What Darts Should I Buy?

Darts is an incredibly popular sport that offers endless hours of fun, competition, and skill-building. As a beginner, one of the first steps toward becoming a good player is selecting the right darts. With numerous options available, it's essential to understand the key factors that influence your choice. In this beginner's guide, we'll explore the crucial aspects to consider when picking darts that will help you establish a solid foundation and enhance your darting experience.

The weight of the dart is a fundamental factor that significantly impacts your throw and overall performance. As a beginner, it's generally advisable to start with a slightly heavier dart. This allows for increased stability and control during the throw, making it easier to develop consistent aiming and throwing techniques. Dart weights typically range from 18 to 26 grams, with the most popular options falling between 20 and 24 grams.

Experiment with different weights to find the one that feels comfortable and suits your throwing style. We would suggest a starting point of 22g or 23g so you can see whether or not you’d like to try something heavier/lighter.

The grip of a dart refers to the texture and pattern on the barrel that provides control and stability. Beginners should focus on finding a dart with a grip that feels comfortable and secure in their hand. Barrel designs vary, including smooth, knurled, or ringed patterns. While personal preference plays a role, it's generally recommended for beginners to opt for darts with a moderate grip, allowing for a balanced release without being too aggressive or too slippery.

You can read about the different grips available here.

The shape of the barrel you should use is entirely down to how you would grip a dart. Depending on where you like the weight of the dart to be depends on how your fingers will sit across the barrel. The first set of darts you buy should probably be a straight barrel, as then you can learn for yourself how you hold a dart and where you are likely to be placing your fingers on the grip.

From here you will have a good understanding of what it is you like and what you may want to avoid for future set ups. One of the better beginner darts that Target offers are the Bolides, but if you’re looking for a player dart then we would probably suggest either a Rob Cross or Adrian Lewis barrel.

You can read about the different barrel shapes available here.

Darts are commonly made from three main materials: tungsten, brass, and nickel-silver. Tungsten is the most popular and widely used material due to its density and durability. It offers a slimmer barrel profile, allowing for tighter groupings and increased scoring potential. Brass darts, on the other hand, are more affordable but tend to be bulkier and less durable. Nickel-silver darts strike a balance between tungsten and brass, offering a combination of affordability, durability, and performance.

As a beginner, investing in a set of tungsten darts will provide a solid foundation for your game. You can save by going for darts with a lower % of tungsten, usually starting at about 80% all the way up to 97.5%.

You can read about the different dart materials available here.

The flight and shaft of a dart are crucial components that impact its trajectory and stability in flight. Beginners often benefit from standard-sized flights (No.6 or No.2), as they offer more control and stability. Standard flights provide a slower, more controlled flight path, allowing you to focus on accuracy and consistency. Additionally, opt for short length shafts, as they offer a balanced weight distribution and reduce the chances of the dart tilting in the air. As you progress and refine your throwing technique, you can experiment with different flight and shaft combinations to suit your playing style.

You can read the full breakdown of flight sizes and shapes here.

Testing and Experimentation

Selecting the perfect set of darts is a personal journey that requires some experimentation. Many dart shops offer the opportunity to try out different darts before making a purchase. Take advantage of this by testing various weights, grips, and materials to see what feels most comfortable and natural in your hand. The right darts will feel like an extension of your arm, allowing for a smooth and fluid throwing motion.

Choosing the best darts for beginners is an important step in embarking on your darting journey. By considering factors such as weight, grip and barrel design, material, flight and shaft, and engaging in testing and experimentation, you can find darts that suit your style and enhance your overall playing experience. Remember, practice, patience, and perseverance are key to improving your darting skills. So, grab your darts, find your rhythm, and let the journey to becoming a skilled dart player begin!