Tuesday, July 7, 2009
Tuesday, June 23, 2009
Soft Tip Darts for Electronic Dart Boards
The electronic dart board is definitely a hit, especially for home users as they are safer than the old style darts thanks to the soft tip darts used in the game. The soft tips are made from plastic so as not to damage the dartboard, and consequently won't damage your walls so much either. Also the maximum weight allowed is set at 20grams, which is one of the reasons the old style darters are against the new electronic game, as they prefer the heavier steel tip darts that can be used on the bristle boards. However being made of plastic has its disadvantages too, as the tips can bend or break when in use so you will need plenty of spares for them as well. Fortunately they are very cheap and easily replaced as they screw into the barrel so can be unscrewed and replaced in seconds using a dart tool.
All the major manufacturers now produce soft tip darts, with the famous black widow darts set from Laserdarts and the devastators from Bottelsen, just to name a couple and there are a lot of convertible darts sets around which give you a set of screw in steel tips as well as soft tips, like the skinnys from Bottelsen, so you can use the same darts for both the soft tip and the steel tip games, which is neat. The skinnys also have the famous hammerhead action steel tip inserts that reduce those infamous bounce outs on the wires of the bristle boards. Also the shafts and flights for the soft tip darts are just the same as for steel tip darts.
The black widow soft tips have the spider grip aluminium shafts which are supposed to grip the flights better; four steel wires are anchored in the aluminum base and are covered with heat shrunk rubber to form a firm hold on the flight, and like a lot of the more expensive darts, you can chose from a range of weights from 16 to 20 grams and of course they have their famous spider flights; so if you are in to arachnids, these are for you. They even have a set with a gold colored finish that look really cool called Gold Widow darts, (guess what color the black widow darts are?). Bottelsen have got some great soft tip darts as well, their devastators are very popular as well as the Nemesis set, which have the Bottelsen spinning shafts.
The Piranha is one of the most popular darts in the soft tip world and comes in any weight you want from 12 up to 20 grams and has the new feature from Piranha, the Razor Grip which is an aggressive grip that helps stop any slippage when you throw. They also come with "Top Spin" spinning shafts that can rotate so if hit by a dart whilst in the board it spins the flight out of the way so reducing the deflection of the dart coming in.
The darts that come with the dart board sets are err&.. how can I put it, not very good, so even the cheaper Soft tip Darts at $20-$30 or so would be a great improvement on those, so if you get one of the all in dartboard sets it is definitely worth investing in a decent set of darts as well.
All the major manufacturers now produce soft tip darts, with the famous black widow darts set from Laserdarts and the devastators from Bottelsen, just to name a couple and there are a lot of convertible darts sets around which give you a set of screw in steel tips as well as soft tips, like the skinnys from Bottelsen, so you can use the same darts for both the soft tip and the steel tip games, which is neat. The skinnys also have the famous hammerhead action steel tip inserts that reduce those infamous bounce outs on the wires of the bristle boards. Also the shafts and flights for the soft tip darts are just the same as for steel tip darts.
The black widow soft tips have the spider grip aluminium shafts which are supposed to grip the flights better; four steel wires are anchored in the aluminum base and are covered with heat shrunk rubber to form a firm hold on the flight, and like a lot of the more expensive darts, you can chose from a range of weights from 16 to 20 grams and of course they have their famous spider flights; so if you are in to arachnids, these are for you. They even have a set with a gold colored finish that look really cool called Gold Widow darts, (guess what color the black widow darts are?). Bottelsen have got some great soft tip darts as well, their devastators are very popular as well as the Nemesis set, which have the Bottelsen spinning shafts.
The Piranha is one of the most popular darts in the soft tip world and comes in any weight you want from 12 up to 20 grams and has the new feature from Piranha, the Razor Grip which is an aggressive grip that helps stop any slippage when you throw. They also come with "Top Spin" spinning shafts that can rotate so if hit by a dart whilst in the board it spins the flight out of the way so reducing the deflection of the dart coming in.
The darts that come with the dart board sets are err&.. how can I put it, not very good, so even the cheaper Soft tip Darts at $20-$30 or so would be a great improvement on those, so if you get one of the all in dartboard sets it is definitely worth investing in a decent set of darts as well.
Author Steve Porter. Article Source: ArticlesBase.com - Soft Tip Darts for Electronic Dart Boards
Monday, June 22, 2009
Wednesday, June 17, 2009
Resources and Links
Very useful and informative to all Dart Fans
Darts and Dart Supplies - Darts, dart supplies, dartboards, dart accessories, flights, boards, cases, shafts for every darters darting needs.
