Darts – The Right Dart for Every Playing Style

Darts are the core of every dart setup. Whether you play on a classic sisal dartboard or an electronic dartboard, weight, barrel shape, grip, balance, and the components used significantly influence the feel of the game.

Basically, a distinction is made between steel darts and soft darts. Both variants look very similar at first glance but are designed for different dartboards.

At Diplomatgames, you will find a large selection of darts for beginners, hobby players, league players, and ambitious tournament players.

What Types of Darts Are There?

The two most important types of darts are:

• Steel darts
• Soft darts

The biggest difference lies in the tip and the dartboard used.

Steel Darts

Steel darts have a metal tip and are played on classic sisal dartboards.

They are the typical choice for players who prefer classic steel darting from leagues, tournaments, and professional darts.

Steel darts differ in, among other things:

• Weight
• Barrel shape
• Tungsten content
• Grip strength
• Balance
• Tip length
• Shaft length
• Flight shape

Many high-quality steel darts are made from tungsten alloys, as this allows for slimmer barrels at comparable weights.

Soft Darts

Soft darts have plastic tips and are played on electronic dartboards or dart machines.

Scores are automatically detected and calculated there.

Soft darts are often lighter than classic steel darts and are particularly common in e-darts and arcade machines.

Here too, players can choose between different:

• Weights
• Barrel shapes
• Grip strengths
• Tungsten content
• Shaft lengths
• Flights
• Soft dart tips

choices.

Steel Dart or Soft Dart – Which is Right for Me?

Which type of dart is right for you primarily depends on which board you want to play on.

Dart Type	Suitable for
Steel Dart	Sisal dartboards
Soft Dart	Electronic dartboards and dart machines

Those who only play on sisal need steel darts.

Those who play on electronic dart machines need soft darts.

Those who play both variants can also use conversion points, depending on the dart, and use a compatible soft dart barrel on a sisal board.

What Does a Dart Consist Of?

A complete dart essentially consists of four main components:

• Tip
• Barrel
• Shaft
• Flight

Each of these components influences the feel of the game.

Tip

For steel darts, a metal tip is used.

For soft darts, a plastic tip is used.

Barrel

The barrel is the most important part of the dart. This is where the dart is gripped.

Shape, length, diameter, and grip significantly determine how the dart feels in the hand.

Shaft

The shaft connects the barrel and the flight.

Different shaft lengths can change balance and flight behavior.

Flight

The flight stabilizes the dart during its flight.

Depending on its size and shape, air resistance changes, and with it, the trajectory.

What is the Right Dart Weight?

Weight is one of the most important purchasing criteria.

For steel darts, weights in the range of approximately 21 to 24 grams are particularly common.

For soft darts, many popular models are approximately between 16 and 20 grams.

However, these are only typical ranges.

The right dart can be lighter or heavier depending on your throwing style.

The crucial thing is that the weight feels controlled and natural.

Darts for Beginners

Beginners should initially choose the most versatile setup possible.

For steel darts, a good starting point could be, for example:

• 22 to 24 grams
• straight barrel
• medium grip
• mid-balance
• standard flight

For soft darts, a medium weight of around 18 grams is a good starting point for many players.

However, more important than the exact weight is that the barrel shape and grip feel comfortable in the hand.

Tungsten Darts

Many high-quality darts are made from tungsten.

This material has a high density, allowing for slimmer barrels.

Typical tungsten percentages are:

• 80 %
• 90 %
• 95 %

The higher the tungsten content, the more compact a barrel can generally be constructed at a comparable weight.

However, a higher percentage does not automatically mean that the dart is a better fit for your throwing style.

Barrel Shapes

Darts come in different barrel shapes.

The most well-known include:

• straight barrels
• torpedo barrels
• bomb barrels
• front-loaded barrels
• center-balanced barrels
• rear-loaded barrels

Which shape works best primarily depends on where you grip your dart.

Grip – How Much Hold Do I Need?

Grip refers to the texture on the barrel.

Some darts have only slight grooves, others very aggressive milling.

