In addition to the barrel and the flight, there is a third component of the dart that is crucial to your success . This is the dart shaft.
The shaft forms the connection between the barrel and the flight and contributes to the stability of the dart's trajectory . Like flights, dart shafts are wear parts and are available in different lengths and materials .
Therefore, you can experiment with different variations to find the perfect dart for you. Shafts are usually made of aluminum or plastic .
In this article, we would like to give you a little insight into the different types of dart shafts available and also help you find the right shaft for you.
Dart shafts and the material question
You can generally purchase the shaft in two different materials . You can either choose an aluminum model or choose dart shafts made of plastic or nylon .
But what difference does the material really make? In fact, the aluminum shaft has a different shape than the nylon one. While the nylon shaft is usually somewhat thicker , the aluminum shaft has its typical slim shape .
Both products have their advantages. Plastic dart shafts have the major advantage that the shaft is less likely to be ruined by a so-called Robin Hood throw .
With aluminum shafts , one of the crowns often breaks when an arrow lands in the shaft. This means the flight no longer holds, and the entire shaft must be replaced.
The durability of the plastic model tends to be longer . However, the plastic shaft has the disadvantage that the flights often fall off very easily. In this case, a hole punch and a small aluminum ring can provide the necessary hold .
However, this approach requires additional dart accessories . Most PDC stars now play with plastic shafts . There's no specific reason for this, though, as the material only minimally affects the flight characteristics.
Differences in the dart shaft also in length
Dart shafts are now available in a variety of lengths . Whether short or long, there's something for everyone. The impact of the specific shaft should not be neglected.
If you try three or four different lengths of shafts with your darts, you will quickly feel the severe effects .
An important information here: there are no weight differences between the shafts depending on the material selected.
But back to the impact of length. Fundamentally, the difference lies in the dart's trajectory. This depends primarily on the length of your barrel and the location of the center of gravity .
Of course, your individual throwing stance also plays a role. However, the following usually happens: With a long shaft, the darts often stick unevenly and downward into the board. Depending on your throwing style, this is absolutely intentional.
The situation is quite different with a short shaft. Here, the darts often sit very horizontally in the board, as with veteran Phil Taylor, for example.
He placed his subsequent darts on top of the first rather than "subduing" them. This is precisely where everyone has to figure out for themselves which shaft length best suits their throwing style .
Good dart shafts are a question of quality
As with all darts accessories, dart shafts come in a variety of price ranges . This isn't surprising at first glance.
It's important to note, however, that these price differences can have a significant impact . Cheap dart shafts often have the problem that they're not always completely straight. This can, of course, be disastrous for a dart player who repeatedly makes the same movement.
A slight bend in the shafts, which can be caused by poor workmanship, causes the arrow to fly differently .
It's sometimes difficult to tell whether a shaft is uneven. Over time, this can lead to a player not understanding why the arrow no longer flies as usual and frequently misses the target.
There are also unusual models on the market
In addition to the more conventional models, there are also a few unusual models that are often found among professional players . The best example is Phil Taylor's shaft when he was still sponsored by Unicorn.
The shaft had a narrow, milled cavity . The flight was then inserted into this cavity. The flight was not placed on the shaft, but rather inserted into it. Until now, Phil Taylor was the only player to successfully play this type of shaft.
The spin shaft is also somewhat more unusual. This one, too, hasn't yet gained widespread acceptance. With the spinning shaft, the end to which the flight is attached also rotates.
This prevents frequent bounces , which are more common with fixed flights. The rotation is designed to "spin out of the way" of a subsequent arrow upon impact, creating space.
The price for a set of dart shafts
In terms of price, dart shafts are among the more affordable dart accessories . You'll typically pay between one and five euros for a set of shafts.
However, aluminum models are usually somewhat more expensive than plastic models. This is due to the material itself, as plastic is generally much cheaper than aluminum.
Dart shafts for beginners
If you are a complete beginner, you should try these types of shafts to start with:
- Long Shaft, 55 mm
- Medium Shaft, 48 mm
- Intermediate Shaft, 41 mm
- Short Shaft, 36 mm
- Extra Short Shaft, 26 mm (not suitable for beginners!)
These four models are also the most commonly played by professionals . Whether you want to use a plastic shaft or an aluminum one is up to you.
Overall, however, you should try out all lengths to see if your throw can be improved a bit. Sometimes it just happens that the throw isn't fully developed yet , and you haven't tried enough variations yet.
So it's quite possible that the shaft for your best throw is still hidden.
In the end, just try it out, that's the only way you'll be able to find the perfect dart shafts.
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