Shot Darts – Company, Pro Players & Darts Accessories at Diplomatgames

Shot Darts is a traditional, family-run dart brand from New Zealand. The company's history dates back to 1970 and began under the name Puma Dart Products in Katikati.

Today, Shot is internationally renowned for high-quality Tungsten Darts, Steel Darts, Soft Darts, Player Darts, Dartboards, Flights, Shafts, Dart Tips, and Darts Accessories.

A special feature of Shot is its in-house manufacturing: According to the company, the high-quality tungsten darts are developed, prototyped, and manufactured in its own workshop in Katikati, New Zealand.

With PDC World Champion Michael "Bully Boy" Smith, Shot also has one of the most famous players in modern darts on its team.

At Diplomatgames, you will find Shot Darts from various series as well as accessories for your darts setup.

Shot Darts – the company's history

Shot's story begins in New Zealand in 1970.

John and Pat McCormick founded Puma Dart Products in Katikati with their young family.

The company's origin lay in the manufacture of dartboards.

John McCormick's father worked as an accountant for a local hardware store whose owner had a machine for making coir dartboards.

John bought this machine, gave up his previous profession, and moved to Katikati with his family.

The original factory was built there.

This marked the beginning of a company history that now spans more than five decades.

The first darts from New Zealand

In the 1970s, New Zealand experienced problems with the import of sporting goods.

John McCormick recognized a business opportunity in this.

Instead of relying solely on imported darts products, the company began manufacturing its own.

By 1972, Puma was exporting its first darts.

In 1976, the company invested in an automatic lathe, which allowed dart barrels to be manufactured more precisely.

Business grew rapidly.

By 1978, Puma moved to a larger factory built specifically for production.

From dart to bristle dartboard

Shot, or the then Puma Dart Products, was not limited to darts.

The company was heavily involved in the development of dartboards.

For this purpose, an old industrial production plant was converted to process sisal for bristle dartboards, among other things.

This laid an important foundation for a product group for which Shot would later become internationally known.

1991 – the Shot Bandit Dartboard

A particularly significant year in the company's history was 1991.

Puma Darts launched the:

Bandit Dartboard

onto the market.

Shot describes the Bandit as the world's first blade dartboard.

The new system was intended to improve classic wire constructions and reduce bounce-outs.

The Bandit became one of the most important product names of the New Zealand brand.

The McCormick Family

Shot is still strongly influenced by the founding family.

In 1997, Peter McCormick, son of company founder John McCormick, joined the company.

In 2003, company founder John McCormick died.

Peter then took over the position of Managing Director.

Thus, the family business continued into the next generation.

50 Years of Shot Darts

In 2020, the company celebrated its 50th anniversary.

Despite its modern brand image, Shot is thus among the dart companies with decades of manufacturing experience.

The combination of family ownership, in-house production, and New Zealand origin continues to play an important role for the brand.

Shot Darts – Made in New Zealand

A particularly interesting feature of Shot is its in-house manufacturing.

Shot explains that its high-quality tungsten darts are:

developed, prototyped, and manufactured in its own New Zealand factory.

The company refers to its specialized employees as:

"Dartisans"

— a combination of the words darts and artisans.

Precision manufacturing of Shot Darts

During manufacturing, dart barrels undergo numerous work steps.

These include, for example:

• Barrel Design
• CAD Design
• CNC Machining
• Milling
• Grip Machining
• Shaping
• Coating
• Color Design
• Tip Assembly
• Weight Control
• Quality Control

Shot states that its 90% tungsten barrels are hand-matched within a tolerance of ±0.05 g.

Sustainability at Shot Darts

According to Shot, material efficiency also plays a role in production.

The company operates on lean principles and tries to reduce production waste.

Tungsten remnants from processing are recycled.

Used oils from CNC machines are also recycled, while imperfect barrels are used as color samples, for example.

More than 10 million Tungsten Darts

Shot cites impressive figures for its manufacturing.

According to their own statements, approximately:

10 million Tungsten Darts

have already been produced.

The company also mentions several million working hours and several hundred years of combined experience within the manufacturing team.

