By Dylan MacIsaac
Choosing the correct dart is pivotal to levelling up your darts game. Weight, grip and length all make a huge difference to how your dart flies, and we’re here to help you get your head around all these variables.
Weight
The weight of your will darts massively affect your throw. The general rule of thumb is the harder and the more direct you throw, the lighter you want your dart to be. Lighter darts will fly straighter and quicker, but heavier ones will provide more stability in the air and require less force to throw.
The only way to find what suits you is best is to try a range of weights, whether it be in a darts shop or ordering a few cheap sets from Amazon to find your ideal weight. The average weight used in the PDC is 23 grams, so this could be a good starting point, but they can range from 16-32 grams so there really is no right answer.
Grip
No two darts barrels are the same and grip is one of the key differences. Some players prefer completely smooth, whereas others enjoy a very grippy dart. A middle ground would be a lightly textured barrel, which will provide a decent level of grip without sticking too much in the hand.
Be wary of going too far one way or the other, as a smooth grip will slip out of your hand more and a heavily textured one may cause your release to be inconsistent. Again though, its all about trial and error.
Barrel shape
Barrel shape is not only important for how you throw the dart, but also how your darts land in the board. A thinner barrel will make for easier grouping and seems to be the way more players lean nowadays with darts able to be smaller due to the use of tungsten rather than brass. However, wider barrels like a torpedo for example will offer more stability in the air.
This choice is about weighing up sacrificing a bit of space in the treble or sacrificing stability. There are top players who use larger barrels and Phil Taylor proved that one can still score pretty effectively with them, so whatever feels better in your hand is usually the right choice.
Shaft length and flight paths
The longer the shaft length on your dart the loopier the flight tends to be. A stable, fluid thrower may lean towards the longer option, but a quicker, sharper action may prefer a shorter shaft. The standard option is a medium or a ‘tweener’ which lies between a short and a medium but hopefully based on the prior tips and knowing your style you can make a judgement on what is best for you.
Trial and error
This one trumps any weight, length or shape conversation. The only way you can find what is best for you is by trying these options out. A great, cost-effective way to do this if you don’t have access to a shop near you is to buy a handful of cheap brass sets on Amazon or a similar website and find the right combination for you. You can then invest in a nicer set when you know what to look for. What you feel the most comfortable with is what will allow you to play at your best.