Shot Longitude 918 20g Soft Tip darts review

[Getagrip]

Video link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PMxyzNUrR8A&feature=youtu.be


These darts are from the new range of barrels by Shot called Longitude, so called because the barrels are that bit longer than the norm. They have soft and steel tip versions. This is the 20g soft tip version. I got these from Dartswarehouse and they cost £37 and free postage from Dartswarehouse. You can see the full range here: Longitude Range

This soft tip version is fitted with N0.5 lip points so it allows for a thinner profile. They are 90% tungsten.

CONTENTS AND PACKAGING:

The darts come in a slim box with the one set of N0.5 Lip Points, 1 set of Shot short shafts and 1 set of Shot Transparent flights in a small standard shape. There is also the weight guarantee card.

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PICS OF THE DARTS IN DETAIL:

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CLOSE UP PICS:

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The darts have a very slim look to them and they have numerous sections which can be used for a grip reference. The 3 scalloped sections are mostly smooth whereas the two main knuckles have a grippy ring style grip with axial grooves cut lengthwise. I would say its a high medium level of grip here.

DIMENSIONS:

Length:

As I said above these are longer than usual.

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Width:

A slim dart too.

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Detailed dimensions:

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WEIGHT:

Weighing just the barrels without the tips attached they were very closely matched, just two hundredths of a gram difference:

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Weight of the full set up as supplied was just a fraction under the stated 20g weight:

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BALANCE:

With the tips attached the balance was very close to the centre:

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With the full set up as supplied the balance was just a touch past the middle and more or less on the middle scallop:

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Balance with my own medium, short and extra short nylon stems and standard flights:

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MY GRIP WITH THESE DARTS:

I felt most comfortable gripping them on the first knuckle:

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CONCLUSION:

These darts remind me of the Mervyn King darts in so much as they have that bamboo style of shape but the scallop section on these is narrower so I don't find that my thumb sat into the scallop parts but more on it. In a way that's not a bad thing as it makes it a little easier to release but you can still feel the upward parts of the scallop for something to grip against. Personally I felt more comfortable gripping the dart on the first grippy knuckle section. The grip is very nice grip here and quite edgy on the skin, so gives you some nice purchase. Also I think gripping the middle of the barrel gives you the best of both about this design, you get the middle scallop and also some of the edgy ring grip either side.

That's one of the good things about this darts design, it has a number of areas where you can use for gripping Guests cannot see images in the messages. Please register at the forum by clicking here to see images.

The darts are a bit too long for me which I was kind of expecting and they do feel very thin in my grip. But they did not seem to cause any major problems with throwing them, I just know that I can throw a shorter barrel better. The darts seem to flatten out in their flight quite quickly on release but stayed pretty much stable through the air. I think having the short stems on is more suited to me with such a long barrel.

I did try to throw the darts from the rear and as I like to rest my finger on the point it made it a little more awkward for me with the barrels being so long but surprisingly they flew rather well.

After doing my video review I was playing with them a little longer and had a few more throws holding them at the rear and I think I was hitting more bulls with the rear grip than my normal front grip! I suspect its something to do with the slight angle change that was giving me a better trajectory to the target. I cant say for sure if they are more suited to a rear gripper than any other grip as I think its as much down to whether you like a long barrel as anything else.

The more I played with them though the more I got used to the way they fly and it got more comfortable but I would say overall that I am still better off with a shorter barrel Guests cannot see images in the messages. Please register at the forum by clicking here to see images.

These are very nicely made darts and I think if your looking for that long barrel dart then definitely check out the Longitude range. I have a steel tip version also which I am eager to see if it flys the same as the soft tips.

Special note:

I kind of jinxed myself when I did the video review for these, I realised that I had no spare N0.5 Lip Points and mentioned that if I broke a point I would be snookered. Well sure enough on the first throw I threw my first 2 darts and then the third dart deflected off one in the board, hit the hard floor and broke the point! Arggghhhh!!!!

So I spent some time filing down a normal Lip Point and was able to push that into the barrel and started again. Two throws later I broke another N0.5 Lip Point ( I must get some carpet down!). So off I went to file another standard point down again!

Eventually I managed to get through the video review without breaking any more of the points. So I don't know if I was just unlucky or if the Dartman board does not like the N0.5 points or what? I cant really say its a fault of the points as I think I will need to get some more and give them a proper try before deciding on that but it was frustrating all the same.

SUMMARY RATINGS:

Looks: 8 (nice design and slim profile)
Grip: 7.5 (on a 1 to 10 Scale, 10 been severe grip)
Weight match: 8.5 (close)
Quality: 8.5 (very nicely made)
Value: 7.5 (might be nice to have had some spare points)
Suitability for me: 6.5 (longer than I would normally get but kind of got better with them the more I played with them)

Best Feature: Nice grip Guests cannot see images in the messages. Please register at the forum by clicking here to see images.

[Banned]

Good reviews. Just watched the video. If you turn the darts clockwise as you're removing them from the board they will pull out WAY easier. It looks like they were coming out of the board very hard for you.

[Quackered1979]

Pics are ALWAYS amazing!!! Great review.

[Getagrip]

Good reviews. Just watched the video. If you turn the darts clockwise as you're removing them from the board they will pull out WAY easier. It looks like they were coming out of the board very hard for you.

Thanks! Yeah they were quite tough but the problem is I had to stick some modified points in so I was worried they would come out if I did not grip near the point and just pull them out. Should have got some spare N0 5 points really Guests cannot see images in the messages. Please register at the forum by clicking here to see images.

Pics are ALWAYS amazing!!! Great review.

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[*Saber*]

Nice review Darren and though nice looking arrow no bamboo darts for me. That being said others may love these if they like Kings. plus one ya git lol.

[Getagrip]

Nice review Darren and though nice looking arrow no bamboo darts for me. That being said others may love these if they like Kings. plus one ya git lol.

Thanks Pops! I think the barrel is quite unique when you feel it in your fingers, I know a few on here who like long darts so they will probably love these Guests cannot see images in the messages. Please register at the forum by clicking here to see images.

[Tormentor]

Great review as always Darren. I have the other longitude model and I thought the same thing about no extra No. 5 points. SHOT is getting pretty close to the Japanese realm of quality with many of their darts

[Getagrip]

Great review as always Darren. I have the other longitude model and I thought the same thing about no extra No. 5 points. SHOT is getting pretty close to the Japanese realm of quality with many of their darts

cheers Shawn, yeah I have to agree on the quality its very good Guests cannot see images in the messages. Please register at the forum by clicking here to see images.

[Shanesaw]

Another awesome review!! Guests cannot see images in the messages. Please register at the forum by clicking here to see images.

[Hajime Yamanaka]

Interesting shape barrel!

[Geordie84]

Greet review, love Shot darts.

[Ni518079]

Great review as always. They are very long. Look like quality and coolness you would expect from SHOT! I think you should call this pimp my Merve Kings.

[Getagrip]

Another awesome review!! Guests cannot see images in the messages. Please register at the forum by clicking here to see images.

Interesting shape barrel!

Greet review, love Shot darts.

Great review as always. They are very long. Look like quality and coolness you would expect from SHOT! I think you should call this pimp my Merve Kings.

Thanks all!

Yeah the shape is interesting, a pimped up Kings is a good analogy Guests cannot see images in the messages. Please register at the forum by clicking here to see images.