These are the new gold darts that Andy Hamilton recently started using and very well he did too!, reaching the final of the P.D.C. World Championships.
After seeing these darts on tv in that competition I just had to have some. I made a New Years Resolution not to buy any darts in January but then someone had these for sale after winning them in a competition so I had to have them. No way could I pass up the chance to get these for £36 when the cheapest I have seen is £43. They were brand new and unused too!
Ok lets get on with it, here is how they are packaged:
Guests cannot see images in the messages. Please register at the forum by clicking here to see images.
Here is what you get:
The barrels have a golden titanium coating and are 97% tungsten
supplied with a Unicorn Eclipse Max case
Aluminium Stems
Maestro Signature Flights Standard Shape
8 Flight Protectors (which I never us anyway)
Guests cannot see images in the messages. Please register at the forum by clicking here to see images.
Guests cannot see images in the messages. Please register at the forum by clicking here to see images.
Guests cannot see images in the messages. Please register at the forum by clicking here to see images.
Guests cannot see images in the messages. Please register at the forum by clicking here to see images.
Guests cannot see images in the messages. Please register at the forum by clicking here to see images.
I cant say I'm a fan of the Unicorn Eclipse case's and kind of wish they would stop making them and supply a better case.
I also think they should supply some rubber "O" rings if they are going to provide alloy stems, so as to help them grip better, and also maybe a set of short stems too. Thats just my personal quibble and its not an issue for me as I have lots of my own but for someone who is buying their first set of darts it would be nice to have them especially if they pay the full retail price of £47.99.
The darts themselves are beautiful looking darts and have the Andy Hamilton signature etched on the nose of the barrels.
They only come in Andy's weight of 25g and they are fitted with the standard silver points which all Unicorn darts seem to be fitted with. They look a great quality set and I would say the level of grip is about a 4, its a thin ring style grip over much of the barrel apart from the 7mm of the nose which is a smooth taper.
As you can see from the pics they are centrally weighted. They are evenly matched too, I weighed two barrels at 25.3g and one barrel at 25.4g:
Guests cannot see images in the messages. Please register at the forum by clicking here to see images.
Guests cannot see images in the messages. Please register at the forum by clicking here to see images.
Guests cannot see images in the messages. Please register at the forum by clicking here to see images.
Length is 41.7mm and the widest part is 7.9mm:
Guests cannot see images in the messages. Please register at the forum by clicking here to see images.
Guests cannot see images in the messages. Please register at the forum by clicking here to see images.
Here they are with the medium alloy stems as supplied, with my Cosmos inbetween stems and a short stem:
Guests cannot see images in the messages. Please register at the forum by clicking here to see images.
Here is the balance point with each stem fitted:
Guests cannot see images in the messages. Please register at the forum by clicking here to see images.
Guests cannot see images in the messages. Please register at the forum by clicking here to see images.
Guests cannot see images in the messages. Please register at the forum by clicking here to see images.
This is the setup I used to have a throw with them:
Guests cannot see images in the messages. Please register at the forum by clicking here to see images.
Ok then, my first 9 darts seemed to drift into the 5's, but the very first thing I noticed about these darts was the way they seemed to zip through the air, it was like a little bullet they seemed to fly quicker than what my recent darts the Target Sprint 23g do. No idea if thats down to the shape or the length or what??
Here is what my normal grip is like and the grip I was using on my first 9 darts:
Guests cannot see images in the messages. Please register at the forum by clicking here to see images.
I decided to alter my grip and place my thumb more in the darts centre of gravity like so:
Guests cannot see images in the messages. Please register at the forum by clicking here to see images.
Thats not my normal grip but what a huge difference it made!!
My next 3 darts all went into single 20 and my next 3 I scored a 125! a few throws later I hit a 140!! I could not believe how much better they flew once I altered my grip, the only problem I had was trying to concentrate on keeping that grip but I'm sure I could get used to that.
My overall opinion of these darts is that they are a really good quality set that when gripped right flew beautifully and are a joy to throw with.
If I was paying the full retail price for these I would give them an 8/10 but as I got them a little cheaper its a big 10/10 from me.
Replies from old forum:
Saber
Nice review Darren
getagrip
Cheers Larry!
Andy
Best darts review ive seen Darren , Well done !
getagrip
Thanks Andy, glad you like it mate!
Dannyd180
Excellent review Darren 10/10 mate!
getagrip
Thanks Danny!
madzkymadz
nice review grip! would like to buy one these too. I'm in a dilemma in which to buy first.
this one or phase 5 or target lewis silica (all 25g ) ??
getagrip
Thanks Madz!
Its a nightmare when you have your heart set on a few different sets.
