# Darts

A dart's barrel material and weight, not its price, decide whether it groups tightly for steel-tip bristle play or stays light enough for an electronic board's sensors. Tip type sets the ceiling on weight and point hardware; board material sets whether a wire spider or a sensor grid does the scoring.

## How it works

A dart has four parts: a point, a barrel, a shaft, and a flight. The barrel's material and shape set where its weight sits and how slim it can be for that weight: dense tungsten alloy (80-95% tungsten) lets a barrel stay slim at a given weight for tighter grouping, while cheaper brass or nickel-silver barrels are bulkier at the same weight. The shaft and flight stabilize flight by drag; longer shafts and larger flights fly steadier but slower, and shift weight rearward. Steel-tip darts carry a metal point into a sisal (bristle) board whose fibers close back up around the hole; soft-tip darts carry a plastic point that screws into a plastic-segmented electronic board wired to impact sensors, which caps the dart's legal weight well below a steel-tip dart's.

## How an expert narrows the choice

```mermaid
timeline
  section 1 · Darts or dartboard
    darts : ask Steel tip or soft tip : skip Board material, Scoring wire type, Mounting type, Power source, Board size class, Built-in game count, Max players supported, Scoring display & sound
    dartboard : ask Board material : skip Steel tip or soft tip, Barrel material, Tungsten percentage, Barrel shape, Grip texture, Shaft material, Shaft length, Flight shape, Flight material, Dart weight (steel tip), Dart weight (soft tip), Steel point style, Soft tip thread size, Single dart or set of 3, Shaft rotation type
  section 2 · Steel tip or soft tip
    steel_tip : ask Dart weight (steel tip), Steel point style, Barrel material, Barrel shape, Grip texture, Shaft material, Shaft length, Shaft rotation type, Flight shape, Flight material, Single dart or set of 3 : skip Dart weight (soft tip), Soft tip thread size
    soft_tip : ask Dart weight (soft tip), Soft tip thread size, Barrel material, Barrel shape, Grip texture, Shaft material, Shaft length, Shaft rotation type, Flight shape, Flight material, Single dart or set of 3 : skip Dart weight (steel tip), Steel point style
  section 3 · Board material
    sisal_bristle / cork : ask Scoring wire type, Mounting type, Board size class : skip Power source, Built-in game count, Max players supported, Scoring display & sound
    electronic : ask Power source, Mounting type, Board size class, Built-in game count, Max players supported, Scoring display & sound : skip Scoring wire type
```

1. **Darts or dartboard.** Shopping for darts themselves, or a dartboard?
   Darts and dartboards are bought and judged on completely different specs: a dart's barrel/weight/point versus a board's material/wiring/mounting. This fork decides which facet set applies before anything else does.
   If darts: ask Steel tip or soft tip; skip Board material, Scoring wire type, Mounting type, Power source, Board size class, Built-in game count, Max players supported, Scoring display & sound.
   If dartboard: ask Board material; skip Steel tip or soft tip, Barrel material, Tungsten percentage, Barrel shape, Grip texture, Shaft material, Shaft length, Flight shape, Flight material, Dart weight (steel tip), Dart weight (soft tip), Steel point style, Soft tip thread size, Single dart or set of 3, Shaft rotation type.
   Skip if already known: a query that already names 'darts' or 'dartboard', an earlier answer naming a barrel material, tip type, or board material.

2. **Steel tip or soft tip.** Steel tip for bristle, or soft tip for electronic?
   Tip type sets the weight ceiling, point hardware, and which board family the dart works on. Everything else about a dart is asked the same way after this.
   If steel_tip: ask Dart weight (steel tip), Steel point style, Barrel material, Barrel shape, Grip texture, Shaft material, Shaft length, Shaft rotation type, Flight shape, Flight material, Single dart or set of 3; skip Dart weight (soft tip), Soft tip thread size.
   If soft_tip: ask Dart weight (soft tip), Soft tip thread size, Barrel material, Barrel shape, Grip texture, Shaft material, Shaft length, Shaft rotation type, Flight shape, Flight material, Single dart or set of 3; skip Dart weight (steel tip), Steel point style.
   Skip if already known: an earlier answer naming steel tip, soft tip, bristle board, or electronic board.

