There are many different dartboard options available online and in local retailers, but it can be hard to know which ones will stand the test of time and not fail after a few years of use.
You want to purchase a dartboard that you can keep for years to come and play lots of rounds on.
So, knowing which options are the best can help you get the best option that will last as long as you want it to.
We have taken a look at a large number of different dartboard options in the past and have come up with the best of each category.
However, we wanted to take a look at the best overall and find out how these boards stand up against other top pick options.
So, we took a look at the best products overall and reviewed how they beat out the competition so you can see which one’s are the best of the best.
Dartboards Comparison Chart
Best Dartboard by Type
1. Arachnid E800ARA Cricket Pro 800 – Best Electronic/Digital Dartboard Review
This Arachnid E800ARA Cricket Pro electronic dartboard is the best family-friendly option that comes with multiple games in one board.
With this board you can play 179 variations of games, including 7 different cricket options, so you’ll never get bored.
The NylonTough segments are durable and will last through years of use and with up to 8 players allowed, you can play with the whole family.
This electronic dartboard is great for families because kids and parents alike will love the game options and large group playing.
Main Features
- 15.5-inch regulation dartboard
- Comes with 39 games and 179 variations
- NylonTough segments for durability
- Micro-thin segments reduce bounce-outs
- Allows up to 8 players
2. WIN.MAX Dartboard Set – Best Electronic Soft Tip Dartboard Review
This WIN.MAX Electronic Dartboard Set is the best soft tip dartboard option on the market and comes with 21 games on one board.
With this board, you can play games like cricket, shanghai, double down, and shove a penny so that a group of friends or family members can play together for a long time.
This dartboard is great for those who don’t want the risk of regular metal tips hitting their walls.
This board can keep the score for up to four individual players or two teams of two people so friends and family can play all together. Plus, the wide catch ring helps protect your walls from darts missing the board.
Main Features
- Comes with 21 game options
- Has a bright LCD display
- Board can keep score for up to 4 players
- Players can be on teams
- The wide catch ring protects walls
3. WIN.MAX 18″ – Best Bristle Dartboard Review
This WIN.MAX 18″ product is the best bristle dartboard available because of its 18-inch size which allows it to be used in tournaments and competitions just like the professionals.
This item comes with a staple-free bristle wire system that provides more scoring surface and helps to keep bounce-outs from happening.
This option uses Kenyan Sisil because the fibers are strong so that the darts don’t break or damage them but instead slide in between them.
This allows for longer life and more durability. This dartboard is great for bars, restaurants, tournaments, or simply for practicing at home.
Main Features
- 18-inch tournament-sized board
- Has a staple-free bristle wire system
- Kenyan Sisil fibers for strength
- Rotatable number ring for even wear
- Long-lasting material and durable build
4. STREET WALK 12pcs – Best Magnetic Dartboard Review
This Street Walk 12pcs dartboard is the best magnetic option that you can find and comes with 12 pieces included in the purchase price.
The magnetic dartboard comes with 12 multi-colored magnetic darts that are safe for young children to use because there isn’t a sharp metal tip that will harm them or the walls.
The darts come with neodymium magnets that are strong enough to stay on the board every time.
Plus, this dartboard is reversible and comes with a target on the back that allows for practice and use for other games. This also offers a great way for young kids to learn hand-eye coordination in a way that doesn’t feel like they’re being taught.
Main Features
- Comes with 12-multi-colored magnetic darts
- Safe for children to use because they’re no sharp tips
- Made from neodymium magnets for strength
- Can be used indoors or outdoors
- Top of board comes with a hook for easy hanging on the wall
Buyer’s Guide
Before you spend your hard-earned money on a new dartboard for you or your family, you want to make sure that you know all you can about the product.
From how to hang a dartboard correctly to the proper way to keep score, you want to have all this knowledge under your belt to help make our final decision.
So, we have put all the basic information together that you should know before purchasing a new dartboard so that you can know as much as possible, in hopes that this will help you make your final choice.
How to Hang a Dartboard
This basic piece of information is something that any dartboard owner, or future owner, should know how to do. So, here are the steps that you need to take to ensure that you have a properly hung dartboard.
Step 1: Find a Space to Hang It
This is something that may seem like a no-brainer, but there are some details that you should think about when deciding where to hang the dartboard.
Also, make sure that nothing fragile is within 2 or 3 feet from the board. Darts can fly pretty far if they bounce off the board, so making sure a glass vase or fragile décor piece isn’t anywhere close.
Step 2: Get the Height Right
Once you know which wall you’ll hang the dartboard one, you will want to decide on the height that you want it at. The regulation standard is 5 feet 8 inches from the center of the bullseye to the floor. This can be easily measured by a standard tape measure.
Step 3: Hang It Up
Most dartboards will come with the pieces that allow you to attach it to the wall. Typically, these pieces are a screw for the middle of the backside of the board, and a metal piece that you will screw into the wall where the first screw will hang from.
First, you will use the measurement that you took for the regulation height of the board and screw the metal piece into that spot so that you will have the perfect regulation height.
This piece will have a dip in it that the other screw will slide into, so make sure that space is facing the ceiling.
Then, you will put the large screw into the pre-made hole in the back of the dartboard. You will want to put it in about halfway and you can tighten it later once you see how the board hangs.
Finally, you slide the screw into the dip on the wall piece until it slides in and stays firmly up.
How to Throw Darts
There is a right and wrong way to throw a dart, and if you have ever watched the pros at a tournament, then you’ve seen it done before. However, not every player knows exactly what to do to get the perfect throw. So, here is how to properly throw a dart.
First, you want to take the proper stance for dart throwing. To do this, you want to step sideways and put your dominant side forward, facing the dartboard.