Well I have tried the Lewis darts and they felt a little long for me and I have had 2 sets of Phase 5's and never got on very well with them.
I'm going to play with the Hamiltons all this week and see how they work for me.
madzkymadz
I really like to buy the Lewis darts since the barrel is the same as my current darts but a little longer (about 3mm difference). I really want to try phase 5 and the Hamiltons though to see if it really fits me.
getagrip
LOL looks like your going to save some money then, 3 expensive sets to try mate!
madzkymadz
Yeah seems expensive but I'll try to save enough to buy each of those
the_cutter
great review! thanks for sharing. i'm considering getting either a target perfect storm 23g or unicorn andy hamilton ones. so your review is perfect. cheers!
getagrip
Cheers mate, I think if you like to grip the barrels in the centre the Hammys will be perfect, I prefer to grip near the front really.
dvsdog
Ya, that was a nice review Grip.
I could easily see that the grip reposition would suit those darts and it seems validated by your trial. How have ya made out with them and are you still gripping in the middle or back to the old nose pinch?
getagrip
No mate, sadly although it was the right way to grip them I could not get consistently used to it. Back to using my front grip with my Target Sprints and I sold the Hammys.
Very nice darts but I think a centre balance dart is not for me in the end. I always seemed quite good on the 20's with them but was not so good elsewhere round the board, I'm sticking to either straight barrelled darts or front weighted darts now.
dvsdog
Ya, I figured you might go back. Old habits die hard and stick in the head when you should be focussing. I'm sure it's in one of your posts but what weight are the Sprints? I ask in relation to the flights discussion elsewhere.
getagrip
The Sprints are 23g, but I'm very tempted to go a bit heavier to be honest.
dvsdog
Ya, I'm quite surprised by how much better the toss feels to me by going from my 23g Targets to the 24 Ice although it was also a return to a straight barrel from the scallop. It's the wee things that keep us tinkering but as said, I'm sticking to this set up for the proverbial mth lol even if those Rocket flights are calling my name now Mike showed me where to get them. I'll say it again, homeless Wink-can't find the icon lol
getagrip
Thats the problem with being darts addicts, we like to try something all the time, you wont be happy until you satisfy that urge
Saber
And boy do u have the urge !
getagrip
Oh Yes Sir!! I certainly do!
After seeing these darts on tv in that competition I just had to have some. I made a New Years Resolution not to buy any darts in January but then someone had these for sale after winning them in a competition so I had to have them. No way could I pass up the chance to get these for £36 when the cheapest I have seen is £43. They were brand new and unused too!
Ok lets get on with it, here is how they are packaged:
Guests cannot see images in the messages. Please register at the forum by clicking here to see images.
Here is what you get:
The barrels have a golden titanium coating and are 97% tungsten
supplied with a Unicorn Eclipse Max case
Aluminium Stems
Maestro Signature Flights Standard Shape
8 Flight Protectors (which I never us anyway)
Guests cannot see images in the messages. Please register at the forum by clicking here to see images.
Guests cannot see images in the messages. Please register at the forum by clicking here to see images.
Guests cannot see images in the messages. Please register at the forum by clicking here to see images.
Guests cannot see images in the messages. Please register at the forum by clicking here to see images.
Guests cannot see images in the messages. Please register at the forum by clicking here to see images.
I cant say I'm a fan of the Unicorn Eclipse case's and kind of wish they would stop making them and supply a better case.
I also think they should supply some rubber "O" rings if they are going to provide alloy stems, so as to help them grip better, and also maybe a set of short stems too. Thats just my personal quibble and its not an issue for me as I have lots of my own but for someone who is buying their first set of darts it would be nice to have them especially if they pay the full retail price of £47.99.
The darts themselves are beautiful looking darts and have the Andy Hamilton signature etched on the nose of the barrels.
They only come in Andy's weight of 25g and they are fitted with the standard silver points which all Unicorn darts seem to be fitted with. They look a great quality set and I would say the level of grip is about a 4, its a thin ring style grip over much of the barrel apart from the 7mm of the nose which is a smooth taper.
As you can see from the pics they are centrally weighted. They are evenly matched too, I weighed two barrels at 25.3g and one barrel at 25.4g:
Guests cannot see images in the messages. Please register at the forum by clicking here to see images.
Guests cannot see images in the messages. Please register at the forum by clicking here to see images.
Guests cannot see images in the messages. Please register at the forum by clicking here to see images.
Length is 41.7mm and the widest part is 7.9mm:
Guests cannot see images in the messages. Please register at the forum by clicking here to see images.
Guests cannot see images in the messages. Please register at the forum by clicking here to see images.