3. **Board material.** Sisal/bristle, cork, or electronic?
   Material decides whether a wire spider separates the scoring segments (bristle, cork) or a sensor grid does (electronic), which decides whether wire_type or power_source is the next question.
   If sisal_bristle or cork: ask Scoring wire type, Mounting type, Board size class; skip Power source, Built-in game count, Max players supported, Scoring display & sound.
   If electronic: ask Power source, Mounting type, Board size class, Built-in game count, Max players supported, Scoring display & sound; skip Scoring wire type.
   Skip if already known: an earlier answer naming sisal, bristle, cork, or electronic/soft-tip board.

## What to surface

### Darts or dartboard

Whether the listing is the darts (the thrown projectiles) or the dartboard (and its mount) they're thrown at. A dart and a board are judged on entirely unrelated specs, so asking this first avoids asking about barrel material on a board listing or wire type on a set of darts. [1] [4]

Values: darts, dartboard.
Question to ask: Shopping for darts themselves, or a dartboard?

Used as: top-level split, filter. Data: derived from listing fields, backfill cost low. Look for it as: Derive from the product title ('dart set', 'darts', vs 'dartboard', 'dart board cabinet').
Title keyword match covers nearly every listing; combo boxes ('dartboard + 6 darts') should be tagged dartboard as the primary item.

### Steel tip or soft tip

Whether the dart has a metal needle point for a bristle/sisal board (steel tip) or a plastic point for an electronic board (soft tip). Tip type sets the dart's weight ceiling (steel tip up to 50g by WDF rule; soft tip capped far lower to protect electronic sensors), the point hardware, and which board family the dart even works on. [1] [7]

Values: steel_tip, soft_tip.
Question to ask: Steel tip for bristle, or soft tip for electronic?

Used as: top-level split, filter. Data: on the listing, backfill cost low. Look for it as: Almost always in the title ('Steel Tip Darts', 'Soft Tip Darts').
Title keyword match; a dart with a metal point and no stated tip type defaults to steel_tip.

### Board material

What the dartboard's face is made of: sisal/bristle fiber, cork, or plastic segments wired to electronic sensors. Sisal fiber self-heals around a dart hole and resists wear, cork does not and wears visibly, and electronic boards trade both for automated scoring but cap dart weight and need power. [10] [1]

Values: sisal_bristle, cork, electronic.
Question to ask: Sisal/bristle, cork, or electronic?

Used as: top-level split, filter. Data: on the listing, backfill cost low. Look for it as: Almost always in the title ('Bristle Dartboard', 'Cork Dart Board', 'Electronic Dartboard').
Title keyword match; unlabeled low-price boards default to cork, the cheaper material.

### Dart weight (steel tip)

The total weight of one steel-tip dart including point, barrel, shaft, and flight. A heavier dart (26g and up) flies straighter and more stably on a flat throw; a lighter dart (20-24g) needs less effort and suits a looser, arcing throw. The barrel is nearly all of this weight. [1] [4]

Range: 12 to 50 g. Most players use 20-26g; 22-24g is the single most common range among competitive players, and WDF rules cap any steel-tip dart at 50g.
Question to ask: Looking for a lighter dart (around 20g) or heavier (26g+)?

Used as: shown on the card, sortable. Data: on the listing, backfill cost low. Look for it as: Almost always stated in the title or specs ('24g Steel Tip Darts').
Title keyword match for the gram figure; near-universal on listings.
Chart: position on a stability-vs-control axis, heavier = straighter flight.