Michael Smith – "Bully Boy"

The most famous current name associated with Shot is Michael "Bully Boy" Smith.

The Englishman is one of the most successful players of his generation.

Smith celebrated his greatest career success at the:

PDC World Darts Championship 2023

There, Michael Smith became PDC World Champion for the first time.

Michael Smith becomes World Champion

The 2023 World Championship final is one of the most famous matches in modern darts history.

Michael Smith faced Michael van Gerwen.

A leg in which both players immediately threw for a nine-darter became particularly legendary.

Van Gerwen missed double 12.

Smith then stepped up to the board and completed his own nine-darter.

Shortly thereafter, he won the final and became World Champion.

With his World Championship title, Smith also reached the top of the world rankings.

Michael Smith joins Shot

On June 27, 2023, Shot announced the signing of Michael Smith.

The signing was an important step for the New Zealand company.

Shot stated at the announcement that Smith's own signature dart series would be fully developed and manufactured at the factory in Katikati.

Michael Smith Darts by Shot

Since then, an extensive Michael Smith Collection has been created.

Shot develops the darts together with the World Champion.

The product lines include or included, among others:

Michael Smith Achieve

Michael Smith Tenacious

Michael Smith Believe

Michael Smith Defiant

Michael Smith Precision

as well as other player products.

Currently, Shot also carries the Michael Smith Series II.

Michael Smith Achieve

The Michael Smith Achieve Darts are made of 90% tungsten.

Shot describes the barrel as balanced and center-weighted.

The series is or was offered in both steel-tip and soft-tip versions.

Michael Smith Tenacious

Tenacious also belongs to the Michael Smith product world.

The 90% tungsten barrel has a front weight and was developed in close collaboration with Michael Smith.

Particularly striking is a red V-element in the barrel, which creates a connection to Smith's hometown of St Helens.

Stowe Buntz – "Neon Nightmare"

Stowe "Neon Nightmare" Buntz is part of Shot's official player portfolio.

The American drew international attention, especially in 2023.

On the North American Championship Darts Corporation Circuit, Buntz won three events and reached two more finals.

His performances earned him qualification for the PDC World Darts Championship.

He also won the Continental Cup, qualifying him for the Grand Slam of Darts.

Shot offers its own Stowe Buntz Pro Series Darts, including steel-tip and soft-tip versions made of 90% tungsten.

Rowby-John Rodriguez – "Little John"

For Diplomatgames and especially the Austrian market, Rowby-John "Little John" Rodriguez is particularly interesting.

Rodriguez was born in Austria and has Filipino family roots.

Darts is practically a family affair for the Rodriguez siblings.

His brothers Rusty-Jake and Roxy-James are also well-known in the darts world.

Rowby-John has been playing internationally for many years and has competed against the world elite in numerous major tournaments.

Shot lists his preferred model as the:

Araw Steel Tip

Darts.

Haupai Puha – "Hopes"

Haupai "Hopes" Puha holds special significance for Shot, as he, like the brand itself, comes from New Zealand.

Puha has been active on the New Zealand darts scene since 2017.

Before that, he played golf before increasingly focusing on darts.

At the WDF World Championships 2023, Puha, together with Ben Robb, won the Men's Pairs title.

Thus, Haupai Puha is one of the most important players for Shot's New Zealand identity.

Mindaugas Barauskas – "Mindy"

Mindaugas "Mindy" Barauskas represents Lithuania on the Shot team.

He has already competed in various PDC competitions.

Barauskas is particularly known for his participation in the PDC World Cup of Darts for Lithuania.

Together with Darius Labanauskas, he reached the round of 16 there in 2020.

In 2023, Barauskas also won his first title on the PDC Nordic & Baltic Tour.

Raymond Smith – "The Guru"

Australian Raymond "The Guru" Smith is also part of Shot's official player portfolio.

Smith has experience in both BDO and PDC competitions.

He has participated in the PDC World Darts Championship multiple times.

His best result came in 2022 when he reached the round of 16.

Furthermore, Raymond Smith is heavily involved in junior development and darts coaching in Australia.