Website: http://www.nationaldarts.com
Website: http://www.nationaldarts.com
The Most Complete Collection of Darts Games on the Web - Rules for playing more than 40 UNIQUE dart games plus links, software and other dart related info. Here you'll find useful darting information for everyone from people thinking about taking up darts right through to experts!
Website: http://www.mostdartgames.com/
Website: http://www.mostdartgames.com/
A-Z Darts - Your one stop darts shop - Your one stop dart shop. Fantastic Selection of Darts and Billiards. Great Prices on Darts, dartboards and Dart Supplies.
Website: http://www.a-zdarts.com/
Website: http://www.a-zdarts.com/
Rec Room Supplies and Games - More than just darts for your rec room - Game Master Rec fits every budget and every level. Specializing in McDermott and Viper - we can help you customize your perfect pool stick. We also carry all the pool balls, chalk, cue racks and other accessories that you need to keep your rec room stocked.
Website: http://www.gamemasterrec.com/
Website: http://www.gamemasterrec.com/
Darts, Dartboards, Billiards Supplies - Billiad-Cue.com deals pool cues. We fit every budget and every level. Specializing in McDermott and Viper - we can help you customize your perfect pool stick. We also carry all the pool balls, chalk, cue racks and other accessories that you need to keep your rec room stocked.
Website: http://www.billiard-cue.com/
Website: http://www.billiard-cue.com/
Rec Room Supplies - Darts, Billiards, Poker - Your complete rec room headquarters. They offer darts, dartboards, pool tables, pool cues, casino game supplies and everything you need to make your rec room a success.
Website: http://www.recroomguys.com/
Website: http://www.recroomguys.com/
Darts Directory - A listing of many major dart sellers. You'll find sellers of steel and soft-tip darts, dartboards, dart cases, flights, shafts, accessories and more.
Website: http://www.darts.com/
Website: http://www.darts.com/
Free Online Darts Game - A listing of many major websites with free online dart games. Many websites allow the customer to download free games or get free products.
Website: http://www.freeonlinedartsgame.info/
Website: http://www.freeonlinedartsgame.info/
The Top 100 Darts Web Sites - This site has a listing of the top 100 darts related websites. Great deals from many retailers. You will surely find what you are looking for!
Website: http://www.darts100.com
Website: http://www.darts100.com
Darts and Dartboards online - Dart Board: Dartboards.com is a premier online retailer of dart boards and darts. Browse our wide selection of darts, dart boards and darting equipment 24/7.
Website: http://www.dartboards.com
Website: http://www.dartboards.com
Darts - Darts, Dartboards & Dart Supplies - Darts, dartboards, bottelsen darts, throwlines, harley davidson merchandise, dart cabinets, flights and much more!
Website: http://www.dartdealer.com/
Website: http://www.dartdealer.com/
Let's Play Darts - Free online darts game to play at home. It's fun and best of all...it's free!
Website: http://camtech2000.net/Pages/Games/Darts.htm
Website: http://camtech2000.net/Pages/Games/Darts.htm
Pretty Good Darts - Free Online GamesPlay a virtual game of darts against the computer or a friend.
Website: http://gamescene.com/Pretty_Good_Darts.html
Website: http://gamescene.com/Pretty_Good_Darts.html
Darts, Dartboards and Darts Supplies - Darts.net offers darts, dart boards, electronic dart boards, dart board cabinets, dart supplies, soft tip darts and more.
Website: http://www.darts.net/
Website: http://www.darts.net/
American Darts Organization - ADO, ADO Darts, darts, steel tip darts, Americas Cup, WDF, - World Dart Federation, english darts.
Website: http://www.adodarts.com/
Website: http://www.adodarts.com/
Bad Boys Dart Team - Dart team playing in the worlds largest dart league.
Website: http://www.thebadboys.us/
Website: http://www.thebadboys.us/
Wednesday, May 27, 2009
Darts - How It All Started
Darts has been around for a very long time. Originally thought to have originated in England as a game for those longbow archers. Apparently they would throw their arrows at the base of a beer barrel for practice and it went from there. Even Henry the Eighth is said to have had a set of darts or "arrows". The soldiers even took their barrel bottoms with them or improvised a slice of tree as a "dart board". So the first boards were made of wood.
The game progressed and the dart became smaller and the game of darts became a big hit in local pubs around Britain, with lots of different rules and variations depending on what area of the country you were in. Indeed "Manchester dart boards are still used in some areas of Manchester they are smaller and often referred to as a "log end" dart board.
