The dart barrel is the most important element in the structure of every soft and steel dart. Sure, the flight , shaft and tip sometimes play a big role, but dart barrels and their weight have the most impact on the trajectory of the arrows .
Every player has their own throwing style , no one is comparable to another. This starts with the grip and continues throughout the entire throwing movement.
This is exactly why we explain the different shapes and grip types of dart barrels in more detail in this article. This way you will find out which dart barrel is best for you and your throwing style.
The heart of a dart
As already mentioned, the barrel is the handle of the dart and therefore generally the most important component of steel darts and soft darts . There are countless ways to throw your darts and depending on the handle and throwing style, dart barrels should have different properties in order to create an optimal throwing path.
In general, dart barrels are manufactured in different weights, shapes, lengths and surfaces and decorated with a wide variety of design elements. For soft darts, dart barrels are usually made with weights between 14 and 18 grams , while for steel darts the barrels can weigh up to 50 grams.
Steel darts can be a maximum of 30.5 centimeters , while soft darts are significantly shorter due to their lower weight at a maximum of 16.8 centimeters .
The shapes and surfaces, on the other hand, are often very different and are not self-evident, especially for beginners. There is a wide range of variants, which we will now explain to you in more detail.
The surfaces are primarily characterized by grooves, knobs and ridges and are therefore reflected in the grip of the dart.
Types of grip on dart barrels – grooves, nubs, ridges
The grip determines how firmly the dart barrel sticks to your fingers. Here you decide between different grip levels . The tastes are sometimes completely different.
Some professionals use a completely smooth dart to avoid getting stuck on the grip. Other players, however, use a dart with a greater grip because they quickly get wet or sweaty fingers.
Here too, no general recommendation can be made. Only by trying it out on the board will you find out which type of grip best suits your throwing style.
But one thing can be noted here. If the dart barrel is smooth, it is extremely important to have a fluid throwing movement , as the lack of support makes the dart extremely susceptible to small disruptions in the rhythm.
However, if the throwing style is rather slow, dart barrels with a higher grip level make more sense . In this way, outliers are at least somewhat avoided and precision in casting is increased.
The most important thing when choosing a grip is the position of the fingers and the moment of release . This is the only way you can find out whether it's a good thing if your finger sticks to the dart until you throw it or not.
The dart barrel grip and its grip are defined by the surfaces with different shapes. On the one hand, grooves, dense knobs made of steel or a specific pattern can be milled into the barrel or even rubber rings can be used to ensure a good grip.
Below we will explain the different grip levels and show you an example of dart barrels from our steel dart and soft dart range.
Grip level 1 – low grip
The first level of grip provides the least grip on the barrel. This refers to a barrel that is predominantly smooth or has only a few details that are intended to provide a special grip.
These areas with little grip are then primarily so-called knurled zones, which look like knobs, or isolated ringed zones, which are defined by rings . This grip level is primarily suitable for players who quickly get stuck on the dart barrels and therefore need little grip when throwing darts.
Grip level 2 – medium grip
In the second grip level, however, more grooves are milled in, so that we have longer and stronger knurled and ringed zones.
These grooves make it easier for the player to always touch the dart in the same places in order to achieve the most consistent throw possible. However, the risk of slipping still exists due to the few grooves.
Grip level 3 – strong grip
At higher grip levels, the millings in the form of knobs or grooves become clearer and, above all, denser. There are also different forms.
The ringed zones are now significantly denser, so that we have many rings at shorter distances - multi-ring zones - which greatly improves the grip of the rings. Furthermore, so-called shark or razor zones can be identified .
The edges of the grooves are significantly sharper , creating a strong grip.
Tip: It must be said again and again that grip is not good for every player. Some people have gotten used to a smooth barrel, so a barrel with a high grip level is more of a hindrance because the dart gets stuck on their finger when released.
Grip level 4 – very strong grip
The highest level of grip levels is characterized by the highest level of grip. The barrel surface usually only consists of grip zones ; the shark or razor grip is predominantly used.
Some dart barrels now even have an Ultra Shark Grip , which ensures the ultimate grip on the barrel. This is really very strong, so many players complain that they have massive problems when letting go of the dart.
But the Ultra Shark Grip offers a very good option, especially for players with very wet and sweaty hands .
Some players even use rubber rings that they integrate into the grooves or rings to get the necessary grip on the rubber. So you only touch the barrel using the rubber rings . However, this technique is very individual and is therefore only recommended for experienced professionals.
Barrel shapes – different focuses on dart barrels
The shape of the barrel is a legendary mystery. Many people swear by a certain shape, but here too the devil is in the details. Overall, a distinction is made between the three most common barrel shapes , although there are also other exotic shapes.
In the following paragraphs we will go into the three most common shapes in more detail and show you an example of a barrel from our steel dart and soft dart range.
The teardrop shape
The teardrop shape has been around for a long time and is popular with many players. The shape of the darts barrels resembles – oh wonder – a drop. The barrel becomes significantly wider towards the tip .
This shifts the center of gravity forward. Players who like to touch the dart at the front often resort to the teardrop shape.
The reason for this is that the center of gravity is far forward and the dart maintains a stable curve in flight if you grip the dart further forward.
The situation is different if the player touches the barrel at the very back. This is exactly why the grip on the dart in combination with the shape of the dart barrel is so extremely important.
Simon Whitlock is one of the most famous players to have played with such a barrel shape, especially at the beginning of his career. The typical handle at the front of the dart motivated him to have his own darts made in a teardrop shape - with success for a long time.
Whitlock now also plays a dart with a groove in the barrel so that he can always touch the dart in the same place.
The cylinder shape
In these cases, like Simon Whitlock after his move, the cylindrical shape is used. The cylindrical shape actually just means that the barrel is approximately the same thickness throughout .
So there are no differences in the shape of the dart barrel, such as the barrel with the teardrop shape. The cylindrical shape is an advantage, especially for players who touch the barrel further back .
Due to the even distribution of the weight, the arrow can also be gripped far back and still guarantees a stable flight curve.
The cylindrical shape probably has the most successful examples from the current PDC circuit. Michael van Gerwern in particular, who has been playing his darts completely unchanged for what feels like an eternity, swears by this form.
With Phil Taylor, however, things were different in his heyday. Despite the handle further back, he used the torpedo shape on his dart barrels for a long time and successfully.
The torpedo shape
The third shape is the torpedo shape, which has enjoyed increasing popularity, particularly in recent years. The torpedo shape, as the name suggests, is similar to the shape of a torpedo.
In relation to the dart barrel, this means that the barrel is thickest in the middle and becomes thinner towards the two ends . The center of gravity in this model is exactly in the middle of the barrel.
It must be said that it is actually a shape that is rather unusual for darts, as only a few players grab the barrel exactly in the middle.
The center of gravity in particular often causes problems when launching , but more and more dart players have been playing successfully with this form of dart barrel in recent years.
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