### Dart weight (soft tip)

The total weight of one soft-tip dart including point, barrel, shaft, and flight. Soft-tip darts are kept lighter than steel-tip darts because heavier impacts can damage an electronic board's sensors; most retail soft-tip darts sit well below what a steel-tip player would throw. [5] [6]

Range: 14 to 24 g. Most retail soft-tip darts are 16-20g; competition rules have historically capped soft-tip weight around 18g, with some bodies allowing up to 21g since 2019.
Question to ask: A lighter soft-tip dart, or heavier (up to ~20g)?

Used as: shown on the card, sortable. Data: on the listing, backfill cost low. Look for it as: Almost always stated in the title or specs ('18g Soft Tip Darts').
Title keyword match for the gram figure; near-universal on listings.
Chart: position on a stability-vs-control axis, heavier = straighter flight.

### Barrel material

What the dart barrel is made of: brass, nickel-silver, or a tungsten alloy (typically 80-95% tungsten with the remainder nickel, iron, or copper). Tungsten is denser than brass, so a tungsten barrel sits noticeably slimmer than a brass barrel of the same weight, which groups darts tighter on the board. Nickel-silver, a silvery copper-nickel-zinc alloy, sits between the two on both density and price. [2] [4]

Values: brass, nickel_silver, tungsten_alloy, other, unspecified.
Question to ask: Brass, nickel-silver, or tungsten barrel?

Used as: filter, shown on the card, sortable. Data: on the listing, backfill cost low. Look for it as: Almost always in the title or specs ('90% Tungsten Darts', 'Brass Darts').
Title keyword match; unlabeled low-price darts default to brass, the cheapest material.
Chart: position on a density/slimness axis, tungsten highest.

### Barrel shape

The barrel's profile: cylindrical (same thickness end to end), torpedo (thickest in the middle, tapering at both ends), or teardrop/ton (widest near the point, tapering to the rear). Shape sets where the center of gravity sits, which should match where a player's fingers grip the barrel: teardrop suits a front grip, cylindrical an even or rear grip, and torpedo centers the weight in the middle for a middle grip. [8]

Values: cylindrical, torpedo, teardrop.
Question to ask: Grip the dart at the front, middle, or back?

Used as: filter, shown on the card. Data: on the listing, backfill cost medium. Look for it as: Usually named in the product title or shown in a profile photo; not always a structured field.
Title keyword match catches most; otherwise infer from the product photo's barrel outline.
Chart: Barrel density versus diameter.

### Grip texture

How much the barrel surface bites into the fingers: smooth, lightly ringed or knurled, or an aggressive shark/razor pattern. More texture gives a more consistent release point and less slip for sweaty hands, but a slow or deliberate throwing style can snag on a heavily textured barrel on release. [8] [9]

Values: smooth, ringed, knurled, shark_razor.
Question to ask: Smooth barrel, or want some grip texture?

Used as: filter, shown on the card. Data: on the listing, backfill cost medium. Look for it as: Often named in the title ('Shark Grip', 'Knurled') or shown in a close-up photo rather than a structured field.
Title keyword match for named grips; otherwise default to 'ringed' as the most common middle option.

### Shaft material

What the shaft (stem) between the barrel and flight is made of: nylon, aluminum, carbon fiber, titanium, or polycarbonate. Plastic shafts (nylon, polycarbonate) flex and absorb impact from other darts without snapping; metal shafts (aluminum, titanium, carbon fiber) are rigid and lighter for their strength but can shatter or bend on a hard hit. [2]

Values: nylon, aluminum, carbon_fiber, titanium, polycarbonate, other.
Question to ask: Flexible plastic shaft, or a rigid metal one?

Used as: filter, shown on the card. Data: on the listing, backfill cost low. Look for it as: Usually in the title or specs for the shaft/stem component of a set.
Title keyword match; unlabeled budget sets default to nylon.

### Shaft length

How long the shaft between barrel and flight is: short, medium, or long. A longer shaft gives a steadier flight and lets the flight be smaller for tighter grouping, but shifts weight toward the rear, which can make the dart tilt backward in flight and need a harder, faster throw. [2]

Values: short, medium, long.
Question to ask: Short, medium, or long shafts?

