Guide
Which darts for beginners?
The buying guide for your first set: what really matters and what you can skip
Your first set won't decide your career, but it will decide how much fun you have at the start. Here you'll find out which weight, which barrel shape and which flights make sense for beginners, and how to put together a good set for just a few euros.
A dart has four parts: point, barrel (the grip section), shaft and flight. For beginners the barrel is the most important decision, because it determines weight, grip and flight behaviour. The rest can be swapped and tried out cheaply.
Steel tip or soft tip?
Steel tip darts have fixed metal points and are played on sisal boards; they usually weigh 18 to 26 grams. Soft tip darts have plastic points for electronic machines and are lighter — in German e-dart leagues 18 grams is normally the maximum. If you want to play both, you can fit steel tip darts with conversion points.
The weight
For most beginners 22 to 24 grams is a good start. Heavier darts fly more steadily and forgive an untidy release, lighter ones demand a more precise throw. More important than the exact number is that the dart feels right in your hand. If you can, try different weights in a shop or borrow darts from team-mates at your club.
Barrel shape and grip
- Straight: even thickness, easiest to grip, the standard for beginners.
- Torpedo: thicker at the front, front-weighted; sits steady in your hand.
- Bomb or teardrop shape: short and thick, for players with a firm grip.
- Grip texture: light grooves or rings give hold, aggressive textures wear down and stick to your finger.
- Material: brass is cheap and thick, tungsten is denser and allows slim barrels at the same weight. A tungsten content of 80 to 90 per cent is standard for beginners.
Flights and shafts
Standard flights (the large shape) stabilise the flight and are the right choice to start with. Smaller shapes (slim, kite) fly flatter and need a clean throw. Shafts come in several lengths; medium nylon shafts are sturdy and cheap. Flights and shafts wear out, so always carry spares.
Typical mistakes when buying your first set
- Darts that are too light off the accessories shelf: hard to control.
- Buying darts to copy a pro: Luke Littler's set suits his throw, not automatically yours.
- Deciding online purely on looks: the grip is what counts, so try them out first if you can.
- Forgetting the accessories: spare flights, shafts, a dart case and, for steel darts, a sisal board with a surround.
Frequently asked questions
What weight should beginner darts be?
22 to 24 grams is a good start for steel darts. Soft darts are lighter; in German e-dart leagues a maximum of 18 grams is standard.
Brass or tungsten?
Brass darts are cheap, but thick. Tungsten darts are denser and slimmer, so three darts sit closer together in the bed. For beginners, a tungsten content of 80 to 90 per cent is plenty.
Which flights for beginners?
Standard flights in the large shape. They stabilise the flight and forgive mistakes in your throw.
Can I play steel darts on an e-dart machine too?
Not with steel tips. With conversion points, many steel darts can be switched over to plastic tips.
Where is the best place to buy darts?
At a dart shop near you with advice and the chance to try them out, or online, for example at dartsbasar.
Is there a discount at dartsbasar?
Yes. With the code dartcloud5 you save 5 % on the entire range at dartsbasar.de, permanently and on every order.
Your first set
Dart shops near you with advice, or online at dartsbasar.
Find dart shops dartsbasar: 5 % discount with code dartcloud5
Darts shops
Most viewed darts shops. Online at dartsbasar.de: code dartcloud5 gives a permanent 5 % off the entire range.
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- Diepholzer Darts & Parts GbR (Diepholz) – Diepholz
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