Types of Darts - Beginners Dart Guide

Darts is a popular game, played both in the pub and at a professional level. Nothing beats that first satisfying thud of a bullseye if you hold the dart right.

For newcomers, stepping up to the throw line can feel intimidating when faced with a confusing wall of different darts, weights, tip styles, and materials. You might be wondering why some darts feel like throwing feathers while others feel like launching bricks. 

In this guide, we will walk you through a simple anatomy breakdown and introduce you to beginner-friendly types of darts that boost accuracy fast.

Dart Anatomy 101: Know Your Specs

To shop and talk like a seasoned player, you need to understand the basic building blocks of your equipment. Demystifying these parts will give you the confidence to choose a setup that complements your natural throwing style and personal preference as you begin the sport.

• Tip or Point: The very front of the dart determines what kind of board you can play on and affects how the dart penetrates the target.

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• Barrel: The body of the dart, where you grip, is the biggest factor in your overall accuracy and comfort.

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• Shaft or Stem: Connects the barrel to the dart flight and dictates the center of gravity and stability in the air.

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• Dart Flight: The wings at the back provide aerodynamic drag, keeping the dart balanced and straight during its trajectory. 

What Are Common Jargon Terms?

• O-ring: A tiny rubber washer used on metal shafts to prevent them from vibrating loose.

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• Knurling: A rough, crisscross metal texture on the barrel designed to give your fingers maximum grip.

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• Spine: The thickest part of a curved dart barrel, usually where the balance point rests.

Main Types of Darts for Beginners

Before you worry about weight or grip, you need to choose the right tip. Your playing environment dictates this decision entirely. 

Steel tip darts are the traditional standard best suited for bristle dartboards found in most pubs, leagues, and professional tournaments. They offer incredible durability and an authentic heavy feel, but sharp tips require occasional maintenance to prevent board damage.       

Soft tip darts feature flexible plastic points and are designed exclusively for electronic plastic mesh dartboards. They are perfect for venues with auto-scoring electronic boards and generally safer for family play.

The plastic tips bend and break frequently, though they are cheap to replace, and the darts typically have a lighter overall feel compared to other darts.

Finding Your Ideal Dart Weight         

Choosing the correct weight is crucial for developing a consistent throw. Standard steel-tip darts range from 18 to 26 grams, though most professional players throw between 20 and 26 grams.

For beginners, the absolute sweet spot falls between 18 grams and 20 grams. This range offers the perfect balance of momentum and control. Lighter darts require a forceful and snappy throw, while heavier darts rely on smooth and relaxed momentum. 

Heavier weights help reduce arm fatigue during long practice sessions. To find your match, try the weigh-in test by borrowing three sets of darts at 18 grams, 21 grams, and 24 grams. 

Dart Barrel Grips and Texture Basics 

The texture of your dart barrel determines how cleanly the dart leaves your hand. The three most common textures are ringed, knurled, and smooth. Start with a quick self-assessment to see if your fingers are naturally dry or moist when you play.

Players with dry hands often benefit from an aggressive knurled grip to prevent slipping. Players with slightly moist or clammy hands usually prefer a moderately ringed or smooth barrel to ensure the dart doesn't stick during release. In this aspect, personal preference is affected by your physiology.

Dart Barrel Materials, Length, and Price Considerations 

Darts are machined from different materials, primarily metals like brass, nickel silver, and tungsten. Brass and nickel silver darts are highly affordable but physically bulky. Tungsten darts are made from a dense heavy metal that allows for incredibly thin barrels. 

A tungsten dart can be incredibly thin while maintaining the same weight as a thick brass dart, allowing players to group darts tightly.

When shopping for tungsten darts, you will see a percentage like 80% Tungsten. The higher the percentage, the slimmer and more professional the dart becomes. 

• - Brass sets are great for testing the waters, but they wear down quickly. 

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• - Nickel silver darts offer slightly better tarnish resistance. 

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• - Tungsten sets generally cost more but provide professional quality that lasts a lifetime. And, perhaps you’ll enjoy your game more.

Some modern darts also use carbon fiber shafts, which are lightweight yet extremely strong, offering improved durability and consistent flight compared to traditional plastic or aluminum shafts.

When looking at barrel length and shape, beginners should gravitate toward straight dart barrels. Avoid highly specialized bomb dart barrel shapes until you have mastered your basic throwing mechanics, as they require a very specific grip style.        

3 Simple Darts For Beginner Dart Players

Here are the top three dart types to get you started on the right path towards choosing the perfect dart. 

1. Brass Steel Tips     

For those playing darts on traditional bristle boards, brass darts are a classic. The forgiving barrel width gives new players plenty of surface area to figure out their finger placement.

Many pub league coaches and professional dart players note that the balanced profile and excellent dart grips create the ideal training conditions for developing a smooth follow-through.

2. Soft Tip Darts

If electronic boards are your battlefield, these tungsten darts are a phenomenal choice. They have built-in micro dart grip rings that help guarantee a consistent slip-free release every time.

Because they are made of dense tungsten, the dart barrels remain ultra slim, ensuring high longevity and tight groupings.  

3. 80 Percent Tungsten Dart

This is the ultimate transition weapon. It possesses a slim pro-style barrel thanks to its tungsten makeup, yet retains beginner-friendly knurling for ideal dart barrel grips.

The dart also offers incredible upgrade potential because it scales perfectly to competitive league play.

Choosing Your Ideal Dart as a Beginner

Mastering the game begins with understanding your equipment thoroughly. By familiarizing yourself with dart anatomy and knowing the various dart grips and the differences between straight barrel and bomb dart barrel shapes, you are already a few steps ahead of the game.

Experiment with various dart barrel shapes, materials, or brands to find your ideal weight and barrel grip to build your mechanics properly. Who knows? You may become one of the professional players one day! 

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