You might think that all dartboards are the same. But this isn’t the case. A good dartboard is durable, made from sisal fibers (also known as bristles), can be rotated, and is staple-free.
There’s a lot to consider when shopping for a dartboard and it’s easy to make a mistake that will cost you a lot of money.
Don’t worry, though, as our guide will tell you everything there is to know about what makes a dartboard good.
Table of Contents
What Makes a Quality Dartboard?
There’s not just one thing that makes a dartboard good quality. You need to consider lots of different factors to ensure that the dartboard you plan on buying is the best that it can be. These factors include:
The Material
A quality dartboard is made from sisal fibers. Sisal is a durable fiber that repairs itself after it has been struck by a dart. Some boards are made from lower-quality fibers, but these won’t last anywhere near as long as a sisal fiber board.
The more sisal fibers there are in a dartboard, the better quality the board will be. Aim to buy a board with around 3.7 million compressed fibers. Your best bet is to find a board that meets competition standards. After all, if it’s good enough for the pros, it’ll be good enough for you.
Ink Type
A good quality dartboard will use food-grade ink. Food-grade ink penetrates deep into the sisal fibers, so your board will look great for years. You then haven’t got to worry about the numbers on the board fading.
Another benefit of food-grade ink is that it has a low glare which means it won’t stop you from throwing your darts accurately.
Wiring Thickness
The wiring on a dartboard separates each number on the dartboard. The thicker the wiring, the more problematic it is as it will stop your darts from sliding in.
Bladed wiring is used in better-quality dartboards. You should look for a board with bladed wiring because it’s thinner and lowers the chance of a bounce-out.
Whether it can be Rotated
Rotating a dartboard regularly is one of the most important things you can do to maintain the life of your board. Rotating ensures that there is even wear and tear.
To easily rotate a dartboard, you need one that has a removable number ring.
The Edging
Always choose a dartboard with composite edging. This type of edging makes rotating the number ring easier and smoother.
Staple Use
Staples are often used to keep the wiring on a dartboard in place. However, staples are a big bug-bear for most darts players as they increase their bounce-out rate.
You can now buy dartboards that have no staples in the bullseye area. But we suggest choosing a board that has as few staples as possible across the entire board.
Its Density
A dartboard with a good density makes it easier for darts to penetrate the board. Most sisal fiber dartboards are dense, but you should always check.
It has a Warranty
You wouldn’t buy a new gadget without a warranty, and you shouldn’t buy a dartboard without one either. A warranty gives you peace of mind. It also shows you that the manufacturer believes in the quality and longevity of their product.
It Comes with Hanging Accessories
You’re going to need to hang your dartboard securely to a wall to play. A good quality dartboard will come with an appropriate hanging bracket so you can get started straight away.
Check our article on how much a dartboard costs next.
What is Considered the Best Dartboard?
Unicorn dartboards have been considered the best dartboard for decades. Up until recently, the Professional Darts Corporation (PDC) and Unicorn had a 25-year partnership. This meant that all televised PDC games were played using the Unicorn Eclipse HD2 Dartboard.
But this deal came to an end in 2022. Now, Winmau has taken over in a 5-year deal. The Winmau Blade 6 Triple Core dartboard is now taking center stage as it is one of the top dartboards to play on.
Some of the other best dartboards are:
- Winmau Diamond Plus Dartboard
- Unicorn Eclipse Pro PDC
- Winmau Professional Dartboard Set
- Viper Shot King Dartboard Set
- Winmau Blade 5 Bristle Dartboard
- ONE80 Gladiator Dartboard
Does Dartboard Quality Matter?
Absolutely! Your dartboard can make a difference to you playing a great game or an okay game.
Imagine that you’re a beginner and your darts keep bouncing out of the board. You’ll feel frustrated and want to give up. But the falling darts are unlikely to be because of your throwing technique. A poor-quality board will stop your darts from sticking into the board as they should.
Another reason why dartboard quality matters is durability. Dartboards aren’t cheap and if you buy a poor-quality one, it’s unlikely to last very long. This means you’re likely to spend more in the long run.
If you stick with a reputable, well-made dartboard such as the Winmau Blade 6 Triple Core Carbon Professional Bristle Dartboard, you can be sure that you’ve made a good investment.
What Type of Dartboard do Professionals Use?
Despite electronic dartboards growing in popularity in recent years, professional darts players almost always play on traditional dartboards. Bristle dartboards are their go-to option.
Common dartboards used by professionals are:
- Winmau Blade 5 Bristle Dartboard
- DMI Bandit Staple-free Bristle Dartboard
- Unicorn Eclipse HD2 Dartboard
Some of darts’ biggest names, including Gary Anderson, James Wade, Michael Smith, and Dimitri van den Bergh are sponsored by Unicorn. These players likely choose to play non-televised matches on a professional Unicorn dartboard.
You should always do your research before buying a dartboard. A well-made dartboard will stand the test of time and will have lots of features that make it a solid investment. We hope this guide will help you choose the ideal dartboard so that you can enjoy hours of fun playing darts.
Next learn about the backside of a dartboard.
Sources
https://www.mastersofgames.com/cat/pub/unicorn-eclipse-hd2-bristle-dartboard.htm
https://www.eastersurffest.com/2018/11/tips-for-choosing-the-best-dartboards/
https://shotdarts.com/blogs/discover/all-you-need-to-know-about-bristle-dartboards
https://www.pdc.tv/news/2022/01/31/record-deal-announced-pdc-winmau-team
Sue has been playing darts since her 20’s when she played in weekly tournaments and she enjoys writing about darts. She’s also a great teacher, and she enjoys helping others learn how to play the game well. When Sue isn’t throwing darts, she enjoys spending time with her family and friends.
The easy way to keep track of your score is with our printable darts scoresheets. Easy to download and keep on your phone or computer or print straight off from our website. Pop your email address into the box and we'll send them straight to you.
