How do I choose the right darts?

The right darts depend on your throwing style, grip position, throw speed, and skill level. Our free quiz analyses these factors and recommends the best darts for you from the full Target Darts range.

What weight darts should I use?

Dart weight depends on your throw speed. Fast throwers typically prefer lighter darts around 18-21g, medium-paced throwers suit 21-24g, and slower, deliberate throwers benefit from heavier 23-26g barrels. Our quiz recommends specific weights based on your answers.

What grip style is best for beginners?

Beginners often benefit from medium grip darts with ringed or mixed textures, which provide a good balance of control without requiring precise finger placement. A mid-weight straight barrel (22-24g) is a great starting point.

What darts should I buy as a beginner?

As a beginner, look for tungsten darts between 21-24g with a straight or slight taper barrel and medium grip texture. Avoid very heavy or very light darts until you develop a consistent throw. Our quiz can recommend the best beginner-friendly darts based on your grip and throw.

What is the difference between steel tip and soft tip darts?

Steel tip darts have a metal point and are used on traditional sisal (bristle) dartboards. Soft tip darts have a plastic point and are designed for electronic dartboards. Steel tip darts are the standard for most home and competition play.

Does dart barrel shape matter?

Yes — barrel shape affects how the dart sits in your hand and how it flies. Front-grip players suit torpedo or bomb-shaped barrels, middle-grip players work best with straight barrels, and rear-grip throwers benefit from scallop or pear-shaped profiles.

How much should I spend on darts?

Quality tungsten darts start around £20-30 and go up to £60+ for professional-grade sets. For beginners, a mid-range set (£25-40) offers excellent quality. Our quiz lets you set a budget and only shows darts within your price range.

Is the Darts Match quiz free?

Yes, the Darts Match quiz is completely free. No sign-up or email required. Just answer 7 quick questions about your throwing style and get personalised dart recommendations instantly.

How to Choose the Right Darts for Your Throw Style

Choosing the right darts makes practice more productive and competitions more consistent. This guide walks you through the six core factors that determine which dart will suit your throw.

1. Know your throw

Throw speed: fast, medium, slow.
Release style: push, roll, wrist-flick.
Grip position: front, middle, rear.

These basics determine how a dart needs to sit and fly — not every good-looking dart will fit your mechanics.

2. Weight

Fast throwers often prefer lighter darts (18–22g) for a flatter arc.
Slow throwers usually benefit from 22–28g for a more stable trajectory.

Choose a small range to test rather than swapping wildly between extremes.

3. Barrel shape

Front-grip: torpedo/bomb profiles help control a forward hold.
Middle-grip: straight barrels give a consistent center hold.
Rear-grip: pear or scalloped profiles sit well for back-hand grips.

Shape affects how the dart aligns with your finger and finger placement.

4. Grip texture

Light grippers: smoother finishes or subtle micro-grip.
Firm grippers: knurling, razor cuts, or aggressive grooves to prevent slippage.

Textures should feel secure without forcing tension in your hand.

5. Balance (front/center/rear)

Match balance to release. Push-release players often want front-weighted darts; flick releases prefer rear-weighted or center-balanced barrels.

6. Skill level & budget

Beginners: choose forgiving mid-weight darts with a predictable balance and a moderate grip. Invest in tungsten only when you know your preferred profile.

Advanced: fine-tune profile, weight and micro-texture. Small changes can yield large improvements once technique is stable.

Quick test routine

Try three weights separated by 2–3 grams.
Play 20–30 throws with each and record grouping and comfort.
Evaluate whether you felt more relaxed and accurate.

Use the interactive quiz

If you want a fast, data-backed recommendation, try our quiz — no sign-up required. You can start it from the home page or go directly to the quiz view here:

Related guides

For a deeper dive into specific aspects of choosing darts, you can also read: