Soft-tip darts
Soft Darts – The Right E-Darts for Your Throwing Style
Soft darts are darts specifically designed for electronic dartboards and dart machines. Instead of a metal tip, they have a replaceable plastic tip that penetrates the perforated segments of an electronic dartboard.
However, not all soft darts are the same. Weight, barrel shape, grip, tungsten content, length, and balance can significantly change the throwing feel. Therefore, the most expensive dart is not automatically the best – it is crucial that the dart matches your personal throwing style and grip position.
At Diplomatgames, you will find a large selection of soft darts for beginners, hobby players, league players, and ambitious e-dart players.
What are Soft Darts?
A soft dart fundamentally consists of four components:
- Soft dart tip
- Barrel
- Shaft
- Flight
The core of the dart is the barrel. This is where you grip the dart and largely determine its guidance during the throw.
At the front end is the replaceable plastic tip. It is designed for the hole segments of electronic dartboards or dart machines.
At the rear end are the shaft and flight, which stabilize the dart during flight.
Soft Dart or E-Dart?
The terms soft dart and e-dart are often used synonymously.
In both cases, it refers to playing darts on an electronic dartboard or a dart machine with plastic tips.
Soft darts are used, for example, on:
- electronic dartboards for home use
- classic dart machines
- league machines
- modern online dart machines
The main difference from steel darts lies in the tip and the requirements of the board used.
Soft Dart or Steel Dart – What's the Difference?
At first glance, both types of darts look very similar.
The decisive difference is at the tip.
| Soft Dart | Steel Dart |
|---|---|
| Plastic tip | Metal tip |
| Electronic dartboard | Sisal dartboard |
| Automatic score tracking | Classic manual or separate scoring |
| Usually lighter | Often heavier |
| Replaceable tip | Fixed or replaceable depending on the system |
Soft darts are designed for electronic boards. Steel darts, on the other hand, are played on classic sisal boards.
What Weight Should a Soft Dart Have?
Weight is one of the most important decisions when buying a soft dart.
Soft darts are available in numerous weight classes.
Popular weights often fall within the range of approximately:
16 to 20 grams
There are also lighter and heavier models.
Which variant is optimal depends on personal throwing style.
Lighter Soft Darts
Light darts can play particularly directly and quickly.
However, they often require an active and consistent throwing motion.
Heavier Soft Darts
Slightly heavier darts can feel steadier in the hand and subjectively require less acceleration.
However, this does not mean that a heavy dart is automatically more stable or easier to play.
The interplay of weight, balance, barrel, and throwing technique is crucial.
Important: Observe Maximum Dart Weight
With electronic dartboards and dart machines, the permissible maximum dart weight should always be observed.
Darts that are too heavy can unnecessarily stress the plastic segments and the underlying technology.
The permissible weights can vary depending on the board, machine manufacturer, or league.
Therefore:
Before purchasing or using, always check the specifications of the dartboard or dart machine being used.
This is particularly important if you want to play heavier soft darts.
What Soft Dart Weight is Suitable for Beginners?
There is no prescribed ideal weight for beginners.
A good starting point is often in the mid-weight range.
Many players, for example, get along well with a soft dart of around 18 grams.
From there, different weights can be tried out.
More important than a one-gram difference is often the question of whether:
- barrel shape
- grip
- length
- balance
suit one's own hand and throwing motion.
Tungsten Soft Darts
High-quality soft darts often have barrels with a high tungsten content.
Tungsten has a very high density.
This allows for the production of comparatively heavy barrels with a small diameter.
This is particularly advantageous in darts.
A slim barrel takes up less space on the board and can therefore enable tighter groupings.
What Do 80%, 90%, or 95% Tungsten Mean?
The percentage indicates the tungsten content of the alloy used.
Typical variants are, for example:
- 80% tungsten
- 90% tungsten
- 95% tungsten
A higher tungsten content generally allows for a more compact design at a comparable weight.
However, this does not automatically mean:
95% tungsten plays better than 90%.
Barrel shape, grip, balance, and personal throwing technique are at least as important for actual performance.
Many high-quality tournament darts therefore use 90% tungsten, as this material offers a very good combination of slim design, durability, and price.
Brass Soft Darts
In addition to tungsten models, there are soft darts made of brass.
Brass has a lower density than tungsten.
For a comparable weight, a brass barrel therefore usually has to be constructed thicker.
The big advantage lies in the price.
Brass soft darts are therefore particularly suitable for:
- beginners
- occasional players
- recreational players
- first dart sets
Those who play regularly and want to achieve tighter groupings often switch to slimmer tungsten darts later.
The Barrel Shape
The shape of the barrel influences how the dart lies in the hand and where it can be gripped.
Among the most common shapes are:
Straight Barrel
A straight barrel has a similar diameter over large areas.
This shape is particularly versatile and allows for different grip positions.
Straight barrels are therefore among the most popular dart shapes overall.
Torpedo Barrel
A torpedo barrel often has a slightly wider middle section and tapers towards the front and back.
This creates a compact grip feeling.
Bomb Barrel
Bomb barrels are comparatively short and have a pronounced wider area.
They are particularly suitable for players who prefer a short and compact dart.
Front-Weighted Barrels
With a front-weighted dart, a larger part of the weight is in the front area.
This can benefit players who grip their dart far forward.
Rear-Weighted Barrels
Here, more weight is in the rear area of the barrel.
Such models can be interesting for players who hold the dart further back.
Which Barrel Shape is Best?
There is no universally best barrel shape.
The decisive factor is primarily:
Where do you grip your dart?
If you grip at the front, there should be a usable grip zone there.
If you grip in the middle, a uniform straight barrel is often interesting.
If you grip far back, the rear area should offer sufficient grip.
The appearance of a barrel should therefore never be the only purchase criterion.
The Grip
Grip refers to the surface texture of the barrel.
It ensures that the dart can be held controllably between the fingers.
Typical grip types include, for example:
- Ring Grip
- Shark Grip
- Knurled Grip
- Axial Grip
- Combinations of different textures
Manufacturers often combine several grip types within a barrel.
This creates different grip zones.
A Lot of Grip or Little Grip?
More grip is not automatically better.
A very aggressive barrel can be excellently controlled, but it can get stuck more easily on the fingers when released.
A smoother barrel often leaves the hand more easily but offers less tactile orientation.
Little Grip
Suitable for players who have a very clean and loose release.
Medium Grip
For many players, a good balance between control and clean release.
Strong Grip
Interesting for players who prefer very clear feedback and a lot of hold on the barrel.
Ultimately, the optimal grip strength can only be determined by trying it out.
Grip Zones as Orientation
Many modern soft darts have different grip zones.
In addition to the actual grip, these have another advantage:
The fingers can be placed in the same position for each throw.
Certain grooves or millings therefore serve as an orientation point.
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