When I started playing darts again I had questions about various dart barrel grips, or textures, available, their names, and what their advantages are.
Frankly, I found the available information confusing or non-existent.
So like a good researcher I scoured the Internet looking for and gathering information and here is what I found.
When I started I had no idea what Purist meant, I could guess at Shark and smooth.
It does not matter whether the barrel is brass, tungsten or some other metal; the various cuts are made on a cutting machine either CNC controlled or manual. The process is called “knurling”, not to be confused with the knurl pattern! Some say that smooth hands need a smooth grip and rough hands a rough grip but frankly this is a personal preference and you need to develop your own feel and preference.
Some people find that a smooth dart slips when gripped and thrown others find that a more aggressive grip catches on the skin when thrown, both can lead to a poor release and missed shots.
With some darts, such as the copper tungsten the smooth finish can become more ‘grippy” with time and use. Other “grippy” darts seem to wear down with use. I don’t think your skin really dulls them it is more the acids from your skin that corrodes even the best metal. And really only gold does not corrode.
Some darts are referred to as “skin rippers” with good cause!
There are also various coatings available such as variations of titanium vapour deposition in black, silver, gold, or multi-coloured hue. Gold darts are not real gold except in the odd case. These finishes can also prevent wear even though the coatings are micro thin. Cheap ones will chip and flake easily.
These surface finishes also impart a different grip either more or less grip. These finishes add to the cost.
Try a few different types and find one that suits you.
You quickly realize that there are several barrel shapes, the main ones being: cylinder, ton, and torpedo with variations in between; tapered to the front and/or back, fat at the front, bullet shaped, bomb shaped. The list goes on.
The barrels can be shaped and have scallops machined into them; players find these useful for finger positioning. Some barrels have a number of different cuts or textures machined on different areas for the same reason. Then there is barrel weight; what do you prefer?
Another thing to consider is balance, is the dart front-, centre-, or rear loaded? How do you prefer to hold the dart? How do you throw it?
But the question was about the grip.
Main Grip Types
• Smooth, self explanatory perhaps but this does not necessarily mean slippy.
• Knurling (cross-hatching of the surface).
• Ringed Grooves, various thicknesses and spacing.
• Pixel grip, look at the Target Taylor and Carrera models. Tiny cuts made into the surface.
• Razor, or micro grip - small cuts that might look smooth, often placed at the front of the barrel, useful for those who hold the dart at the front.
• Shark Fin, wide grooves with edges angled towards shaft end.
• Unidirectional, like Razor and shark fin combined (small groove shark)
• Purist, a series of narrow rings of various depth of cut. Lots of discussion on this one and not much general agreement on definition. Look at the Unicorn darts Phase 1 through 6 to see what I mean.
• Scalloped, usually smooth surface and this is often used for thumb or finger placement, or to push off the dart when throwing.
There are more, or variations on a theme. But the above list covers many darts.
Ok, so now we have some definitions but what do they look like?
Well, the list is not definitive but below I have used the Unicorn pictures. (Permission applied for). If you want a specific dart finish or cut you can always say that you want one like xxx model. People on this forum are helpful and will point you in the right direction. Just remember everyone has their own preference and opinion.
I am sure I am missing some, no smooth in the pictures for sure.
Head on over to Unicorn to see a variety of different darts. Other companies have some good graphic information and descriptions whilst some are just not helpful.
I hope this helps. Happy hunting and good arrers!
Firstly here are a few of mine to show different types and barrel size:
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Frankly, I found the available information confusing or non-existent.
So like a good researcher I scoured the Internet looking for and gathering information and here is what I found.
When I started I had no idea what Purist meant, I could guess at Shark and smooth.
It does not matter whether the barrel is brass, tungsten or some other metal; the various cuts are made on a cutting machine either CNC controlled or manual. The process is called “knurling”, not to be confused with the knurl pattern! Some say that smooth hands need a smooth grip and rough hands a rough grip but frankly this is a personal preference and you need to develop your own feel and preference.
Some people find that a smooth dart slips when gripped and thrown others find that a more aggressive grip catches on the skin when thrown, both can lead to a poor release and missed shots.
With some darts, such as the copper tungsten the smooth finish can become more ‘grippy” with time and use. Other “grippy” darts seem to wear down with use. I don’t think your skin really dulls them it is more the acids from your skin that corrodes even the best metal. And really only gold does not corrode.
Some darts are referred to as “skin rippers” with good cause!
There are also various coatings available such as variations of titanium vapour deposition in black, silver, gold, or multi-coloured hue. Gold darts are not real gold except in the odd case. These finishes can also prevent wear even though the coatings are micro thin. Cheap ones will chip and flake easily.
These surface finishes also impart a different grip either more or less grip. These finishes add to the cost.
Try a few different types and find one that suits you.
You quickly realize that there are several barrel shapes, the main ones being: cylinder, ton, and torpedo with variations in between; tapered to the front and/or back, fat at the front, bullet shaped, bomb shaped. The list goes on.
The barrels can be shaped and have scallops machined into them; players find these useful for finger positioning. Some barrels have a number of different cuts or textures machined on different areas for the same reason. Then there is barrel weight; what do you prefer?
Another thing to consider is balance, is the dart front-, centre-, or rear loaded? How do you prefer to hold the dart? How do you throw it?
But the question was about the grip.
Main Grip Types
• Smooth, self explanatory perhaps but this does not necessarily mean slippy.
• Knurling (cross-hatching of the surface).
• Ringed Grooves, various thicknesses and spacing.
• Pixel grip, look at the Target Taylor and Carrera models. Tiny cuts made into the surface.
• Razor, or micro grip - small cuts that might look smooth, often placed at the front of the barrel, useful for those who hold the dart at the front.
• Shark Fin, wide grooves with edges angled towards shaft end.
• Unidirectional, like Razor and shark fin combined (small groove shark)
• Purist, a series of narrow rings of various depth of cut. Lots of discussion on this one and not much general agreement on definition. Look at the Unicorn darts Phase 1 through 6 to see what I mean.
• Scalloped, usually smooth surface and this is often used for thumb or finger placement, or to push off the dart when throwing.
There are more, or variations on a theme. But the above list covers many darts.
Ok, so now we have some definitions but what do they look like?
Well, the list is not definitive but below I have used the Unicorn pictures. (Permission applied for). If you want a specific dart finish or cut you can always say that you want one like xxx model. People on this forum are helpful and will point you in the right direction. Just remember everyone has their own preference and opinion.
I am sure I am missing some, no smooth in the pictures for sure.
Head on over to Unicorn to see a variety of different darts. Other companies have some good graphic information and descriptions whilst some are just not helpful.
I hope this helps. Happy hunting and good arrers!
Firstly here are a few of mine to show different types and barrel size:
Guests cannot see images in the messages. Please register at the forum by clicking here to see images.
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