Guides · Choosing darts · 9 min read
How to choose darts: weight, barrel, points, shafts and flights
How to choose darts starts with the weight and the barrel, because those two decide how a dart feels and flies. Points, shafts and flights are cheap to swap and fine-tune the rest.
In short
- Start at 20 to 24 g and adjust later.
- 80 to 90 % tungsten gives a slim barrel at a fair price.
- Match the barrel shape to where you hold the dart.
- Test before you pay, then change one part at a time.
The anatomy
What are the parts of a dart, and what does each one change?
A steel-tip dart has four parts: the point, the barrel you hold, the shaft (also called the stem) and the flight. The barrel decides most of the feel, while shaft and flight fine-tune how the dart flies and lands.
Weight
What weight of darts should I use?
There is no single best dart weight, so start between 20 and 24 g. That suits most throws and leaves room to go lighter or heavier later. Soft-tip darts run lighter, as steel-tip vs soft-tip explains.
- Light, 16 to 19 gNeeds more pace or a higher arc. Small changes in force show up quickly.
- Middle, 20 to 24 gFlies fairly straight without much effort and still suits a relaxed arm.
- Heavy, 25 g and upHolds its line with a slower push, but the mass adds up over hundreds of throws. Aching elbow? Read pain from playing darts.
Barrel material
Tungsten or brass: which barrel material, and does the percentage matter?
Yes, because density decides how slim a dart of a given weight can be. Pure tungsten weighs 19.3 g per cm³ and brass about 8.5, so tungsten darts are far slimmer at the same weight. Slim darts leave more room in the treble and block each other less.
How dense is each barrel material?
The rest is binder. Tungsten is too brittle to machine on its own, so barrels are an alloy with nickel and other metals. Above 90 % the gain is small and the price climbs.
Barrel
Which barrel shape, grip and length suit you?
Pick the barrel that matches the way you already hold a dart: where your fingers sit decides shape and length, and how hard you hold decides how much grip you want. Not settled on a grip yet? Read the darts grip guide first.
- Straight can be held anywhere, a sensible first barrel.
- Torpedo leads with the point and suits a grip near the front.
- Bomb rewards a front grip and a short push. Held further back, it tips down early.
- 40–55 mmbarrel length
- 6–8 mmdiameter
Short barrels suit a compact three-finger grip. Long ones leave room for four fingers.
How much hold does each texture give?
Points, shafts and flights
Which points, shafts and flights should you use?
Start with fixed points, medium shafts and standard flights, which most sets ship with. These are the cheap parts to experiment with once the barrel is settled.
Points and shafts
- Fixed pointsPressed into the barrel. A textured point holds a little better in the bristle.
- Moveable pointsSlide a few millimetres on impact, so darts that hit a wire bounce out less. They click and need a check now and then.
- Nylon shaftsCheap and light, but they snap, so buy several.
- Aluminium shaftsCan bend and work loose. A rubber O-ring on the thread helps.
- Titanium and compositeTougher and pricier. Titanium lasts for years.
- Spinning topsThe top turns, so a flight that gets hit can rotate away. Useful if you group tightly.
Most points are 26 to 41 mm long, with 32 mm a common standard. Keep them slightly rounded, never needle-sharp: the dartboard care guide shows how to sharpen them.
Flights and shaft length
Shafts run from about 25 mm (extra short) to 55 mm (long). Brands name the lengths differently, so compare millimetres. The flights and shafts guide has a length table and a decision helper. Small shaped flights such as fantails get hit less by the next dart.
Tail up steeply? Try a shorter shaft or a smaller flight, and go longer or bigger if they land flat or tail-down. Check your throw first, though: a dropped elbow changes the angle more than any part, so read how to throw darts and its section on the follow-through.
Before you buy
How to choose darts by testing them before you buy
Throw a set at a board before you pay for it whenever you can. A dart that feels great in the hand can fly quite differently.
- Find a test boardMany darts shops have one, and club players are usually happy to lend their set for a few visits.
- Warm up with your own dartsThen throw the test set on the same board in the same light.
- Give it 10 to 15 visitsAim at one target, such as the 20. Anything new feels odd at first.
