Best Darts for Beginners

The darts you choose to use play a major role in how well you get to play and also determine how well your skills will develop. You want to make sure you don’t go for some crappy darts that end up bouncing out or even break easily when you are trying to pull them out.

Note that it’s not just your hand-eye coordination and attention that would assist you hit the target scores or the bullseye of the dartboard. You need well performance darts too. Therefore, whether you are planning to play darts for fun or you want to sharpen your skills for competitive play, you have to select appropriate darts. Overall, the Sametop Steel tips darts were our favorite because of their feel, flight and build quality.

There are a broad array of options available on the market. To help you make a more informed decision, we’ve prepared this comprehensive guide focusing on the best darts to go for if you are a beginner and want to up your game. As a beginner, it can be daunting when buying your first set of darts. Below we’ve included some recommendations that will certainly give you a head start.

Key Factors to Consider when Searching for Darts

You will find many different types of darts in the market and if you are starting out, it can be a bit difficult to know which darts are ideal. Therefore, here are the top main factors you need to look at when selecting your darts.

 

There are two main types of dart tips, the hard (or steel tip) and the soft tip.

1. Steel Tip Darts

Also known as points, steel tip darts have a steel tip point which is fitted to the barrel. They are specifically designed for throwing onto boards made of sisal, cork or coiled paper. These are the best option if you are a beginner and you want to mainly focus on playing the traditional dart game.

With the sharpened steel tip, these darts can penetrate the board with much ease. The best part about these darts is that when the tip wears down, you don’t need to replace the entire dart.

You can replace it or sharpen it when it’s dull which saves you the cost of having to replace the whole dart. However, unlike the soft darts, these tend to come at a bit higher price than the soft darts.

Furthermore, you will need to sharpen them often if you use them regularly so as to ensure they are in good shape and can penetrate the board. If you are beginner and you are thinking of sticking to traditional darts, then you should go for steel darts.

2. Soft Tip Darts

The soft tip darts are ideal for use with electronic or plastic dartboards. They have a lightweight design that ranges from around 14 to 16 grams. They have dull, plastic points that stick to the small holes of the boards.

Soft tips darts are more preferable if you are planning to play with your kids as they allow for a much safer game compared to darts with needle-sharp steel tips. In addition, they don’t really require maintenance like the steel tip. You can easily replace them if they break or bend at a reasonable cost.

If you are just starting out and all you want are casual, safe gameplays with the family or friends around the home, then these are the darts to go for. Make sure you get ones that are constructed with a durable, high-quality plastic.

 

The barrel of a dart is the part that you hold when you are throwing a shot.  It’s one the most important parts of a dart. It provides the grip and as well holds the weight of the dart. While most darts almost have a similar design, they use different materials to create the barrel.

Generally, the material used in the construction of the barrel is what distinguishes darts apart. As a beginner you want to make sure you pick darts with barrels that feel right to your hand.  

For most beginners, dart barrels made from brass are a perfect choice. They are quite inexpensive and very accessible.  Nickel-Silver barrels are also a good option as they are much similar to the brass barrels when it comes to density and price.

However, Nickel-Silver barrels are more durable than brass barrels. The nickel silver alloy is tarnish resistant and can endure the test of time. These barrels are ideal choice especially if you are a beginner and you are on a budget, but still want something that’s of good quality.

There are also darts with tungsten barrels and these are quite popular with professional players.  They offer great scoring potential due to their high-density but most importantly they are highly durable.

Tungsten barrel darts often cost much than both brass and nickel-silver darts, but they are also a perfect choice if you are starting out and your budget is not limited. One thing you want to avoid is darts with painted barrels as the paint tend to make the barrel slippery hence they don’t offer proper grip.

 

The dart flight is another vital component that you need to take into account when purchasing darts. It helps keep a dart stable as it flies hence allowing it to land where you had aimed. This single fact makes it a very important consideration when selection your darts.

Generally, your choice of light will mainly depend on the speed of your throw. The darts which have slender flights are a good choice for those who throw fast and quick. On the other hand, darts with larger flight are much preferable for any player that throws slower.

Between the two, slim flights are a perfect option if you’re a beginner. They basically reduce the risk of darts knocking each other and going off target. Therefore, they will be quite beneficial to your game when you are starting out and as you progress, you can experiment with large flights.

