How To Choose Darts That Actually Fit You

Most players buy darts based on what looks cool or what their favorite pro uses. Then they wonder why they can't throw consistently.

Your darts need to fit your grip, your throw, and your hand size. Here's how to find what actually works for you.

The Anatomy of a Dart

Before we talk about choosing darts, you need to understand what you're looking at.

A dart has four main components:

1. The Point (Tip)

What it is: The metal tip that sticks into the dartboard

Steel tip darts: Fixed metal point, ~2 inches long

Options:

Standard point - Most common, comes with most darts
Storm point - Smoother tip, reduces bounce-outs slightly
Target points - Various styles, some with different grip patterns

What matters: Points rarely make a huge difference. Standard points work fine. If you're getting excessive bounce-outs, the issue is usually your throw angle, not the point.

Replacement: Points wear out and break. Keep spare points. Takes 2 minutes to replace with a point tool.

2. The Barrel

What it is: The main body of the dart - the part you grip

This is the most important component. Everything else can be changed easily. The barrel determines whether the dart fits your grip or not.

Material:

Brass - Cheap, thick (can't group tightly), avoid unless budget is extremely tight
Nickel-silver - Still thick, better than brass but still not ideal
70-80% Tungsten - Budget range, thinner than brass, decent for learning
90% Tungsten - Sweet spot for most players, thin enough to group well, affordable
95-97% Tungsten - Pro level, extremely thin barrels, expensive

Weight:

18-20g - Light, requires smooth controlled throw
22-24g - Most common range, good for most players
26-28g - Heavy, more forgiving of poor release
30g+ - Very heavy, rare

Length:

Short (40-45mm) - Front grip, compact throw style
Medium (48-52mm) - Most versatile, fits most grips
Long (53mm+) - Rear grip or multiple finger grips

Shape:

Straight barrel - Uniform diameter, simple grip
Torpedo - Bulge in the middle, natural grip point
Scalloped - Cuts/grooves along barrel
Bomb - Front-heavy design

Grip:

Smooth - No texture, some players prefer for consistent release
Ringed grip - Horizontal rings cut into barrel
Knurled - Rough texture machined into barrel
Micro grip - Fine texture
Shark grip - Aggressive deep cuts
Combination - Different grip zones along barrel

3. The Shaft (Stem)

What it is: The piece that connects barrel to flight

Material:

Nylon/Plastic - Cheap, break easily, most common
Aluminum - Durable, lightweight, mid-price
Carbon fiber - Expensive, very light, strong
Titanium - Very durable, expensive

Length:

Extra Short - Tight grouping, less stability in flight
Short - Common, balanced
Medium - Most popular, stable flight
Intermediate - Between medium and long
Long - Maximum stability, can interfere with grouping

Thread type:

2BA - Most common, fits most barrels
1/4" (6mm) - Some barrels use this

Why it matters: Shaft length affects dart trajectory and grouping. Longer shafts = more stable flight but darts sit further apart in the board. Shorter shafts = tighter grouping but less stable.

4. The Flight

What it is: The "wings" that stabilize the dart in flight

Shape:

Standard - Most common, balanced stability
Slim - Narrower, less drag, tighter grouping
Kite - Between standard and slim
Pear - Rounded, less common
Fantail - Large surface area, maximum stability
No.6 - Very small, minimal drag

Material:

Polyester (poly) - Most common, durable
Nylon - Flexible, durable
100-micron - Thin, less drag
150-micron - Standard thickness
Molded - One-piece with shaft, very durable

Folding flights: Automatically pop open when dart is thrown, fold flat when hit by another dart

Why it matters: Larger flights = more stability but more drag. Smaller flights = tighter grouping but less forgiveness.

How To Choose Your Dart Weight

Start with 22-24g. This is the range most players end up at.