Used as: filter, shown on the card. Data: on the listing, backfill cost low. Look for it as: Usually named directly ('Medium Shafts') rather than given in millimeters.
Title/spec keyword match; default to medium when unstated.
Chart: position on a stability-vs-speed axis, long = more stable, rear-weighted.

### Flight shape

The flight's outline: standard (largest), kite (tapered, a middle ground), or pear/slim (smallest). A larger flight gives more lift and the most stable flight but is slower through the air and hampers tight grouping; a smaller flight is faster with less lift and less stability. [2]

Values: standard, kite, pear_slim.
Question to ask: Standard-size flights, or smaller slim ones?

Used as: filter, shown on the card. Data: on the listing, backfill cost low. Look for it as: Usually named directly in the title or flight packaging.
Title/spec keyword match; default to 'standard' when unstated, the most common shape.
Chart: position on a stability-vs-speed axis, standard = most stable.

### Single dart or set of 3

Whether the listing is one loose dart or a matched set of three, the number thrown per turn. Darts are thrown three to a turn, so nearly every buyer wants a matched set of three with consistent weight and balance; a single loose dart is almost always a replacement for a set already owned. [1]

Values: single_loose, set_of_3.
Question to ask: A full set of 3, or a single replacement dart?

Used as: filter. Data: on the listing, backfill cost low. Look for it as: Stated in the title ('Set of 3') or implied by the listed quantity/price.
Title keyword match; default to set_of_3 when unstated, the overwhelmingly common configuration.

### Scoring wire type

Whether the wire separating scoring segments on a sisal/cork board is a thicker standard wire or a thin, 'staple-free' reduced wire. A dart that hits the wire can bounce out and score nothing; thinner, staple-free wire gives the dart more fiber to land in and fewer bounce-outs, and is the standard on tournament-grade boards. [10]

Values: staple_free_reduced, standard_wire.

Used as: filter, shown on the card. Data: needs research, backfill cost low. Look for it as: Named directly on tournament-grade boards ('Staple-Free Bullseye'); absent on budget boards.
Title/spec keyword match for 'staple-free'; default to standard_wire on budget boards that don't mention it.
Chart: position on a bounce-out-risk axis, staple-free lowest.

### Mounting type

How the board is set up to play: a bare wall bracket, a cabinet with doors that close over the board, or a freestanding stand. A cabinet protects walls from stray darts and can hold a scoreboard and extra darts, a bracket is the cheapest and smallest option, and a stand is the only choice for players who can't mount anything to a wall. [10]

Values: wall_bracket, cabinet_surround, freestanding_stand.
Question to ask: Wall bracket, cabinet, or stand?

Used as: filter. Data: on the listing, backfill cost low. Look for it as: Usually clear from the title ('Dartboard Cabinet', 'Dartboard Stand') or product photos.
Title keyword match; default to wall_bracket when the listing is the board alone with no cabinet or stand shown.

### Power source

For electronic dartboards, whether it runs on batteries or a mains power adapter. Battery power lets a board be set up anywhere, including away from an outlet, but needs regular battery changes; mains power is more reliable for a fixed installation like a bar or game room. [10]

Values: battery, mains_adapter.
Question to ask: Battery powered, or near an outlet?

Used as: filter. Data: on the listing, backfill cost low. Look for it as: Usually stated in the specs ('Includes AC Adapter' or 'Battery Operated').
Spec keyword match; default to mains_adapter when unstated, the more common setup for home electronic boards.

### Board size class

Whether the board is regulation size (451.0mm per WDF rule, approximately 18in), a smaller mini/travel board, or an oversized novelty board. A regulation board is the only size that plays to the standard scoring layout at the standard throw distance; mini/travel boards trade accurate practice for portability, and oversized novelty boards are for casual or kids' play, not score-for-score practice. [1] [10]

Values: regulation_451mm, mini_travel, oversized_novelty.
Question to ask: Full regulation size, or a smaller travel/mini board?

