Finding “the right darts"

[Adams]

For the last three months, I’ve been using different types of darts in my quest to find “the right darts” for me (just like everybody else)...

I’ve got 19 different sets. They run from 14g to 28g (barrel weights) and the collection includes fatter, skinnier, longer, shorter, straight, front-weighted and center-weighted barrels. I’ve used extra short, short and medium nylon and aluminum shafts and standard and slim flights.

I went through a couple short periods where one set worked better than others, but the ups and downs have evened out and nothing makes any lasting difference any more. I can shoot long, straight barreled darts with medium shafts or shorter, front-weighted darts with short shafts and after a few minutes of warming up, they work about the same for me. The only difference seems to be whether I’m having an on day or an off day and either can happen with any darts.

I’d been hoping I’d find one weight/barrel style/shaft+flight combo that would prove to be that elusive “right set-up” for me, but now it seems there is no such thing. Nothing screams “I’m the one!” and nothing even really stands out much above the others. Right now, I’m pretty discouraged and disappointed.

Is this typical or is there something wrong with this picture? Is there any hope this may change and something will stand out after some more time goes by? In case it makes any difference...I’m a “C” shooter in my league and despite my lingering but gradually diminishing accuracy and consistency problems, I win over half of the games I shoot, I score “all-star points” 2x or 3x every week and my shooting is gradually but noticeably improving.

[Jugger]

I think it's great to try different things, I do it a lot myself (though much less lately)... But eventually I really believe you need to pick something and stick with it.

I've come to realize that if you are spending too much time focussing on the darts, you will tend to default back to blaming the darts and never settle. At least this is what I do sometimes....

Of course it's fun to try new stuff though!

[The Egg]

Find a set that feels natural, that you don't have to adjust the grip with. Ones that leave your hand the same each time. Ignore the accuracy for the time being, once you've got that, then experiment with flights. For me personally it used to be standard flights all the time. Tried a set of pears and noticed the difference straight away.

Once you've got a set that feel 'comfortable' just practice with with them. Try not to reach for another set just because you got beat or anything like that. You will notice improvements if you stick to one set.

19 sets is nothing really, I've got 47 and counting. I feel more comfortable with a phase 5 style or a smaller barrel, mainly coz the grip is the same all the time, but I can still shoot straight barrels. I just haven't found a set with the right grip placement on.

[FreddyOttawa]

Is that 19 different sets in the last 3 months? It doesn't sound like you would have given any setup enough time to truly know what works for you.

Try picking one set and sticking with it for a while. You might find that it isn't necessarily the dart that is the issue. It rarely is. I have a set I like, I just keep buying others out of curiosity and for the fun of it. And when I buy something else it is very much in style of what I already have, just with a different grip or other very small variances.

[Adams]

When I started shooting again after a ~20-year break, my 2 old sets didn’t work right any more. I realized I was going to have to do the whole hunt process all over again, so I bought a 13 used sets here @ DNF in 3 buys, and then I got 4 new sets after I started to narrow down what I thought seemed to be working best. My stepping from 2 to 19 sets happened in 5 buys. I wanted to assemble a collection of widely varying weights, sizes and types of darts to do the hunt. Now it looks like the whole hunt was an exercise in futility. I do all of my league shooting with 25g Wolframs. They seem to be the most adaptable middle compromise dart and they work fairly well.

Oh, well---maybe I’ll have figured something out by a year from now.

[Random Trebles]

I do all of my league shooting with 25g Wolframs. They seem to be the most adaptable middle compromise dart and they work fairly well.

OK, my advice for what it's worth is to put all darts other than the Wolframs away in a drawer and forget about them for at least 2 months. Only practice with the one set, only play matches with the one set. They may not be the best set for you but if they are the best of the ones you own you'll improve more by sticking to them than by moving between the other 18 sets or by buying any more.

Only other advice is enjoy it Guests cannot see images in the messages. Please register at the forum by clicking here to see images.

[bkbum]

I do all of my league shooting with 25g Wolframs. They seem to be the most adaptable middle compromise dart and they work fairly well.

OK, my advice for what it's worth is to put all darts other than the Wolframs away in a drawer and forget about them for at least 2 months. Only practice with the one set, only play matches with the one set. They may not be the best set for you but if they are the best of the ones you own you'll improve more by sticking to them than by moving between the other 18 sets or by buying any more.

Only other advice is enjoy it Guests cannot see images in the messages. Please register at the forum by clicking here to see images.

Random Trebles is absolutely correct here. It is far more important to get your stroke sorted than too find the perfect dart.

[Adams]

..... It is far more important to get your stroke sorted than too find the perfect dart.

You’re absolutely right and what you said is standard, safe, pat advice. I’m already working on separate issues I have with my stance, grip, stroke and follow-through. The reason I asked the question about different dart weights, lengths and barrel styles is that’s another separate issue that I’m also trying to work on.

Refining my stroke into perfect uniformity and consistency is definitely my top priority, but I’m also working on more than one problem at a time.

[Banned]

Perfect dart? I'm still looking

[Adams]

Perfect dart? I'm still looking

I hear you. I feel like Don Quixote on the big, noble quest that’ll never succeed...

When I used to shoot in the early 90’s, my first darts were a goofy set of cheap 80% darts. Two months later, I was into set #2, which was a step closer and gave me the direction I needed to go in. Three or four months after that I was into set #3, which was an ideal fit and as soon as I moved into the right shaft/flight combo I had those elusive “right darts” for me. I shot that set for five years.

I was hoping my old darts would still be just right, but they aren't. I was hoping the new search would go quick+easy like last time, but it isn't. This time, I know everything I need to know about barrel/shaft/flight matching to get a good set-up that works right, so the hunt should go quicker. That’s not happening either. I’ve tested a really wide range of possibilities, and they all work close to the same. Nothing stands out as better than the others.

<...Sigh...> I guess it’s time to pick something close to the middle of the pack (probably the Wolframs), stick with them, practice every day and see how things are going six months from now.

[Dalman]

Unless I try every dart available i'll never be sure i have the right setGuests cannot see images in the messages. Please register at the forum by clicking here to see images.