Typical grip types are:

• Ring Grip
• Shark Grip
• Axial Grip
• Knurled Grip
• combined grip zones

More grip is not automatically better.

A very aggressive barrel can provide a lot of grip, but it can also get stuck on your fingers more when releasing.

Many players therefore prefer a medium grip strength.

The Right Grip Position

Before choosing a dart, you should pay attention to where you naturally grip it.

Possible grip positions are:

• front
• middle
• back

A dart should offer sufficient space and grip exactly where your fingers lie.

Player Darts

Many manufacturers offer so-called Player Darts.

These models were developed according to the preferences of professional dart players.

They can be interesting if the weight, shape, and grip match your own preferences.

However, it is important:

Just because a professional plays successfully with a certain dart does not automatically mean that this dart is ideal for another player.

Darts from Various Manufacturers

At Diplomatgames, darts from numerous well-known manufacturers are available. 

These include, among others:

• Target
• Winmau
• Red Dragon
• Unicorn
• Harrows
• Mission
• Shot
• BULL'S
• One80
• other dart brands

Each manufacturer offers different barrel shapes, grip concepts, and weight classes.

Therefore, comparing different models is worthwhile.

Which Dart is the Best?

There is no single best dart.

A good dart is the dart that suits your personal throwing style.

Important criteria are:

Feature	Meaning
Weight	influences acceleration and throwing feel
Barrel shape	determines grip position and balance
Length	influences available space for fingers
Diameter	affects grip and grouping
Grip	determines hold and release
Balance	front-, mid- or rear-loaded
Tip	suitable for steel or soft darts
Shaft	influences balance and flight
Flight	stabilizes the dart

The best combination often emerges only through experimentation.

Adjusting Darts Step by Step

A great advantage of modern darts is that many components are interchangeable.

You can, for example, change:

• Shaft length
• Flight shape
• Flight material
• Tip length
• Tip grip
• Soft dart tip
• Flight system

This means you don't always have to buy a completely new dart immediately.

Often, a small adjustment is enough to significantly change the flight behavior.

Darts for Leisure, League, and Tournament

Requirements vary depending on the use.

Casual Players

Here, value for money and uncomplicated handling are often paramount.

Hobby Players

With increasing experience, weight, grip, and barrel shape become more important.

League Players

Many league players already precisely tune their setup to their own throwing style.

Tournament Players

Ambitious players often pay attention to the smallest differences in weight, balance, grip, and accessories.

Regardless of the skill level, however, it always applies:

The dart should feel natural and controlled.

How to Test Darts Correctly

When you try out a new dart, give it some time. After a few throws, it's often not possible to say whether it really suits you – a new setup often requires some getting used to. If you want to change something, it's best to adjust only one component at a time. This way, you'll more easily notice what has a positive effect on your game.

For example:

same dart + different shaft

or

same dart + different flight

Frequently Asked Questions About Darts

Which darts are suitable for beginners?

Beginners should opt for a balanced setup with medium weight, a straight barrel, and medium grip.

Are expensive darts automatically better?

No. Higher quality materials and more precise manufacturing can offer advantages, but the decisive factor is whether the shape, weight, and grip suit your own throwing style.

What does Tungsten mean?

Tungsten is the English term for Wolfram. Its high density allows for the production of slender dart barrels.

Which dart weight is best?

This is individual. Many steel dart players use approximately 21 to 24 grams, while soft darts are often lighter.

Can I modify darts?

Yes. Flights, shafts, and many tips can be replaced. This allows the setup to be customized individually.

Can I also play soft darts on a sisal board?

With suitable conversion points, many soft dart barrels can be used on a classic steel dartboard.

Buy Darts Online

Whether steel darts or soft darts, beginner sets or high-quality tungsten darts – at Diplomatgames you will find darts for different playing styles and skill levels.

Compare different weights, barrel shapes, and grip strengths to find the dart that optimally suits your hand, grip position, and throwing technique.

Discover our selection of darts at Diplomatgames now and assemble your personal setup step by step.