 

The job of the shaft is to hold the flight and keep it at a proper distance from the barrel. They come in different lengths with the most common being the medium, short and extra short shafts.

Like the flight, your choice of dart shafts will depend on your throw style. If your throw is light but a bit strong, then a longer shaft is a good choice as it will help your dart fly much better. If your throw is powerful and paced, you might want to for a shorter shaft.

Darts shafts also come in various materials. They are usually made from carbon-fibre, aluminium, titanium, plastic or nylon. The last two are the most affordable. However plastic shafts tend to break easily when dropped.

Aluminium shafts on the other end bend easily which can affect the way your dirt flies when you throw it. Titanium shafts are the sturdiest amongst the four. They won’t bend or break, but they fall on the higher price point.

The ideal shaft material for beginners would be the either composite or carbon-fiber since both of these materials are quite durable and affordable to replace in case it bends or breaks. Furthermore, they experience less vibration and as such they won’t get loose easily.

The best advice here is you rather invest on the best quality possible to ensure that you have a shaft that will last than having to bare the task and cost of replacing the shafts every time they bend or break.

 

Another important factor to consider although it’s often ignored is the dart weight. Generally here you can go with either a heavier dart that is if your throw is more relaxed or a lighter dart if you want to more effort in.

Most players pick weights ranging from 16 to 20 grams which are as well a good standing point for beginners. However, a more preferable option would be to start with a heavier dart and then you can proceed to lighter darts as your grip and action becomes consistent. 24 to 26 grams is a sensible range to start with.

Our Top Picks

Below is our recommendation for some of the best darts you can find on the market if you are just starting your journey of dart throwing.

Best Steel Tip Darts

Sametop managed to produce a well built set of steel tip darts for a very reasonable price. They are a great choice for any player starting to play darts. Dropping darts will inevitably happen when you are a beginner so buying a pack of 12 darts makes sense.

 

The Cuesoul tungsten steel tip darts have a great feel and are perfectly weighted. They also ship with a handy case. The anodized shaft is a nice touch and will last for a long time.

 

The Viper Blitz tungsten steel tip darts utilize a unique spinning shaft that reduces the chance of deflections after hitting the board. They also include a sturdy case. Expertly made, you will be using these darts for a long time.

 

Although a little lighter than other darts on the market, the IgnatGames steel tip darts have that professional feel while still priced well. There are plenty of extras thrown in to this set like extra flights and a sharpening tool. There are also plenty of colors to choose from so you can pick up a set that blends in with your man cave decor.

 

Pegasus have been producing quality darts for quite some time and the Pegasus tungsten steel dart set is no exception. They have a nice feeling grip and fly very well. Different weight options will ensure you get just the right weight for your game.

 

Best Soft Tip Darts

The Dart World Piranha Red Soft Tip darts come out on top of our comparisons. Although being a little pricey, they have a nice feel and include a nice storage case.

 

The Bottelsen Skinny’s Black Steal Tungsten Soft Tip Darts have a nice feel and flight. The storage case supplied is a bit small and flimsy but the quality of the darts themselves is excellent.

 

GWHOLE 18g Soft Darts include options for flights and tips so they will definitely last. They are very reasonably priced and even though the flights can be tricky to put on, these darts are well made.

 

Arachnid have quite a reputation when it comes to dartboards and darts and the Professional Series Tungsten Soft Tip dart set is no exception. The set has flight and tip options along with a stylish hard case. Using these darts will help your game, the feel and flight of these darts is spot on. Some players may not prefer the thinner barrel but for most they will feel just right.

 

The CyeeLife Soft Tip Darts Set has aluminium shafts and rubber rings along with a nice looking storage case. With 15 darts in the set you can play up to 5 players. Perfect for when all of your buddies come over. Extra tips and flights ensures these darts will last for a long time.

Final word

When it comes to darts, the key is to always to experiment. Once you’ve bought your board, try out new things until you find a set of darts that suits your playing style. It can be a little complicated at first but as you make progress and gain experience in the game, you will have little problem selecting the right type of darts. Considering the factors listed above when evaluating your options will also go a long way in helping you choose the best darts to develop your game.