Unicorn Contender Michael Smith 22g darts review

[Getagrip]

This is a review of the Unicorn Contender Michael Smith 22g darts. I believe they are only available in this weight as used by Bully Boy himself, you can find more info on the Unicorn site here:Smith 22g

They are a straight barrel dart, 90% tungsten and are supplied with a compact case, Gripper 2 shafts and Unicorn signature Michael Smith flights, there is also 8 flight protectors supplied and they come in the Unicorn plastic packaging:

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As you can see the darts have a rounded bull nose with sections of the barrel made up of a very thin cut ring grip, the two smooth sections have the Bully Boy logo and the Michael Smith signature and Unicorn name.

The ring grip at the front of the barrel feels particularly nice for my front grip, its nice and grippy without been distracting and I would say its just about verging on a high level grip.

Dimensions:

Length:

The barrels are just about the length I prefer, I think the rounded nose kind of makes them look a touch shorter than they are though.

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Width:

The barrels are a comfortable thicknes for most, may be a very slight touch on the thin side for me but it was no real problem.

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Detailed Dimensions:

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Weight:

As you can see below two barrels were spot on weight matched with only 5 hundreths difference to the third so very close:

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The weight of the full set up as supplied:

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Balance:

With nothing attached the barrels seemed to be quite a bit front weighted which was a little surprising as they look an even sized barrel but they are not drilled out excessively:

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With the full set up as supplied the balance was central and on the middle section of ring grip:

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

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I gripped these darts on the front ring grip section:

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When I first threw the darts I was throwing them flatter and they tended to land very horizontal in my video review but after playing with the darts a while I was starting to get to grips with throwing them in my more usual loopy throw and they were landed tail up like below:

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Conclusion:

This barrel design is one that can suit a lot of styles of throw as its a versatile shape and its easier to offset balance discrepancies with your stem length etc

But one thing I really like about these is that front section of the barrel, its a very nice grip and the barrels sat nicely in my fingers and the rounded nose felt comfortable, the grip itself helped with my throwing of the dart, kind of hard to explain but it had a pleasant ease to it.

I think if your grip naturally lands on the smooth sections you may find it a little slippy there if you need something to grab onto. The middle and rear ring grip sections would have benefitted from an extra ring as I feel its a little short in length there but it still provides a nice datum point.

The darts worked quite well for me, the flight was a little flat which kind of counteracted with my loopy throw but I felt it was not too far off been right and they may suit flat throwers best but after throwing them more after doing the video review I was getting them to fly nicely with my normal loop and they were very pleasant to throw.

The length is not far off what I feel most comfortable with and coupled with that very nice front grip it makes these a really nice dart!

Summary Ratings:

Looks: 7.5 (its a classic barrel shape, no bad thing)
Grip: 8 (on a 1 to 10 Scale, 10 been severe grip)
Weight match: 8.5 (close)
Quality: (nice quality)
Value: 8.5 (reasonable)
Suitability for me: 8 (got more used to them the more I played and did not really need to throw them flatter but possibly suits a flatter throw better)

Best Feature: That front nose section and grip (a strange one but thats what I like most!)

[Day]

Great review and nice darts.

[uncle poop]

Great review as always GetaGrip.

[Cankles of Fury]

Almost goes without saying but +1 for your great review Guests cannot see images in the messages. Please register at the forum by clicking here to see images. If you like his review people don't forget the rep point, he should have way more than his already astronomical 128 Guests cannot see images in the messages. Please register at the forum by clicking here to see images.

[Tormentor]

Nice review Darren -you are the best! Nice looking classic dart there but imo could have left that smooth spot out towards the front. I have been contemplating getting a set of these

[Getagrip]

Great review and nice darts.

Great review as always GetaGrip.

Almost goes without saying but +1 for your great review Guests cannot see images in the messages. Please register at the forum by clicking here to see images. If you like his review people don't forget the rep point, he should have way more than his already astronomical 128 Guests cannot see images in the messages. Please register at the forum by clicking here to see images.

Thanks guys!

Nice review Darren -you are the best! Nice looking classic dart there but imo could have left that smooth spot out towards the front. I have been contemplating getting a set of these

I say that at the end of the vid review, I think if that front ring grip extended further along the front of the barrel it would be great for a few more styles of grip, but they are designed for Smith so I guess he wants them that way or maybe they want the extra logo space?

I have just been having another play with them and I seem to be getting quite accurate with them actually, was very close to getting a 180 but I can feel like the darts kind of launch off my grip, I think I would have liked them a touch heavier though too Guests cannot see images in the messages. Please register at the forum by clicking here to see images.

[Spartan]

great review grip...that 180 will be here any day now Guests cannot see images in the messages. Please register at the forum by clicking here to see images.

[Getagrip]

Cheers, I keep trying had a few close ones recently in 2 cases it was just the width of the wire away Guests cannot see images in the messages. Please register at the forum by clicking here to see images.

[Getagrip]

Michael Smith Tweeted about the grip on the barrels Guests cannot see images in the messages. Please register at the forum by clicking here to see images.

each set of grip is were my fingers go apart from the back because I hold the stem

Kind of as I expected as they are made for him after all Guests cannot see images in the messages. Please register at the forum by clicking here to see images.

[Fred-180]

As usual a great review Darren.


The barrel looks good for me but do not like the front smooth section.

Hows do they feel Darren, cause we grip barrels the same

[Getagrip]

Cheers Fred, it was nice getting some feedback from the man himself too Guests cannot see images in the messages. Please register at the forum by clicking here to see images.

I like the feel of that front nose I think it kind of helps me in throwing the darts more I think the shape of the nose and the grip sits nicely in my finger and thumb, if it had a couple of extra rings it would be even better Guests cannot see images in the messages. Please register at the forum by clicking here to see images.

[chrisw_bwfc]

Hi, would anybody be able to tell me how far out these are drilled? The 24g version if possible too.

Cheers

[The G]

Is the Maestro Premier the same dart ? With the obvious different packaging and case .

[Getagrip]

Is the Maestro Premier the same dart ? With the obvious different packaging and case .

Yep Guests cannot see images in the messages. Please register at the forum by clicking here to see images.