Unicorn Eclipse Pro dartboard review

[Getagrip]

Video link = https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bxjOtvPr...JEDXkBLoGQ

I have tried a few boards now but this is the first Eclipse Pro I have had and I guess its about time I reviewed one of the more popular boards Guests cannot see images in the messages. Please register at the forum by clicking here to see images.

The board has been around a few years now and is obviously superseded by the current Eclipse Pro HD and Eclipse Pro HD TV edition but this board is still a very popular one and is still widely used.

The board retails for around £26 and you can find more info on the Unicorn site here: Eclipse Pro

Board Features:

Championship quality bristle board

PDC endorsed

World Champions endorsements

Designed to maximise averages

Unicorn high technology wiring design

Completely staple-free construction

Ultra-slim segmentation system

30% thinner than conventional round wire boards

Increased target area, especially in Doubles and Trebles

Ultra high visibility number ring and spider

Staple-free Bullseye

The board is supplied with a checkout poster, instruction leaflet with fixing guide and explanation of the game, a paper tape measure, fixing bracket and board and wall screws and 3 rubber stabilizers and tacks for the back of the board. There is also some instructions on the back of the box.

Packaging:

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Contents:

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Board out the box:

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The Bull:

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Treble Segment:

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Double Segment:

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Board Logos:

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Number Ring Bracket:

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Board Pics:

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Spider Wire Close ups:

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Measurements of Bull, Treble and double segments:

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All set up:

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Points depth in board:

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Conclusion:

I was surprised to find that the spider on this is very similar to the Blade 4, I think its actually thinner than the B4 and is flush to the surface of the sisal which is what I like. The Spider is one thing I often feel is the main feature which will decide on how much I like a board so I am pleased to say the spider ticks the right boxes in that respect the other thing is the sisal itself.

I can get along with the harder firmer boards fine but as I am a fairly light thrower they usually cause me a few bounceouts in the first few weeks or so until they are broken in. The Eclipse has a lovely soft feel to it, its compact but soft and my darts go in nice and easy and stay in, which is great! I think for me its the kind of sisal that is best but I did notice a few areas where it felt a little too soft and my darts made a kind of "Bopp" sound as the point was hitting the backboard. For the most part that is not such a problem and it seemed to be on the areas where the individual biscuits were meeting but not in all cases. I have mostly been throwing the 25g Barneys since the video review but I figure if you throw very heavy darts or are a hard thrower you might just encounter a few more "Bopps" than me. So far I am happy with it as I have not had one bounceout yet and no drop outs either which is good. Guests cannot see images in the messages. Please register at the forum by clicking here to see images.

Double and Treble segments are fractionally bigger than on my B4DC and the Bullseye is a little smaller but overall the spider was pretty consistent with the measurements.

The board is fitted with a traditional round wire number ring which is painted white and held neatly in place by the brackets.

I did notice that the board had a mark on the big number 3 segment, not sure what it is but it looks like something has been pressed on the surface and dented the sisal a little, may be the machine that fixes the spider but I suspect it is something that may have been on top of the boards while waiting to be packaged as there is no mark on the box? Its not detrimental to the performance of the board and has actually kind of smoothed out a little since been hung up but you can see it in the pics above.

Colours are nice and even through the board but there was a couple of slight patchy areas but nothing major. I did not find any hardness on the colour sections like I have on some other boards, the feel of the sisal was pretty much even throughout save for a few soft spots like I mentioned above.

Overall I think the board has a very nice soft but compact feel which is just about the right level for me but may be a little too soft for some, the only thing that remains to test now is the wear. So far I have played with it about 2 weeks and the holes have healed up pretty well, it just remains to be seen how it fares in the long term so I will report back with updates when I can. For now I am liking its feel Guests cannot see images in the messages. Please register at the forum by clicking here to see images.

[Cankles of Fury]

Cosmetically there is a lot of things wrong with this board that would bug me, the bandit plus, blade 4 and blade 4 DC blow this board out of the water as far as that is concerned.

[rich345]

i have had a lot of these and when you get a good one i think it is pretty decent for the money. however, if you get a bad one then its not too good at all. i have to say having used the blade 4 dc and the eclipse hd i really like the idea of boards with a smooth surface(i.e. no glue in the segments) i would say judging by the reviews the One80 G2 for around the same price is maybe a better bet just because the quality control on the eclipse is very hit and miss.

Thanks again for a great review. this is certainly a board many will buy due to its tv exposure and the fact its readily available. +1 from me

[Getagrip]

Yeah I think there is a few patchy areas, but I also think it probably looks worse in the pics as the light picks them out more, but its really that dented part on the 3 that's the worse bit but having said that its smoothed out a little and will look normal once it has a few holes in it. The real test is how it holds up in time but I think for a light thrower like me it has a nice feel to the sisal and my darts stick in well. With the Shot I have had a lot of bounceouts so far which is what happened when I had the Advantage 2. I think the ADV2 was an awesome looking board when I first got it but it took a long time to break in for me and I lost some nice scores through drop outs and bounceouts.