- Judge by the groupThe set that groups tighter and lands at a steady angle is the better match. Compare sets that differ in one thing only, such as weight or grip.
- Measure it at homePlay the same drill with each set over a few sessions, for example Darts at a Number. Sridu keeps the score and a heatmap of where your darts land, so the difference shows up in black and white.
Budget
How much should you spend when buying darts?
A mid-range tungsten set of 80 to 90 % gives the best value for most players. Beyond that, extra money mostly buys looks, a name on the box or a slightly slimmer barrel.
Entry
Brass or nickel-silver
- Costs little
- Fine for finding out if you enjoy the game
- Thick barrel
- Grip wears quickly
Mid-range
Best value
80 to 90 % tungsten
- Slim barrel with a machined grip
- Lasts for many years
Premium
95 % tungsten, signature models
- The slimmest barrels
- Small gain over 90 %
- You pay for names and coatings
- Spare partsFlights, shafts and O-rings are cheap and wear out long before the barrels.
- Second handTungsten barrels hardly wear, so a used set with fresh flights is often a bargain. Check that the points are straight and firm.
- The boardGood darts need a decent bristle board. The dartboard buying guide shows what to check.
Changing your setup
When should you change your darts?
Change parts when they are worn, and change the barrel only when a problem keeps coming back over weeks. After one bad night, practise before you think about new darts.
- Replace straight awaySplit flights, cracked shafts, loose or bent points. They make every throw fly a little differently.
- Adjust shafts and flightsWhen darts keep landing at an awkward angle or hitting each other. Try one change for a week, then decide.
- Consider a new barrelWhen the grip has worn smooth, or your hold has changed, say from four fingers to three.
- Move in small stepsChange weight by 1 or 2 g at a time. A jump from 20 to 26 g resets your rhythm.
Just starting out? Any mid-weight tungsten set will do. Throw it for a few months before you judge it, and use the darts for beginners guide in the meantime.
Competition rules
Which darts are allowed in competition?
Under the WDF Playing Rules a dart may be at most 30.5 cm long and weigh no more than 50 g. At PDC events the DRA rules are stricter, with 40 g and 20 cm. Sets from a normal shop sit well inside all of these limits.
- 50 gWDF, max weight
- 30.5 cmWDF, max length
- 40 gPDC (DRA), max weight
- 20 cmPDC (DRA), max length
- Metal pointA needle-shaped metal point on the barrel. Plastic soft-tip points do not qualify.
- Up to five piecesBehind the barrel, WDF allows up to five stem parts, such as shaft, flight, rings and a flight protector.
- No re-throwsA dart that bounces out or falls from the board may not be thrown again (WDF rule 1.05). That is the practical case for moveable points.
- Your leagueLeagues and soft-tip bodies publish their own rules, so check with yours if you are unsure.
Sources: WDF Playing and Tournament Rules, 20th revised edition (2018), rules 1.01 and 1.05, DRA Rule Book, rule 6.1.1
FAQ
Questions about choosing darts
Are heavy or light darts better for beginners?
Neither in general. A middle weight of 20 to 24 g is the safest start, because it forgives small changes in force. Once your throw is consistent, move up or down in steps of 1 or 2 g.
Is 90 % tungsten worth it over 80 %?
For most players it is, because the barrel gets visibly slimmer at the same weight. The step from 90 to 95 % is much smaller and costs more.
Can I use steel-tip darts on an electronic dartboard?
No. Steel points damage the plastic segments of an electronic board. Some barrels take soft-tip points with a conversion kit, but soft-tip weight limits are lower, see steel-tip vs soft-tip.
How often should I replace flights and shafts?
Whenever they are damaged, since a split flight or bent shaft flies differently at once. Keep a few spares in your case so you can swap them between legs.
Do more expensive darts make you a better player?
Not by themselves. A slim tungsten barrel helps once your throw is repeatable, but practice does most of the work.
Put your new darts to the test
The last step in how to choose darts is measuring them. Open Sridu in Chrome or Edge, throw the same drill with each set and compare average, grouping and checkout rate side by side. It is free, needs no account and scores by webcam or by tapping in your darts.