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Choosing darts for beginners
Have you caught the darts bug? Seen the professionals throwing 180s for fun on TV and fancy having a go for yourself? If you are new to the exciting world of darts, then the first thing you will need is a set of your own darts to play with!
While you may be looking to improve your game quickly, the most important thing to consider when deciding on your first set of darts is what equipment you will get the most enjoyment from. In this guide we will walk you through the best darts for beginners and help you choose the set that is right for you to start your darting journey with.
How to choose a darts set as a beginner
Purchasing a set of darts, rather than picking all of the components individually, is the more straightforward option when it comes to choosing a darts set as a beginner. A set will come with the barrels and points already connected together, along with three stems and three flights, which completes your darts setup. Choosing a darts set is also an easier purchase if you are buying for a loved one as a present.
See our beginners darts collection which features our hand-picked selection of darts that we recommend for new players. Our how to find the perfect darts for you blog also contains some useful tips for choosing a set of darts.
This article will guide you in:
What type of dart is best for beginners?
There are four individual components that make up a dart: the flight, shaft, barrel and point. Check out our blog about the anatomy of a dart for an in-depth look or read below for a brief overview on how each part impacts your performance.
Points
A dart point is what will enter the dartboard and helps to keep your dart to stick into the board. There are two types of points: metal (for steel tip darts) and plastic (for soft tip darts) depending on what board you are playing on. If you are playing steel tip darts, like you’ll see in the pub or on TV, it is important to keep the metal point sharp to avoid any possible darts from falling out of the board. Read our how to sharpen your darts blog for a handy guide.
Barrels
The main part of a dart is the barrel, and this component will come in various shapes and sizes and with different materials and grips and is the area on the dart that players will almost universally hold when playing. This is an important part of the dart to consider as you will want a barrel that feels comfortable in your hand. Below is our guide and some advice on what material, grip and weight to start with.
Shafts
A darts shaft (or stem) is the part between the barrel and the flight. These also come in many different materials, lengths and styles and, although mostly light in weight, have an impact on how the dart flies through the air. It is worth trying out a variety of options (a Mission Stems Research Pack has a good mix) to get a better idea of what suits you the best.
Flights
The darts flight helps your darts to fly through the air. A flight attaches to the stem and keeps your dart stable while it travels towards the board. Like stems, flights also come in different shapes and designs, as well as varying weights, and will impact the trajectory of your darts during flight.
What’s the best darts weight for beginners
What darts are best for beginners is a tricky question to answer because the most popular sets on the market may not be suitable for newcomers to the game. For steel tip, we would recommend the best dart for beginners a tungsten dart that weighs around 28g or a brass dart that weighs 18g. For soft tip we would suggest a 22g dart.
The type of material used for the barrel will be a determining factor in what set of darts you go with. A 22g brass dart will be larger in size than a 22g tungsten dart as brass is a lighter material than tungsten, and the size of the dart will impact how it flies through the air. This is the reason why the suggested weight of a dart for beginners varies depending on the material used.
We believe a 28g steel tip dart is the ideal weight for a beginner to start with as a heavier dart gives greater consistency more quickly. A lighter dart is more challenging to control in the air and will generally take a lot longer to master in practice. After you have spent more time practicing, we would then suggest working towards a lighter dart to give you more control.
How much to spend on beginners darts
There is no one answer when it comes to how much you should spend on your first set of darts. This is because the best darts to use for beginners depends on the person. You need to find something that you like the look of and also feels right in your hand.
Our beginners darts collection features a wide range of darts that are relatively inexpensive and mostly priced in the £10-30 range. These sets have been hand-picked by us as a great starting point for players who are at the very beginning of their darts journey, and all offer great value for money. If you want something with more wow factor, then look at our tungsten darts range.
Will more expensive darts make my game better?
As mentioned earlier in this guide, darts barrels come in different materials which will affect the overall price. For example, a 90% tungsten dart will be at a higher price point than a brass dart, as the metal of a 90% tungsten dart is more expensive and of a greater quality. Even for beginners spending a little more on a set of darts can reap the rewards.
The diagram above shows how the various materials used will impact the overall size of the barrel. A better material will result in a thinner barrel which means it’s easier to get three of them in the treble 20 (the highest scoring section of the dartboard). A better dart can give you an extra percentage of performance and choosing a more premium dart now can benefit you in the long run, as you will not have to think about changing to a different type of material later down the line.
What’s the best darts grip for a beginner
One of the most important things when it comes to choosing a set of darts is the grip on the barrels. This also comes down to player preference with some players liking a lot of grip on their darts, while other players opt for a barrel with no grip at all.
In the graphic above, Darts Corner has ranked the grip levels from 1-5, with 1 a smooth barrel with no grip at all and 5 a razor grip barrel that provides the most grip. We would recommend a ringed grip barrel (levels 2-3) as the best darts grip for a beginner as this is in the middle of the scale and a good starting point to work out whether you need more or less grip or if a ringed grip is just right for you.
Take a look at our darts barrels and material blog for a more in-depth look at the different darts barrels and grip levels available.
If you are a player who gets sweaty hands when playing darts, then look for a grippier dart to stop the dart from slipping out of your hand. Players with dry hands tend to use darts with less grip on them as they don't need to worry about a dart slipping because of having sweaty hands.
Best soft tip darts for beginners
Darts Corner’s recommended best darts for a beginner in soft tip include the Designa Dark Thunder V2 Darts. These darts feature in our Top 10 Soft Tip Darts range but represent incredible value being on the lower end of the price scale. Made with 90% tungsten, the Dark Thunder V2’s are also equipped with a distinctive twin ringed grip which will give you plenty of control when you throw them.
