Dart Board Buying Guide & Darts Rules and Trivia

There’s a moment everyone who sets up a dartboard at home faces: staring at the wall, asking whether to go with a classic bristle board or a flashy electronic one. That decision shapes how you play, how often you play, and who joins you — this guide covers the trade‑offs, costs, and trivia.

Regulation dartboard diameter: 17.75 inches (451 mm) ·
Bullseye diameter: 1.4 inches (35.6 mm) ·
Most used professional board: Winmau Blade 6 ·
Average price for a decent board: $40-$100 ·
Standard dart weight range: 20-30 grams ·
Bristle board lifespan: 2-5 years

“Bristle boards are the professional standard for a reason – the self‑healing sisal fibers provide consistent performance and longevity.”

— Darts Corner

Six core measurements define every serious dartboard setup, and the key difference between board types comes down to where the trade-offs fall.

What is the best dartboard to buy?

Bristle vs. electronic dartboards

The choice starts with how you plan to play. Bristle boards use compressed sisal fibers that self-heal after each throw, which is why every professional tournament — from the PDC World Championship to local leagues — uses them. Electronic boards, on the other hand, use plastic surfaces with small holes that grip soft-tip darts and automatically track scores (Darts Corner (darts equipment retailer)).

If you’re practicing for league play or just love the feel of a proper dart sinking into sisal, bristle is the only real option. If you want automated scoring, multiple game modes, and a quieter setup for shared walls, electronic boards have clear advantages.

Top brands: Winmau, Unicorn, Mission

• Winmau — The Blade 6 is the most used board on the professional circuit, known for thin blade wiring that reduces bounce-outs (Darts Corner).
• Unicorn — The Eclipse Pro is a close competitor, with dense sisal and a durable number ring.
• Mission — The Samurai range offers mid-range pricing with good self-healing properties.
• Gran Board — The leading smart board brand, with app connectivity for online play (Darts Daily (darts equipment guide)).

The pattern among professional players is clear: the Winmau Blade 6 dominates the competitive scene, but at the hobbyist level, any quality bristle board from these brands will serve well.

Factors: sisal quality, wiring, durability

Three attributes separate a good board from a great one. First, sisal density — denser fibers mean fewer visible holes and longer life. Second, wiring: blade (razor-thin) wiring reduces bounce-outs, while round-wire boards are cheaper but can deflect darts more often (The Dart Scout). Third, the number ring — a rotatable ring lets you redistribute wear, extending the board’s life by months.

Why this matters: a $40 board with dense sisal and blade wiring will outlast a $80 board with loose fibers and round wire. The price alone doesn’t tell the story.

Price ranges and value picks

For bristle boards, the sweet spot is $40-$100. Entry-level boards at $20-30 are fine for casual play but wear unevenly and develop bald spots within six months. The Winmau Blade 6 rings in around $80-100 and is the industry benchmark (Darts Corner).

For most home buyers, a $50-80 bristle board paired with a $20 dart set offers the best value for serious play. For families or casual social players, a $100-150 electronic board like the Gran Board Dash provides automated scoring and lower safety risk.

Is it dart board or dartboard?

Origin of the word dartboard

Both “dart board” and “dartboard” appear in print since the early 20th century, but modern English has settled on “dartboard” as the standard compound form. The Oxford English Dictionary lists “dartboard” as the primary spelling, and most equipment manufacturers use the single-word version in their product names (Darts Corner).

How Brits refer to darts equipment

In the UK, the game is “darts” — never “dart” — and the board is a “dartboard.” A common British phrase: “Fancy a game of darts?” The equipment itself: “darts” (plural) for the projectiles, “dartboard” for the target. Saying “dart board” with a space is grammatically acceptable but increasingly rare in both UK and US usage.

Common spelling variations

Google Trends data shows “dartboard” is searched roughly 4x more often than “dart board” globally. The hyphenated “dart-board” appears in historical texts but has fallen out of use. For SEO and everyday writing, “dartboard” is the safe bet.

The implication: if you’re writing product listings or search queries, use “dartboard” as one word. It’s the dictionary standard and the market norm.

Is there an illegal throw in darts?

Official darts throwing rules

Yes, and the rules are specific. According to the World Darts Federation (WDF) rulebook, a throw is valid only if the dart remains in the board until the player retrieves it. A dart that falls out or bounces off the board scores zero. The player must also keep both feet behind the oche (the throwing line), which is 7 feet 9.25 inches (2.37 meters) from the board’s face for steel-tip darts and 8 feet (2.44 meters) for soft-tip.

What constitutes a foul throw

• Stepping over the oche — the most common violation. In professional matches, a foul throw results in no score and the dart is removed.
• Dart fails to stick — if the dart hits another dart already in the board and falls, it scores zero.
• Throwing stance violations — some leagues require at least one foot on the floor, though this varies.

However, throwing with the non-dominant hand or from a different position (within the oche boundary) is generally allowed. The rule exists to ensure fairness, not to restrict style.

Knowing the rules keeps your home games fair and avoids disputes. For a complete overview of dart regulations, see our guide to official darts rules.

Do heavier darts fly straighter?

Dart weight and trajectory

Heavier darts (24-30 grams) carry more momentum and are less affected by air resistance, which can give the impression of a straighter flight. But that comes with a trade-off: they require more force to throw and can damage bristle boards faster if thrown aggressively.

Professional preferences: 20g vs 24g vs 26g

Most professional players use darts in the 22-24 gram range. Phil Taylor, the 16-time world champion, used 26 gram darts. Michael van Gerwen uses 23 grams. The shift toward lighter darts (20-22 grams) among younger pros reflects a preference for speed and control over raw momentum (Darts Corner).

Factors affecting straightness: grip, release, shape

Straightness depends more on consistent technique than weight alone. Grip pressure, release angle, and the dart’s shape (front-loaded vs. balanced) all influence trajectory. A heavy dart won’t fix a flawed release — but for players with a clean throw, a 24-26g dart provides a stable, predictable flight path.

For a new player, starting with 24g darts offers a balanced entry point. As skill develops, experimenting with lighter or heavier weights fine-tunes performance.

Who is the biggest drinker in darts?

Famous heavy-drinking darts players

Eric Bristow and Jocky Wilson were legendary for their drinking during the 1980s and 1990s. Bristow, a five-time world champion, was known to down pints between rounds and still throw 180s. Wilson, despite living with health challenges from alcohol, won two world titles. Their drinking was part of the image of darts as a pub sport — a working-class game played over ale.

The role of pubs in darts culture

Darts grew out of British pubs, where the smell of beer and tobacco was part of the atmosphere. The sport’s governing body, the British Darts Organisation (BDO), was formed in 1973 from pub league players. That pub-to-professional pipeline meant heavy drinking was accepted, even expected.

Modern professionalism and health awareness

That culture has shifted significantly. Current top players like Michael van Gerwen maintain strict fitness regimes — van Gerwen is known for running and strength training. Gerwyn Price, the 2021 world champion, came to darts from professional rugby and built his career on physical conditioning. The modern professional treats darts as an athletic discipline, and alcohol consumption is minimal among competitive players.

The shift from pub culture to athletic discipline reflects darts’ evolution as a serious sport.

Frequently asked questions