Testing Your Ideal Weight

Too Light (20g or less):

Darts feel like they're floating
Hard to control trajectory
Inconsistent landing angle
You have to throw very smoothly

Too Heavy (28g+):

Darts drop more
Arm gets tired
Hard to hit doubles at top of board
Feels like you're forcing it

Just Right (22-26g):

Natural feeling throw
Consistent flight path
Can throw comfortably for 30+ minutes without fatigue
Darts land at consistent angle

Exception: If you have a very smooth, controlled throw, you might prefer lighter (20-22g). If you have a more powerful throw or struggle with release consistency, heavier (26-28g) might help.

My recommendation: Buy a 24g set first. If they feel too heavy after 100 throws, drop to 22g. If they feel too light or inconsistent, go to 26g.

How To Choose Your Barrel Length

This depends entirely on your grip.

Front Grip

What it is: You hold the dart near the front of the barrel

Barrel length: Short to medium (40-48mm)

Why: If you grip the front, a long barrel means the back sticks way past your hand and affects balance. Short barrel puts the weight where you're gripping.

Middle Grip

What it is: You hold the dart in the middle of the barrel

Barrel length: Medium (48-52mm)

Why: Most versatile. Balanced weight distribution.

Rear Grip

What it is: You hold the dart near the back of the barrel

Barrel length: Medium to long (50-55mm)

Why: If you grip the back, a short barrel means you're gripping mostly shaft. Longer barrel gives you more to hold.

Test your grip: Throw 20 darts. Where do your fingers naturally land on the barrel? That's your grip point. Choose a barrel length that has the grip texture in that zone.

How To Choose Your Barrel Grip

This is personal preference, but here's what different grips do:

Smooth Barrel

Who it's for: Players with a very consistent release who don't need texture to feel where the dart is

Pros:

Consistent release (fingers slide off the same way every time)
No wear on fingers
Fast throw style

Cons:

Slips if your hands sweat
Harder to feel dart position in hand
Less control if you have inconsistent finger pressure

Light Grip (Ringed or Micro)

Who it's for: Most players

Pros:

Enough texture to feel dart position
Consistent release
Comfortable for long sessions

Cons:

Can still slip if hands are sweaty

Aggressive Grip (Knurled or Shark)

Who it's for: Players with sweaty hands or who grip the dart very firmly

Pros:

Maximum control
Never slips
Great for humid conditions

Cons:

Can tear up your fingers
Hard to get consistent release (fingers catch)
Uncomfortable for long sessions

My advice: Start with medium grip (ringed or light knurl). If darts slip, go more aggressive. If fingers catch on release, go smoother.

How To Choose Your Shaft Length

Start with medium shafts. Here's why:

Extra Short/Short Shafts

Pros:

Darts group very tight in the board
Less chance of flights getting hit

Cons:

Less stable flight
Darts can wobble if your release isn't clean
Harder to correct if dart leaves hand at slight angle

Who they're for: Advanced players with very consistent release

Medium Shafts

Pros:

Balanced stability and grouping
Forgiving of slight release errors
Darts sit at good angle in board

Cons:

None really - this is the default for a reason

Who they're for: Most players

Long/Extra Long Shafts

Pros:

Maximum flight stability
Very forgiving of poor release
Dart corrects itself in flight

Cons:

Darts sit far apart in board
Flights get hit by following darts
Can interfere with tight grouping

Who they're for: Beginners or players with inconsistent release

My recommendation: Medium shafts. Once you develop a consistent release, experiment with shorter shafts for tighter grouping.

How To Choose Your Flight Shape

Start with standard flights. Here's the breakdown:

Standard Flights

Pros:

Stable flight
Forgiving
Widely available

Cons:

Large surface area means flights get hit more

Who they're for: Most players, especially beginners

Slim Flights

Pros:

Less drag
Tighter grouping
Flights get hit less

Cons:

Less stable (requires clean release)
Less forgiving

Who they're for: Players with consistent throw who want tighter groups

Small Flights (No.6, etc.)

Pros:

Minimal drag
Very tight grouping
Almost never get hit

Cons:

Requires very consistent throw
Darts can wobble
Not forgiving at all

Who they're for: Advanced players with perfect release

My recommendation: Standard or kite flights. Once your throw is consistent, try slims for tighter grouping.

