flights can impact your game. Dimpled surfaces, for example, will help slow down and stabilize your darts. Try out all dart flight sizes and styles until you feel comfortable with your final configuration, but don't be afraid to experiment as time goes by. The two most popular sizes are standard and slim.

Dart Shafts

Plastic or Nylon: Inexpensive, available in many colors but break fairly easily. Good shafts until you start throwing tight groups and breaking lots of shafts. Materials are usually polycarbonate or nylon.

Composite: Composite type shafts, like the Alamo or Quiver, have plastic bases that thread into the dart, combined with aluminum or other metal alloy tops that hold the flight. These are excellent shafts, quite durable, and will not vibrate loose as easily as solid aluminum shafts. Generally available with replaceable tops for economy and convenience.

Solid Aluminum: More rigid and durable than plastic or composite Shafts. Solid aluminum shafts are available in many colorful styles, some with decorative engraved stripes, flutes, or spirals. May tend to vibrate loose, especially on heavy darts. When used with thick flights, such as dimplex or nylon, the slots may need to be pried open slightly with a dart tool or knife blade. Will normally bend instead of breaking when hit; just straighten for more use.

Spinning: A variety of shaft styles are now available that allow the flight to turn out of the way when struck by another dart. Spinning shafts do nothing to improve the flight of the dart through the air, but they do allow tighter groups by letting the flights align with each other. Also, these shaft will greatly reduce torn flights and "rovin-hooded" shafts.