Used as: filter. Data: on the listing, backfill cost low. Look for it as: Stated diameter in the title or specs; 'travel' or 'mini' in the title is a reliable signal.
Title keyword match for 'travel'/'mini'; default to regulation_451mm when a diameter near 18in is given or no size is stated.

### Max players supported

The highest number of players an electronic dartboard's scoring computer can track and display at once. A board that only tracks up to 8 players can't score a larger group night without manual tallying, so max player count is a real spec families and bars compare. [13] [14]

Range: 8 to 16 players. Most home electronic boards support up to 8 players; some premium cabinet models extend to 16.
Question to ask: Playing solo or small groups, or need more?

Used as: filter, shown on the card. Data: on the listing, backfill cost low. Look for it as: Stated in the specs or bullet points ('Supports up to 8 Players').
Spec keyword match for the player count; default to 8 when unstated, the most common home-board figure.

### Scoring display & sound

Whether the electronic board's scoring computer shows scores on a plain LED/digital counter, or adds an LCD display with voice prompts and sound effects. An LCD display with voice prompts announces scores aloud, which is a heavily marketed step up from a bare LED counter and matters most for players who don't want to watch the display to follow the game. [13] [14]

Values: led_digital_basic, lcd_with_voice_sound.
Question to ask: Plain digital scoring, or LCD display with voice prompts?

Used as: filter, shown on the card. Data: on the listing, backfill cost low. Look for it as: Named directly in the title or bullets ('LCD Digital Scoring System', 'Voice Prompt Features').
Title/spec keyword match for 'LCD' or 'voice'; default to led_digital_basic when neither is mentioned.

### Tungsten percentage

For tungsten-alloy barrels, what share of the barrel is tungsten versus the nickel, iron, or copper it's alloyed with. Pure tungsten is too brittle to machine alone, so barrels alloy it; a higher percentage means a denser, slimmer barrel for the same weight and is marketed and priced as the higher grade. [2] [15]

Range: 80 to 95 %. Mid-range darts commonly use 80% or 90% tungsten; premium darts use 95%.

Used as: shown on the card, sortable. Data: on the listing, backfill cost low. Look for it as: Stated directly on the spec sheet or title ('90% Tungsten').
Almost always stated for tungsten darts; absence usually means brass or nickel-silver, not an unstated tungsten percentage.
Chart: position on a density/slimness axis.

### Shaft rotation type

Whether the shaft is locked rigidly to the barrel and flight, or a spinning/swivel type that lets the flight rotate freely in the air and on impact. A spinning shaft lets the flight rotate on contact and in flight, which some players feel improves stability from a slightly tilted release, while a locked shaft keeps the flight fixed for a more traditional, predictable feel. [16] [17]

Values: locked_fixed, spinning.
Question to ask: A locked, fixed shaft, or one that spins?

Used as: filter, shown on the card. Data: on the listing, backfill cost low. Look for it as: Named directly in the title or shaft category ('Spinning Shaft', 'Locked Shaft').
Title/spec keyword match for 'spinning' or 'locked'; default to locked_fixed when unstated, the more traditional configuration.

### Built-in game count

How many distinct game modes are built into an electronic dartboard's scoring computer, not counting the on-top variations each game offers. More built-in games beyond '01 and Cricket extends replay value for casual and family play, and is a headline spec marketed and compared across electronic board models. [13] [14]

Range: 25 to 57 games. Most mid-range electronic boards list 28-40 built-in games; budget boards sit near 25, premium cabinet boards up to 57.
Question to ask: Want more built-in game variety, or just the basics?

Used as: shown on the card, sortable. Data: on the listing, backfill cost low. Look for it as: Stated directly in the title or bullet specs ('37 Built-In Games').
Title/spec keyword match for the game count number; leave unspecified rather than guessing when absent.

### Flight material

What the flight is made of and how thick: budget polyester (commonly around 75 micron) or stiffer, more durable nylon (commonly around 100 micron). Thicker nylon flights hold their shape far longer than polyester, which softens and creases quickly, so the flight keeps a consistent, predictable flight path for longer between replacements. [4]

Values: polyester, nylon, other.

