How to Choose the Right Darts for You
A friendly guide from the team at Throw Darts
Whether you’ve been inspired by the rise of teenage sensation Luke Littler, dazzled by the dominance of Michael Van Gerwen or just looking for something new to enjoy with friends on a Friday night, darts fever has taken over. But before you land your first 180, there’s one question we hear all the time at Throw Darts: “How do I choose the right darts?”
At Throw Darts, we’re here to help players of every age, background and ability feel confident at the oche. Whether you’re new to the game, bringing your kids in for their first set or upgrading your kit, we’ll walk you through everything you need to know. We spend our time, effort and experience on not selling you the first set of darts you pick up but finding the right set for you and your throw.
Finding the darts that fit you
A dart might be small but it’s made up of several parts: the barrel, shaft and flight. Each of these parts is interchangeable, which means you can build a setup that suits your throw, your grip and your personality.
One of the most important things to think about is dart weight. Lighter darts (typically around 18–22 grams) favour a more aggressive and faster throw, one that you might see from Michael Van Gerwen, for example. However, heavier darts (24–26 grams) offer a steadier flight and a little more control. Usually beginners opt for a dart weight between 22 and 24 grams before exploring different weights as they practice more.
But weight isn’t just about how strong your throw is. For example, children tend to do best with lighter darts that don’t tire their arms out. From there they can learn and understand the technique that suits them best before exploring different weights as they grow.
The Littler things make a big difference
Once you’ve found a weight that feels comfortable, you can start exploring the other elements of your dart. The barrel is the part you hold and it comes in a variety of materials and textures. Beginners often start with brass barrels as they’re more affordable and chunkier to grip. If you’re getting serious about your game (or just want something sleeker), a tungsten barrel offers better balance and tighter groupings. Also, barrels come in plenty of different designs, so being able to test throw your darts to find what is most comfortable to you is important.
For example, 2024 World Grand Prix champion Mike De Decker uses a whopping 60 mm barrel, the longest in the game, whilst 2024 Masters champion Stephen Bunting uses a 37.9m barrel.
Then there’s the shaft, which connects the barrel to the flight. This part affects your dart’s balance and the way it moves through the air. Medium shafts are a solid starting point but if your dart is landing nose-down, you might want to try something shorter. Too nose-up? A longer shaft could help.
And finally, the flight, that small but important part at the back. Think of it like the feathers on an arrow. Bigger, standard flights provide more stability in the air and suit slower throws. Slimmer flights reduce drag and are often favoured by faster, more direct players, like those you’ll see lighting up the stage in PDC events.
And finally, the flight, that small but important part at the back. Think of it like the feathers on an arrow. Bigger, standard flights provide more stability in the air and suit slower throws. Slimmer flights reduce drag and are often favoured by faster, more direct players, like those you’ll see lighting up the stage in PDC events.
Many players now opt for the one-piece flight and shaft system, Luke Littler being a prime example, rocking the K-Flex one-piece system. Other notable players have tried and/or use this system too including Jose De Sousa and Ritchie Edhouse.
At Throw Darts we’re committed to finding you the right set of darts. Like trying on a pair of football boots or getting the feel of a cricket bat, it won’t click immediately. That’s why we provide our free test-throwing lanes and expert advice so that you can try out a range of barrels, flights, shafts and weights and craft the perfect dart for you.
Helping everyone start strong
We love seeing younger players come through the doors of Throw Darts. Giving young players the right tools early on can make all the difference. For example, a lightweight dart with a chunkier barrel and a stable flight helps them focus on technique rather than strength. And let’s be honest, having a cool-looking set of darts with a case to match? That’s half the fun.
We’re also big believers that darts is for everyone. If you’re a woman picking up a dart for the first time, don’t let anyone tell you there’s a one-size-fits-all setup. Many of the women we meet gravitate toward mid-weight darts, often with a more tapered barrel and standard flights for control. But preferences vary and that’s the beauty of it.
You can try all of this (and more) at our Tuesday Night Academy, where young and aspiring players get a chance to learn in a relaxed, inclusive setting.
Don’t want to build your own darts?
Mixing and matching barrels, shafts and flights can be part of the fun but if that’s not your thing, don’t worry. We’ve also got a range of pre-made dart sets designed for different experience levels, so you can skip the guesswork and get straight to throwing.
These sets are ideal if you’re buying your very first dart, gifting a starter kit or want to upgrade to something closer to what the PDC pros use.
But again, we want you to get a feel for what you prefer and sometimes a pre-made set just might not tick all of your boxes. Instead, we welcome you to test-throw as many different darting combinations as you please so that you can step up to the oche with confidence.
Throw with us
We’re not just here to sell darts, we’re building a community. That’s why we host weekly tournaments and run coaching for new players of all ages. Whether you want to meet fellow dart lovers, learn how to group your shots or just hit the board with a bit more confidence, there’s a place for everyone here.
If you want to see how some of the best in the business set up their darts, check out this official PDC player setup guide, a brilliant insight into how the pros find what works for them.
So, what are you waiting for? Whether you’re 8 or 80, just starting or dreaming of taking on Luke Littler himself, darts is a game you can enjoy for life. And at Throw Darts, we’re dedicated to finding you your perfect set of darts to do just that.
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