Ky Smith – "The Prodigy"

Raymond Smith's son, Ky "The Prodigy" Smith, is also part of the Shot family.

Ky started playing darts at a very young age.

In 2021, he won the DPA Oceanic Masters, qualifying him for the PDC World Darts Championship.

There, Ky and Raymond Smith made history.

They were the first father-son duo to compete in the same edition of the PDC World Championship.

Joe Chaney – "The Chainsaw"

American Joe "The Chainsaw" Chaney is also part of the Shot team.

Chaney has achieved numerous successes in American darts.

Tournament successes listed by Shot include:

• Portland City Open
• Cleveland Darts Extravaganza
• Las Vegas Open
• Chicago Open

Thus, Chaney is one of the experienced names in the American Shot player group.

Robbie Phillips – "The Robot"

Robbie "The Robot" Phillips has had a connection to the company since the earlier Puma Darts days.

The American started playing darts early and was already competing in adult leagues as a teenager.

In addition to his own career, Phillips is also involved in supporting young dart players in the USA.

Gavin Nicoll – "The Legacy"

Gavin "The Legacy" Nicoll belongs to the younger American generation.

Nicoll played on the North American CDC Circuit and especially on the Evolution Tour for players under 23 years old.

In 2023, he achieved numerous victories there.

He also gained experience on the PDC Development Tour and at the JDC World Darts Championship.

Justin Hewitt – "The Rock Eagle"

Justin "The Rock Eagle" Hewitt represents Gibraltar.

He has played for his country multiple times at the PDC World Cup of Darts.

Together with Craig Galliano, he achieved a special record there:

The duo became, according to Shot, the youngest team to win a match at the World Cup of Darts.

Craig Galliano

Craig Galliano also hails from Gibraltar and is part of the Shot player portfolio.

Galliano played on the PDC Development Tour and represented Gibraltar multiple times at the World Cup.

In 2022, he also won a match on the European Tour at the Gibraltar Darts Trophy.

In 2023, Galliano became the Gibraltar Darts Association National Champion.

Jack Male – "Maestro"

Englishman Jack "Maestro" Male belongs to the younger generation.

Male regularly played on the PDC Development Tour.

He also competed in the PDC World Youth Championship.

In 2023, he won a qualifier for the MODUS Super Series.

Gordon Mathers – "GG"

Australian Gordon "GG" Mathers has extensive international experience.

He was active in the BDO system for many years and later moved to the PDC circuit.

Mathers won a PDC Tour Card and played on the tour between 2021 and 2023.

Barbora Hospodářská

Czech Barbora Hospodářská expands the Shot team in women's darts.

She is a former European Soft Tip Champion and has a strong background in electronic darts.

Shot offers its own Barbora Hospodářská Pro Series Darts made of 90% tungsten.

Ryan Avellino – "The Express"

American Ryan "The Express" Avellino started playing darts as a child.

After his parents introduced him to the game, he first participated in youth tournaments at around ten or eleven years old.

Just a few months later, he won his first North Carolina State Youth Championship.

Further Shot Pro Series Player Darts

The current Shot assortment also includes player darts from various other names.

These include, for example:

Niels Zonneveld
Bradley Brooks
Jitse van der Wal
Nicole Regnaud
Carl Sneyd
Jake Womack

as well as other Pro Series players.

For a shop category page, the distinction is important: I would use these names for suitable products for internal SEO linking, but I would not generally claim that every player from every older Pro Series generation still has the same sponsorship status in 2026.

Shot Pro Series

The Shot Pro Series is the player dart series from the New Zealand brand.

Shot develops darts together with professional players.

Current or officially listed models include, for example:

• Stowe Buntz Darts
• Rowby-John Rodriguez Darts
• Haupai Puha Darts
• Niels Zonneveld Darts
• Bradley Brooks Darts
• Jitse van der Wal Darts
• Barbora Hospodářská Darts
• Raymond Smith Darts
• Nicole Regnaud Darts
• Carl Sneyd Darts

Many of these models are made of 90% Tungsten.

Shot Steel Darts

Shot Steel Darts represent one of the most important areas of the product range.