If you are right-handed, then you will put your right side forward and have your left foot behind your right. If you’re left-handed, then you will put your left side forward. You will want to point your dominant foot toward the board.
Next, you will grip and aim the dart. You do this by putting three or four fingers on the barrel, or the metal piece that is closest to the tip that is slightly raised. You will want to use your thumb, index finger, and middle finger.
If you want a bit more stability, you can choose to use your ring finger as well. Your grip should be light and not too firm so that you can let go of the dart easily.
Then, you will raise the dart to eye level. The dart, when fully raised, your arm should be at a right angle with your hand, elbow, and shoulder are all aligned with your elbow pointing in the direction of the dartboard.
Finally, you will prepare to throw the dart. You will lift the tip of the dart slightly, making sure not to tilt it to the left or right. With your dominant eye, align the dart’s tip with the bullseye.
When you are ready, you will pull your hand back a little as you throw and shift more weight onto your dominant foot. As you release the dart, snap your wrist to increase the speed and accuracy of the throw.
Darts Rules
Whether you are playing a rousing game at home with your family, or you are competing in a tournament at your local pub, you want to make sure that you are clear on the rules of the game. So, here are the basic rules that all dart players must learn to follow.
During the game, both players will throw three darts a turn to try to get the most points possible. While throwing, a player’s foot must not pass over the oche – or the line – that is set.
The oche is typically set around 8 feet away from the dartboard. If the toe of the foot passes the line, then the score is no good. However, players can lean forward while they throw, so long as their feet stay planted behind the oche.
Although the goal is to get to zero, the last throw to win must be on a double or a bullseye. If the player gets to 1 or goes passed zero, then the turn is a bust.
Their score is returned to what it was at the beginning of that turn. The player who gets to zero on a bullseye or double wins the game.
Darts Scoring
When playing a game of 501, or 301 (the same concept except you start with 301 points), you need to understand how to score points. When a player gets points, as mentioned, they are deducted from the 501 at starting.
Here is the scoring for the game:
- Bullseye – 50 points
- Outer ring – 25 points
- Double ring- double the segment number (if 9 is hit then score is 18)
- Treble ring – triple the segment number (if 8 is hit then score is 24)
During the last round of the game, if the player goes down to 1 or passed zero without hitting a double or a bullseye, their score is returned to what it was at the beginning of that turn. So, keep a close eye on the scores at the end!
Darts Distance
When setting up your dartboard, you want to ensure that the oche is placed at the right distance for regulation throwing. The oche should measure 7 feet and 9.25 inches away from the dartboard.
You want to measure this length once the board is placed on the wall, and mark it with tape or a marker. This will be the line that you stand behind when throwing darts in the game.
Soft Tip Darts Rules
Although soft darts and boards are different from the traditional ones, many of the rules are the same. In a game of 501, you will use the same scoring and rules like:
- First to zero wins
- Winning throw must be on a double or bullseye
- No player may step over the line when throwing
- Each turn, a player will have three throws
- Winning throw can end on any of the three throws of a round
Dartboard Height
If you want to have a regulation standard set up, then you will have to make sure that the dartboard is placed at the proper height.
To ensure that you have the correct height, you will need to measure from the floor to exactly 5 feet 8 inches up the wall. You should mark this spot with a pencil.
Then, when you screw in the metal piece to hang the board, you will make sure that the bullseye will hang in the exact spot that you marked. You will want to measure again once the dartboard is hung to ensure that you have the correct height.
Dartboard Height for Juniors
When you are playing darts with young kids that are much smaller than the average adult, you might want to lower the board so that they don’t have as much trouble hitting the board.
There is no set height and distance used for young children, so this can be left up to the parent. With younger children, you may want to move the oche up to 6 feet and bring the height down to 4 feet 8 inches.
As they grow, you can slowly move the height and distance back so that they are getting back to regulation height.
What to Put Behind the Dartboard to Protect the Wall
If you are a fan of darts but don’t want your wall riddled with holes from missed shots, then you will want to put a layer of protection behind the dartboard to protect it. You can use a large number of different materials, but the most common protector is a corkboard.
Plus, the spongy texture of the cork can actually hold the darts in place, if the corkboard is thick enough, so that you don’t have missed darts flying around.
Dartboard Wall Protector Ideas
Although corkboards are the most commonly used protector behind dartboards, there are several creative ways to have a nicer looking option that doesn’t just look like a wall protector.
People have come up with some great ideas for protecting their walls, and their creativity may help you get an idea for your wall.
So, here are a few interesting ways to protect your wall from a few badly-aimed darts:
Source:
https://www.pinterest.com/pin/379217231124389301/
https://www.pinterest.com/pin/338966309453640883/
https://www.pinterest.com/pin/74520568806542989/
Sisal Vs Bristle Dartboard
The use of sisal and bristle on dartboards is common because of the durability that both materials can handle.
The sisal material is a hard fiber that is made from the leaves of the sisal plant and is biodegradable. Sisal is very strong and after it is hit by a dart, it fixes itself so that it takes the shape that it originally was.
Bristle dartboards, although the name may suggest otherwise, are actually made of sisal or hemp. The strong sisal, as mentioned before, retains its shape after being hit and makes the board very durable.
With these two types being made of the same material, they are both great options for a dartboard.
How to Prevent Dart Holes
After playing quite a few rounds of 501, you might start to see some holes forming on your dartboard. This is often caused by the same areas being hit consistently.
The best way to maintain your dartboard and keep these dart holes from forming is to rotate the board. This will allow you to make the areas offer higher scores to be moved around so that you don’t hit the same area every time you play.
The rotatable number ring can move around the board to allow you to pick which spot you want each number on.
That way, you can move the higher numbers to areas that haven’t been used so you wear down the board evenly. This will also help the board to last longer as well.