The Biggest Mistake Players Make

Buying darts based on looks or what a pro uses.

Phil Taylor threw 26g straight-barrel darts with short shafts. That setup works for Phil Taylor. It might not work for you.

Your grip is not Phil's grip. Your throw is not Phil's throw. Your hand is not Phil's hand.

How To Actually Find Your Darts

Here's the process:

Step 1: Determine Your Budget

$20-30: 80-90% tungsten, basic grip, will work fine for learning

$40-60: 90% tungsten, better grip options, good all-around darts

$80-120: High-quality 90-95% tungsten, excellent grip, pro-level darts

$150+: Premium 95%+ tungsten, custom designs, not necessary unless you're already good

Start in the $40-60 range. You can upgrade later once you know what you like.

Step 2: Identify Your Grip Style

Throw 20 darts with borrowed darts or cheap darts. Where do your fingers naturally land?

Front third of barrel: Front grip
Middle of barrel: Middle grip
Back third of barrel: Rear grip

Step 3: Choose Starting Specs

Based on your grip:

Front grip:

Weight: 22-24g
Length: 40-48mm
Barrel: Torpedo or scalloped (natural grip point at front)
Shafts: Medium
Flights: Standard

Middle grip:

Weight: 22-24g
Length: 48-52mm
Barrel: Straight or torpedo
Shafts: Medium
Flights: Standard

Rear grip:

Weight: 24-26g
Length: 50-55mm
Barrel: Straight with grip at rear
Shafts: Medium
Flights: Standard

Step 4: Test For 100+ Throws

Don't judge darts after 10 throws. Your brain needs time to calibrate.

After 100 throws, evaluate:

Do they feel natural to throw? If no, try different weight or barrel length
Are you gripping the textured part? If no, try different barrel shape
Do they slip? If yes, try more aggressive grip texture
Do they feel balanced? If no, try different shaft length
Do they fly straight? If no, try larger flights

Step 5: Fine-Tune

Once you have darts that feel good, experiment:

Tighter grouping: Try shorter shafts or slimmer flights
More stability: Try longer shafts or larger flights
Different feel: Try different grip texture
Weight adjustment: Go up or down 2g at a time

Common Dart Recommendations

Here are some proven starting points:

Budget ($20-30)

Designa Dark Thunder V2

24g, 90% tungsten
50mm barrel with ringed grip
Medium shafts, standard flights
Great value, widely recommended

Mid-Range ($40-60)

Red Dragon Razor Edge

22-24g options, 90% tungsten
48mm barrel with knurled grip
Comes with multiple shaft/flight options
My personal recommendation for beginners

Winmau Simon Whitlock

24g, 90% tungsten
50mm scalloped barrel
Quality construction
Pro player design that actually fits most people

High-End ($80-120)

Target Adrian Lewis Gen 4

23g, 90% tungsten
50mm barrel with pixel grip
Excellent balance
Pro-level darts at reasonable price

Unicorn Gary Anderson Phase 5

23g, 95% tungsten
50.8mm barrel with micro grip
One of the most popular pro darts
Very thin barrels for tight grouping

When To Upgrade

Don't upgrade until:

You can consistently hit treble 20 (at least 2/3 darts)
You've thrown your current darts for 3+ months
You can clearly identify what you want different (weight, grip, length)

Upgrading early = wasting money. Your throw is still changing. Wait until it stabilizes, then upgrade to exactly what fits your now-consistent throw.

The Bottom Line

Start with:

22-24g weight
90% tungsten
48-50mm medium-length barrel
Medium grip texture
Medium shafts
Standard flights

Test for 100+ throws.

Adjust based on what you feel:

Weight if darts feel too heavy/light
Barrel length if grip feels awkward
Grip texture if darts slip or catch
Shafts/flights for grouping or stability

The darts that fit you are the darts that feel natural after 100 throws and produce consistent results.

Don't chase the perfect dart. Find a dart that works, throw 10,000 times with it, then evaluate if you need changes.

Looking for where to buy? Check out our guide on the best places to buy darts online and how to avoid overpriced gear.