The range extends from entry-level models to high-quality tungsten darts and player darts.

Particularly characteristic are the sometimes very elaborately crafted barrel designs.

Shot uses different ones depending on the series:

• Barrel shapes
• Grip zones
• Millings
• Coatings
• Tungsten content
• Weights
• Points

Shot Soft Darts

In addition to Steel Tip Darts, Shot offers a wide selection of Soft Darts.

Many well-known series are available as both steel and soft tip versions.

For example, there are various Viking models available as Soft Darts.

For the Viking Raven, Shot uses a 90% tungsten barrel and 2BA Soft Tips.

Shot Viking Darts

One of the most well-known product worlds is:

Shot Viking

The series is stylistically inspired by Norse mythology and Viking themes.

Model names include, for example:

• Viking Raven
• Viking Odin
• Viking Asgard
• further Viking models

The series combines elaborate grip structures with striking designs and coatings.

Shot Warrior Darts

Shot Warrior is also one of the established product families.

The designs in this series sometimes incorporate cultural and martial motifs.

Well-known product names include, for example:

Warrior Kapene
Warrior Taiaha
Warrior Awe

Shot Tribal Weapon

The Tribal Weapon series is also one of Shot's best-known products.

It is particularly known for complex barrel machining and striking designs.

Special Tribal Weapon dart points are also offered.

Shot Roman Empire

With Roman Empire, Shot has another thematically structured product world.

Here, the design is inspired by motifs from the Roman Empire.

The product world includes darts, flights, and accessories.

Shot Celt

The Celt series takes up Celtic motifs.

Known models and designs include, for example:

• Celt Merlin
• Celt Toranos
• Celt Balor

Matching flights and points complement the series.

Shot Alchemy

Alchemy combines Shot's elaborate manufacturing with a particularly striking design concept.

The series includes darts, flights, and special steel points.

Shot AI

With Shot AI, the brand offers a modern product series with a futuristic design.

The series is one of Shot's currently leading main collections.

Shot Zen

Zen is also part of the current product range.

The series is particularly interesting because Shot offers different classic barrel shapes within a coherent product family.

These include:

• Zen Straight
• Zen Scallop
• Zen Missile
• Zen Torpedo
• Zen Bomber

Various models are offered as both Steel Tip and Soft Tip and use 90% Tungsten.

Shot Gnarly

Gnarly is one of the newer striking Shot series.

An example is Gnarly Gnasha, which Shot offers with a 95% tungsten barrel.

Shot Goths

With Goths, Shot has another modern themed series.

In addition to dart sets, Shot offers matching:

• Flights
• Steel Points
• Accessories

available.

Shot Future Knights

The Future Knights product world combines futuristic designs with medieval-inspired motifs.

These include, for example:

• The Dragon
• St George
• Darkstar
• Dreadheart
• Hachette
• Ironsoul

Matching flights and accessory products complement the series.

Shot Turbo Points

With the Turbo Points, Shot now also has a system around interchangeable dart points.

The current range includes:

• Turbo Steel Tip Dart Points
• Michael Smith Turbo Points
• Goths Turbo Points
• Turbo Point Tool
• Thread Head Point Adaptor

Shot is thus responding to the growing market for easily interchangeable steel dart points.

Shot Airfoil Flights

With Airfoil, Shot offers modern molded flights.

These are available in various colors and complement the classic folded flights in the range.

Shot Bandit Dartboards

The Bandit Dartboards have a special historical significance for the company.

The original Bandit was introduced in 1991.

Today, the series continues to be developed.

Currently, Shot offers, for example, the:

Shot Bandit Dartboard Generation 4

available.

Shot Dartboards

In addition to the Bandit, Shot offers other dartboards for different price ranges and requirements.

These include or included, for example:

• Bandit
• Ranger
• Rogue
• Renegade
• electronic dartboards
• dartboard sets

Shot thus offers both classic bristle boards and solutions for other dart variants.

Shot Dart Accessories

Shot has long evolved from a pure dart manufacturer into a comprehensive complete brand.

