Darts History
Where did darts originate? It’s believed that the sport of darts evolved from several different influences, including archery and martial arts. It’s likely that the first board used for darts was simply a tree. People began to play darts in the 1800s, and a century later the rules for it and boards used became standardized. Currently, many people around the world enjoy playing darts; it’s very fun, helps with your hand eye coordination, arithmetic, and agility. It’s also pretty cheap, if purchasing at http://www.bestelectronicdartboard.com/, to setup darts, so it’s easy for anyone to get into.
What Are The Dart’s Different Parts?
A dart is comprised of four basic parts:
- The point, which is comprised of either steel or plastic (which makes it a “soft tip”)
- The barrel, which is actually the most important part of the dart. It comes in varying balance points, grip, diameters, and length
- The shaft, which holds the flight and is attached to the barrel
- The flight, which is formed in varying shapes and comes in different weights
The barrels of darts can be made of varying materials, including brass and tungsten. Brass is an optimal choice for families or beginners, because they’re cheaper. They’re also very thick, which makes it impossible to hit tight groups and achieve high scores. For tungsten, the higher the percent of the material, the more narrow the dart is, the better the scoring, and the better the dart. For example, 70% tungsten are entry level darts, 80% are a great median for aspiring people who would like to get more into the sport, and 90% tungsten are your highest quality darts that are reserved for professional and serious players.
Does the Dart Weight Matter?
You can experiment with varying weights, in order to figure out which is the best for you; each darter has their own personal preference. For beginners, the suggested weight is 18gm for soft tips, and 22-24gm for steel tips. Heavier darts aren’t necessarily of a higher quality, nor will they bring you a better game; if you throw with an arc, you need a lighter dart, and if you throw in more of a straight line, you need a heavier one.
How Do I Sharpen My Darts?
Sharpening your darts can help you improve your game. It’ll reduce bounce outs and extend the life of your dartboard if you have steel tip darts; darts that are dull won’t stick, no matter what. Take care of your equipment by investing in a dart sharpener. To sharpen, hold the dart so it’s parallel to the sharpener (a stone) and rub the end very lightly across the surface. Rotate, so all sides are evenly sharpened. Continually check the tip. Keep in mind that darts that are sharpened well don’t have a pointed tip–the tip will be more rounded, so it’ll stick into the board.
On top of all this, some maintenance is a good idea and you need to clean your darts as well. Oil and sweat from your hands can corrode your darts, so use a mild cleanser such as towelettes or moist wipes that are alcohol-based. This’ll keep your darts ready for a game.
