When it comes to choosing the weight and style of your darts, there really is no wrong answer. You will usually switch darts after your first year of throwing, so don’t spend a lot until you have a better idea of ​​which style fits you best. Ultimately, it all comes down to what makes you most comfortable when you’re on the line. Here are some guidelines to review before purchasing a new dart set.

Overview

There are many different darts to choose from, including wooden, brass, nickel / silver, and tungsten darts. The most popular dart for league throwers is the tungsten dart. The high-density tungsten resists wear and tear and allows the barrels to be thinner, for tighter groupings, while maintaining the weight of the dart, minimizing bouncing. When buying tungsten darts, be sure to pay attention to the percentage of tungsten in the dart barrels, it is very important for the quality of the dart. The higher the percentage, the better and more expensive the dart will be.

Brass and nickel / silver darts are made from softer, less expensive metals. Compared to tungsten, the grooves on these darts can wear out quickly due to oils from the skin, friction, and contact with other darts. Despite these drawbacks, brass and nickel darts are still a good budget option.

Pesos

You owe it to yourself to try all the different options available. Darts come in weights of 12 grams to 50 grams. It is rare to see someone throwing darts that weigh more than 30 grams, but most dart organizations allow darts up to 50 grams. Visit your local dart shop and throw the same style of dart in each weight class. The speed with which you throw the dart will help determine which weight to choose. The lighter the dart, the stronger / faster you will have to throw. The location of the weight on the barrel of the dart is also important. Some darts are heavier towards the front of the dart (front loaded) and others are weighted towards the rear. Try them all and you will develop an idea of ​​what works best for you.

Barrel grips

The 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. Generally, the heavier the knurling, the easier the dart is to grip. However, extremely heavy knurling can cause darts to stick to your fingers and spoil your accuracy. For the typical dart player, there is more than one barrel of darts that will work. Just make sure you pick the one that feels the best.

Flights

There are many different sizes and styles of ruffles, including smooth and dimpled surfaces. Try them all. The size and style of your flights can affect your game. Dimpled surfaces, for example, will help slow down and stabilize darts. Try all the sizes and styles of dart flight until you are comfortable with your final setup, but don’t be afraid to experiment over time. The two most popular sizes are standard and slim.

Axles

Dart shafts come in many styles and materials, including plastic, aluminum, carbon fiber, composite, and swivel shafts.

Plastic and Nylon – Inexpensive, available in many colors, but many break fairly easily. These axes will work well for most players until you start to consistently throw tight groups and break a lot of axes. It is usually made of polycarbonate or nylon.

Composite: Composite shafts have plastic bases that screw onto the dart, combined with aluminum or metal alloy caps that support the flight. These are excellent shafts, quite durable and will not vibrate loose from the barrel as easily as aluminum shafts. Generally available with replaceable caps for economy and convenience.

Solid Aluminum – More rigid and durable than plastic or composite shafts, aluminum shafts are available in many colorful styles, some with engraved decorative stripes, serrations, or spirals. They can tend to vibrate loose, especially on heavy darts. Fortunately, this can be corrected by using rubber o-rings on the darts. When used with thick flights, such as dimples or nylon, the slots may need to be opened slightly with a dart tool or knife blade. It normally bends instead of breaking when struck; just straighten for more use.

Carbon Fiber, Carbon Composite – Carbon fiber rods are generally lightweight and very durable, although they are slightly more expensive than plastic or nylon rods. High quality carbon dart shafts have the durability of an aluminum shaft without the ability to loosen in the barrel or bend, maintaining the accuracy of your darts over time.

Twist – There are now a variety of shaft styles available that allow the flight to drift when hit by another dart. The rotating shafts do not improve the flight of the dart through the air, but allow for tighter groups by allowing the flights to align with each other. These axles will greatly reduce ragged flights, “robin-hooded” axles, and deflections.