Dartboards – The Right Dartboard for Your Home

The right dartboard is the foundation for a good game of darts. Whether it's a classic sisal steel-tip dartboard or an electronic dartboard for soft-tip darts – different boards are suitable depending on the type of game, training goals, and personal preferences.

At Diplomatgames, you'll find a large selection of dartboards for beginners, hobby players, and ambitious dart players.

What types of dartboards are there?

Basically, there are two important types of dartboards:

• Steel-tip dartboards
• Electronic dartboards

Both variants follow the familiar dartboard structure with number fields from 1 to 20, as well as single, double, triple, and bullseye areas. However, they differ in terms of material, darts used, and playing feel.

Steel-tip Dartboards – The Classic Made of Sisal

The classic steel-tip dartboard is played with darts that have metal tips. Modern high-quality boards are made of densely pressed sisal fibers.

When the dart hits, the tip penetrates between the fibers. After removal, the fibers can contract again. This makes high-quality sisal dartboards particularly durable.

Steel-tip dartboards are excellent for:

• Training at home
• Hobby players
• League players
• Tournament players
• Classic steel-tip darts

Anyone looking for the playing feel of professional darts will generally choose a high-quality sisal board.

Why Sisal for Steel-tip Dartboards?

Sisal has established itself as the material for high-quality steel-tip dartboards because it is robust and at the same time elastic enough for metal tips.

The most important advantages of a good sisal board:

• high durability
• good dart tip retention
• self-healing sisal fibers
• suitable for intensive training
• classic dart feel

Quality differences exist, among other things, in the density and processing of the sisal as well as in the construction of the wire system.

Thin Spider – More Room for Triple and Double

On a high-quality steel-tip dartboard, the spider, i.e., the metal division between the segments, plays an important role.

Modern boards use particularly thin wires or recessed blade systems. This reduces the metal surface and leaves more usable hitting surface in the important double and triple segments.

This can also reduce the number of bouncers – throws where the dart hits the spider and bounces back out of the board.

Especially for ambitious players, a dartboard with the thinnest possible and highest quality wire system is therefore worthwhile.

Electronic Dartboards – Ideal for Soft-Tip Darts

Electronic dartboards are played with soft-tip darts and plastic tips. Hits are automatically detected, and points are calculated directly.

This makes electronic dartboards particularly convenient.

Depending on the model, they offer, for example:

• automatic score calculation
• various game modes
• multiple player profiles
• Cricket
• 301 and 501
• training games
• sound effects
• computer opponents

This makes them suitable for both training and sociable dart evenings.

Steel-tip Dartboard or Electronic Dartboard?

Which variant is better suited depends primarily on which type of darts is played.

Steel-tip Dartboard	Electronic Dartboard
Steel-tip darts with metal points	Soft-tip darts with plastic points
Sisal fibers	Plastic segments
Points are counted manually	Automatic point calculation
Classic tournament feel	Comfortable e-dart game
Particularly quiet hits	Electronic functions and sounds
Ideal for classic dart training	Ideal for soft-tip darts and leisure

Anyone who follows professional steel-tip darts is well advised to use a sisal board. Anyone who prefers automatic score calculation and various integrated games should choose an electronic dartboard.

What should I look for when buying a dartboard?

Not all dartboards are the same. Depending on your demands, different features play a role.

For a steel-tip dartboard, you should pay particular attention to the following points:

• Quality of the sisal
• Workmanship of the segments
• Thin wire system
• Mounting system
• Replaceable or rotatable number ring
• As low a bouncer rate as possible

For an electronic dartboard, on the other hand, the following are important:

• Number of games
• Number of players
• Quality of the segments
• Power supply
• Display
• Volume control
• Maximum permissible dart weight

Rotate the dartboard regularly

A steel-tip dartboard does not wear evenly everywhere.

Frequently used areas such as the 20 and Triple 20 are subject to more wear and tear than other segments. Therefore, a sisal dartboard should be rotated regularly.

To do this, the number ring is loosened, and the board is rotated by a few segments. The number ring is then realigned correctly.

This distributes the wear more evenly across the entire dartboard and can significantly extend its lifespan.

Properly hang your dartboard

For a regulation dart setup, height and distance must be correct.

For classic steel-tip darts, the height from the floor to the center of the bullseye is 1.73 meters.

The horizontal distance from the front of the dartboard to the throw line is 2.37 meters.

The diagonal distance from the bullseye to the throw line is 2.93 meters.

It is important that the distance is measured from the front of the dartboard and not from the wall.

For electronic dartboards, other distances may apply depending on the rules and game operation.

Dartboard Surround as Wall Protection

Especially for steel-tip darts, a dartboard surround is recommended.

The protective ring is attached around the dartboard and catches darts that land outside the actual board.

A surround can therefore:

• protect the wall
• preserve dart tips
• catch missed throws
• visually enhance the dart area

Especially for beginners or shared dart areas, a surround is a sensible addition.

Dartboard Lighting

Even lighting improves visibility of the dartboard and reduces distracting shadows.

Modern dartboard lighting systems are mounted around the dartboard and illuminate the board from multiple directions.

This creates uniform illumination – regardless of where the dart is stuck in the board.

For a high-quality home dart setup, good lighting is therefore now standard equipment.

Which dartboard is suitable for beginners?

For beginners, it's worth investing in a well-made dartboard right away.

For steel-tip darts, we recommend a sisal board with:

• thin spider
• good sisal quality
• rotatable number ring
• stable mounting

An extremely cheap board made of simple materials can wear out faster and cause more bouncers due to a thicker spider.

However, if you mainly play with friends and value automatic score calculation, you can start with an electronic dartboard.

Which dartboard is suitable for ambitious players?

Anyone who trains regularly or plays in a league should opt for a high-quality sisal dartboard with the thinnest possible wire system.

A good training board should:

• withstand intensive use
• have a uniform sisal structure
• cause as few bouncers as possible
• be rotatable regularly
• comply with official tournament dimensions

This way, you can train under conditions that are as close as possible to competition.

Accessories for the Perfect Dartboard Setup

In addition to the dartboard itself, there are various ways to optimize your home dart area.

Popular dartboard accessories include:

• Dartboard surrounds
• Lighting systems
• Wall mounts
• Dart mats
• Oche systems
• Distance meters
• Scoreboards
• Camera systems
• Soundproofing solutions

With these, almost any setup can be realized, from a simple training area to a complete dart room.

Frequently Asked Questions about Dartboards

Which dartboard do professionals play with?

In professional steel-tip darts, high-quality sisal dartboards with particularly thin recessed wire systems are used. The specific model played depends on the respective association or tournament organizer.

How high should a dartboard hang?

The center of the bullseye for classic steel-tip darts is 1.73 meters above the floor.

How far should I stand from the dartboard?

For steel-tip darts, the horizontal distance between the front of the dartboard and the throw line is 2.37 meters.

How long does a dartboard last?

This depends heavily on quality, training intensity, tips used, and maintenance. Regularly rotating the board ensures more even wear and can significantly extend its lifespan.

Can I play soft-tip darts on a steel-tip dartboard?

Plastic tips are not designed for use on a classic sisal board. However, soft-tip dart barrels can be converted with suitable conversion points for playing on a steel-tip dartboard.

Buy Dartboards Online

Whether it's a sisal steel-tip dartboard, an electronic dartboard, or accessories for your own dart area – at Diplomatgames, you'll find high-quality solutions for beginners, recreational players, and ambitious dart players.

Discover our selection of dartboards now and put together your individual setup for training, league play, or your next dart night.