Used as: filter, shown on the card. Data: on the listing, backfill cost medium. Look for it as: Sometimes stated as a micron thickness in the specs; otherwise only the material name is given.
Title/spec keyword match for the material name; budget multi-packs default to polyester.

### Steel point style

Whether the steel point is permanently fixed to the barrel or a removable/replaceable screw-in point, and whether it's a standard (about 32mm) or long (about 41mm) point. A removable point can be swapped out when it dulls or bends, rather than retiring the whole dart, and some removable points retract slightly on impact to cut down on bounce-outs; point length is mostly a matter of how far the dart's weight sits forward. [2]

Values: fixed_short, fixed_long, removable.

Used as: filter, shown on the card. Data: on the listing, backfill cost medium. Look for it as: Sometimes stated ('Fixed Point', 'Removable Point'); point length is rarely a structured field.
Title keyword match for fixed/removable; default to fixed_short when unstated, the most common steel-tip configuration.

### Soft tip thread size

The screw thread the replaceable plastic tip uses to attach to the barrel: the common 2BA (British Association, 6mm), or the less common 1/4 BSF (8mm) used on some older or specialty darts. Replacement tips must match the barrel's thread or they won't screw in; 2BA is the near-universal standard, so a buyer with 2BA-threaded spare tips on hand should avoid a barrel that uses the 8mm BSF thread instead. [11] [12]

Values: 2ba_6mm, quarter_bsf_8mm, unspecified.

Used as: filter. Data: needs research, backfill cost medium. Look for it as: Rarely stated on the dart listing itself; usually only given on the replacement-tip packaging.
Default to 2ba_6mm when unstated, since it's the standard for nearly every modern soft-tip dart.

## Numbers worth computing

| Metric | Formula | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Price per dart | `listing price ÷ number of darts in the set` | Sets come in packs of 1, 3, 6, or more; dividing out the count lets a buyer compare a single premium dart against a budget multi-pack. [4] |

## What you give up

- A higher tungsten percentage buys a slimmer barrel at the same weight, which groups darts tighter on the board, but tungsten darts cost more than brass or nickel-silver ones of the same weight because the material and machining are both pricier. [2] [4] Board branch: "Slimmer, tighter-grouping darts".
- Heavier texture like shark or razor grip gives a more consistent, repeatable release point and fights sweaty-hand slip, but a barrel with that much texture can catch on the fingers of a player with a slow, deliberate throw. [8] [9] Board branch: "More grip, less smooth release".
- A heavier dart flies straighter with less effort to keep stable, favoring a flat throw, but it takes more arm force to launch and release consistently than a lighter dart suited to a looser, arcing throw. [4] Board branch: "Heavier, straighter-flying darts".

## How to draw it

**Barrel density versus diameter** (two axis map, shows Barrel material, Tungsten percentage). Denser barrel material sits at a smaller diameter for the same weight, which is why tungsten darts group tighter. This is a proposal, nobody draws it this way yet. [2] [4]