Its one of the reasons why I think a board can be like buying a pair of shoes, we need to find one that suits our throw and darts etc. Some people like the spiders on the likes of the Eclipse HD and the Bandit, I prefer the flush spiders like the B4 and G2 and this Pro. But when it comes to boards away from home we don't have much say in the matter and just have to play on whatever is available.

[Getagrip]

i have had a lot of these and when you get a good one i think it is pretty decent for the money. however, if you get a bad one then its not too good at all. i have to say having used the blade 4 dc and the eclipse hd i really like the idea of boards with a smooth surface(i.e. no glue in the segments) i would say judging by the reviews the One80 G2 for around the same price is maybe a better bet just because the quality control on the eclipse is very hit and miss.

Thanks again for a great review. this is certainly a board many will buy due to its tv exposure and the fact its readily available. +1 from me

Cheers Rich, yeah I think that is a fair comment, I don't think any of the companies are immune to having bad batches or boards that slip through the QC though, you will here so many people with differing opinions on boards, look at the way Kev slated the G2 I think he must have got a real bad one from what he said?

[rich345]

i would say that of all the boards i have tried the Eclipse spider is probably the best. it is so thin and although the Blade 4 is way better than the Blade 3 i still think i get a few more bounce outs. Also the spider on the 4 shows damage and kind of dents on a direct hit which appears to leave the metal slightly wider afterwards. this is not something i have ever noticed on an eclipse pro.

My Eclipse HD had a fairly sunken spider but i have seen a few that are very raised and they don't look good. I wonder if the new TV version of the HD actually has the same spider as the the Eclipse or if it is just an unpainted HD spider. . using the standard Eclipse spider would be a big improvement for me.

[Getagrip]

If the spider on the HD was flush too I would rate it up there with the top but as my two HD's both lifted it put me off it really.

[Banned]

Great review. I really like the Unicorn boards. For the most part it's always been my board of choice.

Curious to know what Cankles is seeing that is so wrong with this board. Guests cannot see images in the messages. Please register at the forum by clicking here to see images.

[rich345]

i can see why. that is jut a poorly made board. it will be interesting to see what you think of the longevity of this board. i dont get much more then around 3 months out of an eclipse. managed to get almost 8 months out of my 4DC

[Getagrip]

Great review. I really like the Unicorn boards. For the most part it's always been my board of choice.

Curious to know what Cankles is seeing that is so wrong with this board. Guests cannot see images in the messages. Please register at the forum by clicking here to see images.

Cheers Cy. I think he means the general appearance of the board.

i can see why. that is jut a poorly made board. it will be interesting to see what you think of the longevity of this board. i dont get much more then around 3 months out of an eclipse. managed to get almost 8 months out of my 4DC

Just been having a throw of doubles round the board on it and I cant believe how quiet some of the darts go in on some parts, its almost the same as hitting the surround like a very soft spongy sound. I don't think I have heard such a quiet sound before, but I found a few more very soft areas where it makes that higher pitched "Bopp" when it hits the backboard. But will have to play with it a good while longer still.

[Banned]

Cheers Cy. I think he means the general appearance of the board.

You happen to have a very nice camera (lens) that more than likely highlights some of these VERY minor flaws.

I think once it's hung on the wall and you're looking at it from 7 feet (most people lean in a bit) away it probably looks fine.

[Getagrip]

yeah that's right, from the oche its fine to me but my eyesight is terrible anyway lol!

[Cankles of Fury]

Nothing structurally wrong, but cosmetically I think I've been spoiled by the cleanness of the blade 4s and bandit pro which in that department this board doesn't hold a candle to :p

[ReggaeDarts]

I have to agree with Cankles, here. I don't the rate the Eclipse I think the Fit and Finish is Abysmal, very shoddy. This particular Board we see here is a Piss Poor. I'll spend Money on Unicorn Barrels (some), stems & flights... but their Boards are utter Rubbish.

Target are the same.... I really like there Barrel & Flight Build quality, but their Boards are just as Piss Poor as the Eclipse.

Just my opinion, that in this day and age of Production capabilities... a clean, tidy well fitted Board should be standard practice.

[Regulatori]

I do agree (like others have said), a good camera lens picks up flaws you rarely notice with the human eye (especially a sharp lens with good macro capability).

That why I always used to use my point and shoot to post pictures of a car I'm selling or some other product. 99% of the stuff you see in photos is stuff you'll never notice in real life.

Recently I took some macro pictures of some brand new darts and noticed all sorts of ding/dents, flat spots on the grip rings, etc.. Later while throwing in my garage I remembered the pics and inspected them under a light (with my naked eye)...I couldn't find any flaws.

If you don't trust me, ask your gf/wife if they're cool with you taking some up close portraits of them under bright lights using a sharp camera lens....the answer will be "hell no." haha

Great review. I usually prefer softer boards like the B4 because I also throw light and that was a big issue when I had 14g darts. A local bar got the new Eclipses and the first thing I noticed was how bright the whites are...just really vibrant colors (must have been a good batch).