To win a game of darts, especially as a beginner, you will need a set of good-quality darts. Learning the game depends on getting comfortable at holding and throwing a dart. Beginners can be tempted to grip the dart tightly before throwing it, but the trick lies in having a relaxed and firm hold. Then the actual throw is based on the dartboard setup, your arm movement, and how you follow through the action. Focus and accuracy are important to help you develop muscle memory between practices. By working in your form and throwing technique, you can understand and apply the rules better to hit the target.
Vintage dartboards are passed on as hand-me-downs in families, and they often become the starting points for first dart games out of curiosity. These dartboard gifts can sometimes be seen in restaurant and café decors as part of the interior design aesthetic. There is a whole array of dart games that can be played using rules for competitions or solo games. Soft bristle and electronic dartboards are very common, as are steel-tipped and soft-tipped darts.
For those of us who have seen more dart scenarios in Math books than in real life, this article aims to alleviate some of the chronic fear of statistics and probabilities.
Dartboard Points
A standard dartboard looks like a clock and is divided into 20 segments. The dartboard is comprised of the following elements in order: an outer double ring, a single area, an inner triple ring, a single area, an outer bullseye, and an inner bullseye. Both the single areas score single points. The double ring scores a double number, whereas the triple ring scores a triple number. The outer bullseye is a single score of 25 points, and the inner bullseye scores a double 50. If your dart hits the outside number ring, no points are scored.
In this way, each numbered segment is made up of 4 scoring sections: 1 double, 1 triple, and 2 single areas. While the dart etiquettes may differ across the games, some throwing techniques remain consistent. You need to focus on a good grip, usually the pencil grip, before working on your stance. Once you are confident about your grip and stance, raise your arm at a right angle to connect the dart from your line of sight to the target. This helps you align the throw and score points successfully.
The Game of Cricket Darts
One of the popular dart game styles is the game of cricket which has its own variations. In a basic cricket game, you will aim at the following numbers: 20, 19, 18, 17, 16, 15, and bull. Once you hit any three of these numbers consecutively, you close the game. When played with opponents, the person who closes their trio first and has the highest score will win.
Beginners can play simple cricket with and without the points system. People prefer the traditional bristle dartboard for an authentic dart game experience. However, the electronic counterparts appeal to younger audiences as they have interactive programs with audio signals and are safer for novice players.
Components of a Dart
The best dart for a beginner is the one that can be used comfortably and confidently. Steel-tip darts are heavier and suitable for bristle dartboards. The soft, plastic-tip darts are lightweight and designed to be used with electronic dartboards.
The parts that make up a dart include the flight, shaft, barrel, and point. A dart’s flight is its back winged part that determines the “flight” of the dart. This is connected to the barrel or grip area through a narrow shaft. The barrel itself is the grip area and needs to be heavier in design for beginners. This grip ends in the dart’s point, or tip, that hits the dartboard.
Best Darts for Beginners
IgnatGames Steel Tip Darts Set
IgnatGames steel-tip darts make the perfect present to motivate beginner friends. They are packed in an innovative case with magnetic closure and foam inserts to protect the material. Knurled brass barrels provide ideal grips to help you refine your throwing skills. The aluminum shafts are fastened with rubber O-rings to prevent them from coming loose. These sturdy darts have futuristic designs and come with bonus accessories like a dart sharpener, shaft O-rings, and spare flights in standard and slim shapes. A darts eBook is also available with illustrations and scoring templates to support beginners along their learning curve. The premium-quality darts greatly optimize your flight trajectory as you experiment with different forms to achieve accuracy.
Whimlets Steel Tip Darts Set
Whimlets steel-tip darts are available as an exquisite set of high-quality brass barrels, poly-standard flights, and aluminum shafts with rubber O-rings. The kit is designed for beginners, intermediates, as well as dart professionals, and a free eBook is provided for useful hints to step up your game. You can sharpen the steel tip with the included dart sharpener so that each throw cuts the air with pinpoint accuracy to reduce bouncing from the dartboard. All the darts and accessories arrive in a compact kit for simple storage and portability. These stainless-steel darts have a superior tactile finishing that gives them a stylish outlook. They are impact-resistant and customizable, so opponents can have two different sets of darts.
WIN.MAX Darts Plastic Tip
WIN.MAX soft-tip darts are ideal for electronic dartboards. The knurled nickel-silver barrels with grooved tactile finishing ensure firm grips and easy releases to optimize the dart’s trajectories. An eBook is included in the kit, making it a classic souvenir for beginners. The thick graphic-designed PVC flights connect to durable aluminum shafts which are held in place by O-rings. A flight protector accessory can be attached to the back of these flights; this protects them from getting scratched by incoming darts on the board. Durable matte plastic lines the tip to reduce bounces and help the dart stick to the electronic dartboard. A multipurpose tool is also included for tightening and adjusting the shafts or tips. You can remove any broken tips from the barrel using this tool. The overall features that make this dart kit an ideal choice for beginners are based on dart barrel material, barrel shape, lightweight design, and optimum dart length.
A Final Word
It is important to purchase lightweight darts that are equipped with weighted and grooved barrel designs. Darts that are too long can impede the trajectory by falling too soon or missing the target. The extra wobble makes it difficult for beginners to control the dart throws. All-in-one dart kits like those discussed above are good choices for first-time users as they come with useful accessories. Moreover, with illustrated eBooks to guide your forms and techniques, you can finally warm up to some winning probabilities!