## Words you will meet

- **Sisal fiber**. A tough natural plant fiber, from the agave plant, tightly packed to make bristle dartboards.
- **Bristle dartboard**. Another name for a sisal dartboard; the terms describe the same compressed natural-fiber board.
- **Bounce-out**. A dart that hits the board but falls or bounces out before it's retrieved, scoring nothing.
- **Staple-free wire**. Thin segment-dividing wire with no visible staples, designed to reduce bounce-outs on quality bristle boards.
- **Spider**. The metal wire frame embedded in a bristle or cork board that divides it into scoring segments.
- **Tungsten alloy**. A barrel material blending tungsten (usually 80-95%) with nickel, iron, or copper, since pure tungsten is too brittle to machine alone.
- **Torpedo barrel**. A barrel shape that's thickest in the middle and tapers at both ends, centering the weight in the middle of the dart.
- **Teardrop barrel**. A barrel shape that's widest near the point and tapers toward the rear, shifting weight forward.
- **Cylindrical barrel**. A barrel that's the same thickness along its whole length, spreading weight evenly front to back.
- **Knurling**. A crosshatched pattern of small raised ridges machined into a barrel to improve grip.
- **Shark grip**. An aggressive, sharp-edged grip pattern giving the strongest hold on the barrel, named for its tooth-like ridges.
- **Micron**. A unit of thickness (a thousandth of a millimeter) used to describe how thick a flight is; thicker flights last longer.
- **2BA thread**. A standard 6mm screw thread (British Association size 2) that nearly all soft-tip replacement points use to screw into the barrel.
- **1/4 BSF thread**. An older 8mm screw thread (British Standard Fine) that some soft-tip barrels use instead of the now-standard 6mm 2BA thread.
- **Nickel-silver**. A silvery copper-nickel-zinc alloy with no actual silver in it, used for dart barrels priced and weighted between brass and tungsten.
- **Ringed grip**. A barrel texture with shallow grooves cut around it, giving light grip between a smooth barrel and a knurled one.

## Where we made a call

- Soft-tip dart maximum weight is commonly cited as 18g, though some sources say governing bodies raised it to 21g in 2019. (confidence medium). Sources disagree. dartbase and dartcounterapp both state an 18g cap; mydartpfeil states the cap rose to 21g in 2019. No single rulebook for soft-tip play was fetched to resolve this, so both figures are reported. [5] [6] [7]
- Soft-tip throw distance is 2.44m (8ft) under the American NDA standard, though WDF-aligned rules unified it with steel tip at 2.37m around 2015. (confidence medium). Sources disagree. wikipedia_oche states the NDA sets 8ft/2.44m for soft-tip play; mydartpfeil states the distance was unified at 2.37m for both tip types in 2015 under the rules it follows. Both can be true for different governing bodies/regions; neither source gives the other's number. [3] [7]
- Sources swap which term, torpedo or teardrop/ton, names the barrel shape that's thickest in the middle versus widest near the point. (confidence medium). Sources disagree. wikipedia_darts calls the middle-thick shape 'ton' and the point-wide shape 'torpedo'; mydartpfeil_barrelshapes calls the middle-thick shape 'torpedo' and the point-wide shape 'teardrop'. This register follows mydartpfeil_barrelshapes's naming; wikipedia_darts is not cited as evidence for barrel_shape. [2] [8]

