Darts is a game of skill. It takes practice to be able to hit the exact target on the board every time.
But there is one thing that even the best players need: their darts, which tend to become dull after many hours of use. The last thing you want is for your dart to not stick in its target because it was too dull. Fortunately, you can easily fix this by sharpening your darts.
Table of Contents
How Often Should I Sharpen My Darts?
It’s more a question of when do you need to sharpen your darts. The important aspect is to keep them the desired shape so that they are effective at sticking in the board AND don’t damage the board, which can happen if your darts are too sharp.
It’s a good idea to get into the habit of gently feeling the tip of your darts with your finger when you’ve had a bounce-out or wire hit, or any time your dart hits the floor.
Here, you are checking for burrs (essentially dings, deformities, and sharp bits). Burrs on darts can have detrimental effects on your dartboard if not taken care of. The dings can hook onto the sisal fibers, disturbing them or even pulling them out.
Darts on The Floor Don’t Count
Another, lesser mentioned disadvantage of having darts that are too sharp is when they hit the spider, they are far more likely to bounce out. With a more rounded dart, the dart is more likely to glance off and still hit your scoring area. Making this an important thing to get right.
To the naked eye, the difference may not seem like much, but it can make a world of difference. If you are interested in competitive darts at all, please pay attention to this.
What is the Best Dart Sharpener?
Dart sharpeners are easy to find and don’t differ greatly between them. These types of dart sharpener are just mini sharpening stones that are shaped perfectly for sharpening darts.
You simply rest the dart tip inside and roll it around to sharpen the dart.
Remember to only do a little at a time as you may have to adjust the angle.
You mustn’t over sharpen and make it too sharp. try a few turns then check it with the tips of your finger.s Here, you’ll be able to easily detect any remaining burrs that you need to sand out.
Check out our article on how to clean a dartboard.
What is the Best Way to Sharpen Darts?
There are a few different ways you can sharpen darts:
- Dart sharpener
- Sand paper
- Sharpening stone
As far as the best way, it’s all up to you. A dart sharpener is a cheap effective way to sharpen your darts. There are a few different types of darts sharpeners on the market, but they all work in essentially the same way.
However, if you just enjoy the game casually, using some sandpaper is perfectly fine. The finer the grain the better as you want to smooth things out.
How to Use a Dart Sharpener
To use a darts sharpener, simply insert the dart into the sharpener and twist it back and forth until the point is sharpened to your satisfaction. Some sharpeners also have an adjustable guide that can be used to ensure that the point is always sharpened to the same angle.
This video explains how to use a dart sharpener in more detail:
Electronic Darts Sharpeners
Yes, this is a thing! A motorized dart sharpener called the silver bullet is just one of many on offer. Battery operated, you insert the tip of your dart for a few seconds and it’s done!
Make sure to only do a little at a time as it’s much easier to get carried away and over-sharpen with these.
Still, a really fun little gadget and a cool gift idea for the avid darts player in the family.
Do I Need to Sharpen Soft Tip Darts?
No, these are usually made of plastic and are designed to hold their shape – which happens to be the same shape as the dimples on an electronic board. If you try and sharpen soft tip darts, you’ll damage them.
In Summary
If burrs are left on your darts and you continue to play with them, they can wreak havoc on your beautiful dartboard. It’s cheap and easy to keep your darts sharpened and well maintained. Now you have no excuses!
You might also like our article on the best darts shafts.
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.
