So I've been playing darts just for fun off and on for a few years now. Recently I decided to try to hone my skill and start looking for a local place to play. I am currently reading about the different types of darts, tips and generally trying to learn about the sport in all. Anybody else here play? Any good stories, tips or other general chat?
Darts
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1. Brass darts make your fingers stink.
2. In 301/501, it sucks when you miss all your opportunities, and end up having to double out on 2.
3. Closing out that last number in Cricket can be a b**ch sometimes, too.
4. Must drink beer while playing out with friends.
5. Progressing from being a decent player to being a good player takes a metric buttload of practice.
6. When in doubt, aim for that little red dot in the middle.
2. In 301/501, it sucks when you miss all your opportunities, and end up having to double out on 2.
3. Closing out that last number in Cricket can be a b**ch sometimes, too.
4. Must drink beer while playing out with friends.
5. Progressing from being a decent player to being a good player takes a metric buttload of practice.
6. When in doubt, aim for that little red dot in the middle.
My list is slightly different:
1) buy a standard dart board (nothing fancy, nothing electronic) so you can practice at home -- you'll go broke trying to get good while feeding a machine.
2) buy darts from a good dealer. If the store only has a small display, go elsewhere. It's been too long since I played so I can't quote prices, but they don't have to be horribly expensive -- just buy a grade or two up from the lowest.
3) Try a variety of flights. I was stuck on mediocre until I tried different flights. I went through several styles/materials before finding one that gave me real consistency.
4) If you go to a regional or national meet, budget an extra $100 a day for unforeseen expenses and have access to a few hundred more in case you need to make bail. Don't ever take your credit cards with you!
5) Try to get decent with both hands -- you'll freak out your opponent if they see you warming up right-handed and then switch to left-handed in the match (or vice versa).
6) When in doubt, aim for that little red dot in the middle.
1) buy a standard dart board (nothing fancy, nothing electronic) so you can practice at home -- you'll go broke trying to get good while feeding a machine.
2) buy darts from a good dealer. If the store only has a small display, go elsewhere. It's been too long since I played so I can't quote prices, but they don't have to be horribly expensive -- just buy a grade or two up from the lowest.
3) Try a variety of flights. I was stuck on mediocre until I tried different flights. I went through several styles/materials before finding one that gave me real consistency.
4) If you go to a regional or national meet, budget an extra $100 a day for unforeseen expenses and have access to a few hundred more in case you need to make bail. Don't ever take your credit cards with you!
5) Try to get decent with both hands -- you'll freak out your opponent if they see you warming up right-handed and then switch to left-handed in the match (or vice versa).
6) When in doubt, aim for that little red dot in the middle.
Hahaha! Thanks for the lists, I recently got a good deal on Amazon.com for a good regular bristle dartboard and a set of Nodor 80% tungsten darts. I can agree with you Caff about that last Cricket throw, I have uttered many a curse over then years when I've played. Cricket is without a doubt my game of choice. Fant I have seen the different styles of flights and read a bit about how they effect your throw. I will be looking into that. The only catch for now is I have only found one dart shop in my area. There may be some traveling in my future.
Perhaps the biggest advantage to buying your darts locally is that you'll almost certainly have a chance to try out a few sets, and learn for sure what you like best.
Buying darts online is fine if you already know what you want, and what works best for you. But, there's no denying the benefit of being able to actually throw the darts for a little bit, and determine the weight and shape that you're most comfortable with.
Also, if you choose to go to a local shop, be nice to your retailer; don't go there to find what you like, then go buy them for cheap online.
Buying darts online is fine if you already know what you want, and what works best for you. But, there's no denying the benefit of being able to actually throw the darts for a little bit, and determine the weight and shape that you're most comfortable with.
Also, if you choose to go to a local shop, be nice to your retailer; don't go there to find what you like, then go buy them for cheap online.
I am all for supporting local business. I just water to get a somewhat inexpensive set to start with just to give myself a baseline to start with. I would love to be able to try stuff out. You have any particular favorite set ups that work well for you? From what I've read it seems that there isn't much of a standard as to what to match with what.
I prefer heavier darts with a straight barrel, as opposed to torpedo-shaped barrels that taper up towards the tip. The set I use most often is an old trio of 26g Unicorn 95% Tungsten darts that I bought back in the early `90s. They look almost exactly like these newer T95's:
I've outfitted them with these short, 1¾" 4-wire shafts. The design makes for very easy flight insertion, and the wires grip the flight pretty well:
And I like Dimplex flights because they look spiffy, and they're very rigid. I don't know what effect the rigidity has on the dart's flight to the board, (if any), but it just feels right. For whatever that's worth.
I've outfitted them with these short, 1¾" 4-wire shafts. The design makes for very easy flight insertion, and the wires grip the flight pretty well:
And I like Dimplex flights because they look spiffy, and they're very rigid. I don't know what effect the rigidity has on the dart's flight to the board, (if any), but it just feels right. For whatever that's worth.
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Thanks, I think I will need to get a set with the knurling on it. The set I have now is a similar barrel design that does feel comfortable in my hand but I am not getting the grip I'd like. But I like those stems, they do look easy to use. What games do you like to play?
You're obviously not familiar with the rules of the sport, SilverBear. You must smell your opponent's fingers.
Then, you throw dog poop on their shoes.
Then, you throw dog poop on their shoes.
You're obviously not familiar with the rules of the sport, SilverBear. You must smell your opponent's fingers.
Then, you throw dog poop on their shoes.
Is that before or after the chicken dance?
As I'm sure you already know, that depends entirely on your time zone.
Oh, and to answer your question about what games I like, I'd say I probably like Cricket best, followed closely by 301. And baseball is always good when you don't have a lot of time.
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