## References

1. [World Darts Federation Playing and Tournament Rules, 20th revised edition](https://dartswdf.com/storage/uploads/fb05b306-c92c-4f08-b512-affb092a1b3d/2018-02-28_WDF_Playing_and_Tournament_Rules_rev20.pdf) (standards body). Supports: Darts shall not exceed 30.5cm overall length nor weigh more than 50 grams (section 1.01); Overall dartboard diameter is 451.0mm, +/- 3.0mm; Bull height is 1.73m from the floor; oche throw distance is 2.37m.
2. [Darts](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Darts) (primer). Supports: Barrel materials are brass, nickel-silver, or tungsten alloy, 80-95% tungsten; Tungsten is twice as dense as brass, so a barrel can be 30% slimmer for the same weight; Barrel shapes are cylindrical, ton/teardrop, and torpedo; Point lengths are commonly 32mm or 41mm; competition max weight is 50g, max length 300mm.
3. [Oche](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oche) (primer). Supports: Steel-tip throwing distance is 2.37m (7ft 9.25in); Soft-tip distance under the American NDA standard is 2.44m (8ft); bull height is 1.73m for both.
4. [How To Choose The Best Darts Weight](https://www.dartscorner.com/blogs/how-to/how-to-choose-the-best-darts-weight) (specialist review). Supports: Steel-tip dart weight ranges roughly 12-48g, most commonly 22-24g; Soft-tip dart weight ranges roughly 14-24g, most commonly 18-20g; Barrel material and tungsten percentage set barrel diameter at a given weight; The barrel is the heaviest single component and dominates a dart's total weight.
5. [What are "soft-tip" darts?](https://www.dartbase.com/Sect1/19.html) (primer). Supports: Soft-tip dart maximum weight is generally set at 16 or 18 grams, versus 52 grams for steel-tip; The lower soft-tip limit is due to the fragility of molded plastic board parts and sensors.
6. [Soft Tip Darts Maximum Weight: Are You Throwing Illegal?](https://dartcounterapp.com/soft-tip-darts-maximum-weight/) (specialist review). Supports: Soft-tip darts maximum weight is generally capped at 18 grams to protect electronic dartboard sensors.
7. [Soft dart rules, dimensions & distance](https://mydartpfeil.com/en-us/blogs/spiele/softdart) (specialist review). Supports: Soft-tip maximum weight was raised from 18g to 21g in 2019; Maximum soft-tip dart length is 16.8cm, versus 30cm for steel tip; Soft-tip throwing distance was unified with steel tip at 2.37m in 2015, previously 2.44m.
8. [Dart Barrel: Different shapes and grip types](https://mydartpfeil.com/en/blogs/ausruestung/dart-barrel-formen-und-griparten) (specialist review). Supports: Teardrop barrels shift the center of gravity forward, suiting a front grip; Cylindrical barrels spread weight evenly, suiting a rear grip; torpedo barrels center it in the middle; Grip levels run from smooth/low grip through ringed and knurled zones to shark and razor grip.
9. [Dart Barrel Design: Complete Guide and Professional Tips](https://emythdarts.com/dart-barrel-design-complete-guide-and-professional-tips/) (specialist review). Supports: Barrel balance (front, center, or rear) changes the center of gravity and nose angle in flight; Grip texture ranges from knurling and ring cuts to scallops, trading traction for release smoothness.
10. [Bristle vs Sisal Dartboard: Which One Should You Pick?](https://dartboardreview.com/bristle-vs-sisal-dartboard/) (specialist review). Supports: Sisal fiber self-heals after a dart is removed; Thinner wire placement reduces bounce-outs; Standard dartboards measure 18 inches in diameter.
11. [2BA Thread](https://www.dartfieber.de/en/tips/2ba-thread/) (spec sheet). Supports: Most modern soft-tip darts use the 2BA thread (6mm); Older or specialty darts may use a 1/4 BSF thread (8mm) instead.
12. [Dart Shaft Screw Size: Getting The Perfect Fit](https://shuntool.com/article/dart-shaft-screw-size) (specialist review). Supports: The most common soft-tip dart thread size is 2BA (British Association), 6mm in diameter; A 1/4 BSF thread is a less common alternative on some darts.
13. [Best Electronic Dartboard](https://dartboardreview.com/best-electronic-dartboard/) (specialist review). Supports: Built-in games range from 25 to 57 across reviewed electronic dartboards; Reviewed boards support 8 to 16 simultaneous players; Premium boards add an LCD display and voice prompt/sound features.
14. [Arachnid CricketMaxx 4.0 Electronic Dartboard Set](https://www.escaladesports.com/products/arachnid-00-cricketmaxx-edb) (spec sheet). Supports: CricketMaxx 4.0 has 37 built-in games and 315 variations; LED scoring supports up to 8 players across four displays.
15. [Tungsten Darts collection](https://www.dartscorner.com/collections/tungsten) (spec sheet). Supports: Retail tungsten darts are sold at 70%, 80%, 85%, 90%, 95%, and 97% tungsten.
16. [Spinning Dart Shafts collection](https://www.dartscorner.com/collections/spinning-dart-shafts) (spec sheet). Supports: A spinner dart shaft lets the flight rotate freely in the air for stability.
17. [Locked Dart Shafts collection](https://www.dartscorner.com/collections/locked-dart-shafts) (spec sheet). Supports: A locked shaft firmly attaches the flight to minimise movement and add stability.