The selection of McCoy soft tip darts are also included in our top picks for the best beginner darts. All made with 90% tungsten, the darts in this range are crafted from premium materials and come in a variety of different colours and designs. The McCoy soft tip collection is the ideal choice for beginners as they are a classic darts brand that provides darts sets made with simple and elegant designs but are not too expensive either.
If you have a bigger budget, the Bulls Blue Pegasus Darts Style C would make for an excellent choice. These darts are 22g, which is the preferred weight we suggest for soft tip beginners, and are a high-quality dart, being made from 95% tungsten. The Pegasus dart is a popular choice from our team at Darts Corner and the striking design of the barrels will make you stand out from the crowd too!
Best steel tipped darts for beginners
Our own Darts Corner Warfare M6 Black Ring Steel Tip Darts are one of our top picks for what are the best darts for beginners. These darts are included in our beginners darts collection on the site and are priced to cater for all budgets. The Warfare dart is made of 80% tungsten and also comes with a spare set of flights and shafts, so you won’t have to make any additional purchases for extra flights and stems straight away.
The Perfect Darts Super Cobra Darts are also a popular choice for beginners. The Super Cobra dart is made from 90% tungsten and is both stylish and durable, meaning you will get a lot of use out of them. Like the Warfare dart, these darts also provide you with an extra set of flights and shafts, as well as a point protector and a compact case to keep your darts safe and secure when not in use.
If you are looking for a more premium dart to start off with, the Mission Josh Rock Steel Tip Darts are a best seller on the Darts Corner site and feature in our Top 10 Steel Tip Darts range. These darts are made from 95% tungsten and have a ringed-grip design down the full length of the barrel, so you can grip the dart comfortably in your hand. This darts set is also available in 28g, which is the recommended weight for beginners in steel tip tungsten darts.
Our best value darts for beginners
Many of our darts mentioned above in the best soft tip and steel tipped darts for beginners sections also represent the best value. From our soft tip picks, the McCoy soft tip darts range offer quality performance at a good price point. All of these darts are made from 90% tungsten premium materials and are an affordable dart for all budgets.
From our steel tip picks, the Perfect Darts Super Cobra Darts offer excellent value for beginners. These darts are also made of 90% tungsten high-quality material and are reasonably priced too. These darts come with an extra set of spare flights and shafts, saving you money on purchasing another set of spares individually in case you need to replace them during play.
Choosing a design
Darts Corner carries a huge and unrivalled range of darts, including more than 1,200 sets of steel tip darts and over 750 different sets of soft tip darts. There is a wealth of options available with various designs, colours, shapes and styles on offer. We have the biggest range of filters to help you narrow down the choice; filter by your preference of weight and colour and see what pops up!
Get creative with our extensive darts flights selection which features over 1,800+ options and there is more than 600 different darts stems to choose from too!
We also have a dedicated personalised section where you can customise your darts in a variety of different ways. You can make the game more individual to you and let your personality come through with your very own personalised flights, personalised stems, personalised darts and personalised points.
Beginners buying tips for darts
There are several tips we have for choosing the best dart set for beginners. For a first darts set, you do not have to spend a fortune as there are plenty of affordable options available and that also offer great value for money, both in steel tip and soft tip.
We would recommend practicing with a few different sets of darts to see what’s comfortable for you. This could be done with a group of friends that are already playing darts, or you could come and visit us and have your very own darts fitting experience through our Mission Precision service. Our ex-professional Andy Cornwall will have you trying out loads of different darts to find out what is the best option for you.
One of our top tips for beginners in darts is to aim for consistency and when choosing your dart it needs to be something that feels right in your hand. Having a set of darts that feels comfortable will help you get the most enjoyment from the game, rather than playing with a dart that you are struggling to get to grips with and doesn’t suit your own style.
Our personalised darts section is a great way to commit yourself to the game as a beginner. Even the best amateur darts players will have a unique and bespoke touch to their set of darts and you can do the same with your own personalised flights or personalised stems.
Caring for your new darts
When buying a new set of darts, whether you’re a beginner or a seasoned professional, it is important to look after them. Taking care of your darts will not only make sure they last longer but will also ensure they stay in the best possible condition for when you are playing.
Our how to care for your darts blog offers some useful tips on keeping good darts maintenance. The guide mentions investing in a darts case to store your darts away when you are not using them. A case is also useful if you are on the move and travelling to play darts somewhere as they are portable and easy to carry.
If you’re playing steel tip darts, a dart sharpener is also a worthwhile investment to help keep your darts performing at their best and to ensure they have a longer lifespan. Using a sharpener will help to avoid the points on your darts becoming blunt and at risk of more darts falling out of the board. There are also lots of accessories packs that give you all the essentials in one set, such as the Darts Corner 125 Tune Up Kit.
Now you know how to choose the best darts as a beginner
There are many things to consider when buying darts as a beginner and we hope that this guide will help you make your decision on what is the best dart for you. Darts is a relatively low-cost sport to get involved with, as it requires very little equipment and all of which will last you for a long time.
Darts can bring a lot of enjoyment and is a fun game to play with your friends and family, but also if you take it more seriously in leagues and tournaments to really test your skills. Even at the start as a frustrated beginner, honing your darts skills and seeing your improvements over time will have you playing this game for many years to come.
Explore Darts Corner’s full range of steel tip darts and soft tip darts and buy your first set of arrows from us today!
Picture: PDC