Here they are with the medium alloy stems as supplied, with my Cosmos inbetween stems and a short stem:
Guests cannot see images in the messages. Please register at the forum by clicking here to see images.
Here is the balance point with each stem fitted:
Guests cannot see images in the messages. Please register at the forum by clicking here to see images.
Guests cannot see images in the messages. Please register at the forum by clicking here to see images.
Guests cannot see images in the messages. Please register at the forum by clicking here to see images.
This is the setup I used to have a throw with them:
Guests cannot see images in the messages. Please register at the forum by clicking here to see images.
Ok then, my first 9 darts seemed to drift into the 5's, but the very first thing I noticed about these darts was the way they seemed to zip through the air, it was like a little bullet they seemed to fly quicker than what my recent darts the Target Sprint 23g do. No idea if thats down to the shape or the length or what??
Here is what my normal grip is like and the grip I was using on my first 9 darts:
Guests cannot see images in the messages. Please register at the forum by clicking here to see images.
I decided to alter my grip and place my thumb more in the darts centre of gravity like so:
Guests cannot see images in the messages. Please register at the forum by clicking here to see images.
Thats not my normal grip but what a huge difference it made!!
My next 3 darts all went into single 20 and my next 3 I scored a 125! a few throws later I hit a 140!! I could not believe how much better they flew once I altered my grip, the only problem I had was trying to concentrate on keeping that grip but I'm sure I could get used to that.
My overall opinion of these darts is that they are a really good quality set that when gripped right flew beautifully and are a joy to throw with.
If I was paying the full retail price for these I would give them an 8/10 but as I got them a little cheaper its a big 10/10 from me.
Replies from old forum:
Saber
Nice review Darren
getagrip
Cheers Larry!
Andy
Best darts review ive seen Darren , Well done !
getagrip
Thanks Andy, glad you like it mate!
Dannyd180
Excellent review Darren 10/10 mate!
getagrip
Thanks Danny!
madzkymadz
nice review grip! would like to buy one these too. I'm in a dilemma in which to buy first.
this one or phase 5 or target lewis silica (all 25g ) ??
getagrip
Thanks Madz!
Its a nightmare when you have your heart set on a few different sets.
Well I have tried the Lewis darts and they felt a little long for me and I have had 2 sets of Phase 5's and never got on very well with them.
I'm going to play with the Hamiltons all this week and see how they work for me.
madzkymadz
I really like to buy the Lewis darts since the barrel is the same as my current darts but a little longer (about 3mm difference). I really want to try phase 5 and the Hamiltons though to see if it really fits me.
getagrip
LOL looks like your going to save some money then, 3 expensive sets to try mate!
madzkymadz
Yeah seems expensive but I'll try to save enough to buy each of those
the_cutter
great review! thanks for sharing. i'm considering getting either a target perfect storm 23g or unicorn andy hamilton ones. so your review is perfect. cheers!
getagrip
Cheers mate, I think if you like to grip the barrels in the centre the Hammys will be perfect, I prefer to grip near the front really.
dvsdog
Ya, that was a nice review Grip.
I could easily see that the grip reposition would suit those darts and it seems validated by your trial. How have ya made out with them and are you still gripping in the middle or back to the old nose pinch?
getagrip
No mate, sadly although it was the right way to grip them I could not get consistently used to it. Back to using my front grip with my Target Sprints and I sold the Hammys.
Very nice darts but I think a centre balance dart is not for me in the end. I always seemed quite good on the 20's with them but was not so good elsewhere round the board, I'm sticking to either straight barrelled darts or front weighted darts now.
dvsdog
Ya, I figured you might go back. Old habits die hard and stick in the head when you should be focussing. I'm sure it's in one of your posts but what weight are the Sprints? I ask in relation to the flights discussion elsewhere.
getagrip
The Sprints are 23g, but I'm very tempted to go a bit heavier to be honest.
dvsdog
Ya, I'm quite surprised by how much better the toss feels to me by going from my 23g Targets to the 24 Ice although it was also a return to a straight barrel from the scallop. It's the wee things that keep us tinkering but as said, I'm sticking to this set up for the proverbial mth lol even if those Rocket flights are calling my name now Mike showed me where to get them. I'll say it again, homeless Wink-can't find the icon lol
getagrip
Thats the problem with being darts addicts, we like to try something all the time, you wont be happy until you satisfy that urge
Saber
And boy do u have the urge !
getagrip
Oh Yes Sir!! I certainly do!
Subscribe to Darts Review Channel here: Darts Review Channel on Youtube
Click to visit Darts Review Channel website
My darts collection:
Flickr Album
Click to visit Darts Review Channel website
My darts collection:
Flickr Album
Guests cannot see images in the messages. Please register at the forum by clicking here to see images.