The product range includes, among other things:

• Steel Darts
• Soft Darts
• Tungsten Darts
• Player Darts
• Dartboards
• Electronic Dartboards
• Flights
• Molded Flights
• Shafts
• Steel Points
• Soft Tips
• Conversion Points
• Turbo Points
• Dart Cases
• Dartboard Surrounds
• Dart Mats
• Dartboard Accessories
• Tools
• Shirts
• Player Accessories

Thus, a large part of a complete dart setup can be assembled with Shot products.

Why Shot Darts?

Shot differs from many other dart brands in several ways.

The company's history dates back to 1970.

Shot is a New Zealand family business.

According to the company, the high-quality tungsten darts are developed, prototyped, and manufactured in its own factory in Katikati.

In addition, there is a particularly distinctive design philosophy.

Series like:

Viking, Warrior, Tribal Weapon, Roman Empire, Celt, Alchemy, AI, Zen, Gnarly, Goths and Future Knights

each have their own design worlds.

With Michael Smith, Shot also has a PDC World Champion as a prominent face of the brand.

Frequently Asked Questions about Shot Darts

Where do Shot Darts come from?

Shot Darts come from New Zealand. The company has its origins in Katikati.

How long have Shot Darts been around?

The company's history began in 1970 when John and Pat McCormick founded Puma Dart Products.

Was Shot Darts formerly called Puma Darts?

Yes. The company's history began under the name Puma Dart Products or Puma Darts.

Is Shot Darts a family business?

Yes. Shot describes itself as a family-run company from New Zealand. After the death of company founder John McCormick, his son Peter took over the leadership.

Where are Shot Darts manufactured?

According to Shot, the high-quality tungsten barrels are developed, prototyped, and manufactured in their own factory in Katikati, New Zealand.

Is Michael Smith with Shot Darts?

Yes.

Michael "Bully Boy" Smith is part of Shot Darts. The 2023 PDC World Champion joined Shot in June 2023.

Which darts does Michael Smith play with?

Shot currently offers, among other things, Michael Smith Series II and other Michael Smith products. On his official player profile, Achieve Steel Tip 24 g is listed as the model used.

Is Rowby-John Rodriguez with Shot?

Yes. The Austrian Rowby-John "Little John" Rodriguez is listed on the official Shot player page.

Is Stowe Buntz with Shot?

Yes. The American Stowe "Neon Nightmare" Buntz is part of the official Shot player portfolio and has his own Pro Series darts.

What products does Shot produce?

Shot offers Steel Darts, Soft Darts, Tungsten Darts, Player Darts, Dartboards, Flights, Shafts, Points, Cases, Surrounds, Dart Mats, Tools, and other Dart Accessories.

Buy Shot Darts at Diplomatgames

Discover the world of Shot Darts at Diplomatgames.

Here you will find products from various Shot categories – from Steel Darts and Soft Darts to high-quality Tungsten Darts and Player Darts, as well as Flights, Shafts, Dart Points, Dartboards, and other accessories.

Shot is particularly known for its exceptionally designed dart series and the in-house production of high-quality tungsten barrels in New Zealand.

At Diplomatgames, you will find, among other things:

Shot Steel Darts
Shot Soft Darts
Shot Tungsten Darts
Shot Player Darts
Michael Smith Darts
Rowby-John Rodriguez Darts
Stowe Buntz Darts
Haupai Puha Darts
Shot Viking Darts
Shot Warrior Darts
Shot Tribal Weapon Darts
Shot Roman Empire Darts
Shot Celt Darts
Shot Alchemy Darts
Shot AI Darts
Shot Zen Darts
Shot Gnarly Darts
Shot Goths Darts
Shot Future Knights Darts
Shot Bandit Dartboards
Shot Flights
Shot Airfoil Flights
Shot Shafts
Shot Turbo Points
Shot Dart Points
Shot Dart Cases
Shot Dart Accessories

Whether you're looking for Michael Smith's darts, want to discover one of Shot's extraordinary design series, or expand your dart setup with accessories – at Diplomatgames you'll find a large selection from the world of Shot.

Discover Shot Darts online now at Diplomatgames.