Just about everything that came to America is attributed to the Mayflower voyage. It is even said that darts was played on the Mayflower on the way to Ameriica. They caught on after the pilgrims arrived and played them whenever they could find the time. So Darts had come to America, where it was played often, and the Widdy darts company, even developed a uniquely American dart board. Meanwhile the British spread the game further in their empire. However, there is evidence that the Indians had a form of this game long before the white men came to America.
In the eighties the game was televised and of course the sponsors (cigarette and beer companies by and large) weighed in and the sport got a much needed injection of cash. It also helped enormously when John Lowe, a legend in the darts world, got his first televised 9-dart checkout. It caused a sensation at the time, not just because of the feat itself, but for the enormous amount of money he made by doing it. A sponsor had put up £100,000 ($175,000 at the time) for anyone that could do it. That was John's biggest payday at the time (1984)
Then came the war of the darters in the 1990's and the game split into 2 camps, the BDO and the brand new PDC, the Professional Darts Corporation who promised, and have largely achieved, to take darts truly International and have staged tournaments all over the world, hence the Desert Classic in Las Vegas.
During this time the humble dart has changed quite a lot, they are nearly all made from tungsten these days as tungsten gives weight without the bulk, and that has made 180 scores more likely as they can all fit into the treble 20 easier than the old bulkier brass darts.
And the Dart boards? They have also come on leaps and bounds especially in the last few years. Electronics have arrived; the wooden dart board gave way to the bristle dart board (which still gives the most satisfying thud when the dart hits the board in my opinion), which now is giving way to the electronic dart board. These new boards are simply technological marvels; they keep score for you (a great boon in Cricket) and can be programmed to heckle you when you throw, so you feel like you are back in the bar and the new Halex electronic board even marks out the throw line with a LASER! Well, darts has come a long way from throwing arrows at an archery target!
Finally, in 2005 UK Sport officially recognised darts as a Sport and International recognition soon followed. The image is also now being cleaned up, gone are the beer glasses and cigarettes, and especially in the PDC tournaments, the guys have really cleaned up their act. There is even a possibility that Darts could become an Olympic Sport before long! What would those "Archers" of England who started it all, have thought of the game now.
Source/Written by a keen darter, Steve Porter, who in spite of many hours of practice in many bars, never quite made it to professional darter status
The game progressed and the dart became smaller and the game of darts became a big hit in local pubs around Britain, with lots of different rules and variations depending on what area of the country you were in. Indeed "Manchester dart boards are still used in some areas of Manchester they are smaller and often referred to as a "log end" dart board.
Just about everything that came to America is attributed to the Mayflower voyage. It is even said that darts was played on the Mayflower on the way to Ameriica. They caught on after the pilgrims arrived and played them whenever they could find the time. So Darts had come to America, where it was played often, and the Widdy darts company, even developed a uniquely American dart board. Meanwhile the British spread the game further in their empire. However, there is evidence that the Indians had a form of this game long before the white men came to America.
In the eighties the game was televised and of course the sponsors (cigarette and beer companies by and large) weighed in and the sport got a much needed injection of cash. It also helped enormously when John Lowe, a legend in the darts world, got his first televised 9-dart checkout. It caused a sensation at the time, not just because of the feat itself, but for the enormous amount of money he made by doing it. A sponsor had put up £100,000 ($175,000 at the time) for anyone that could do it. That was John's biggest payday at the time (1984)
Then came the war of the darters in the 1990's and the game split into 2 camps, the BDO and the brand new PDC, the Professional Darts Corporation who promised, and have largely achieved, to take darts truly International and have staged tournaments all over the world, hence the Desert Classic in Las Vegas.
During this time the humble dart has changed quite a lot, they are nearly all made from tungsten these days as tungsten gives weight without the bulk, and that has made 180 scores more likely as they can all fit into the treble 20 easier than the old bulkier brass darts.
And the Dart boards? They have also come on leaps and bounds especially in the last few years. Electronics have arrived; the wooden dart board gave way to the bristle dart board (which still gives the most satisfying thud when the dart hits the board in my opinion), which now is giving way to the electronic dart board. These new boards are simply technological marvels; they keep score for you (a great boon in Cricket) and can be programmed to heckle you when you throw, so you feel like you are back in the bar and the new Halex electronic board even marks out the throw line with a LASER! Well, darts has come a long way from throwing arrows at an archery target!
Finally, in 2005 UK Sport officially recognised darts as a Sport and International recognition soon followed. The image is also now being cleaned up, gone are the beer glasses and cigarettes, and especially in the PDC tournaments, the guys have really cleaned up their act. There is even a possibility that Darts could become an Olympic Sport before long! What would those "Archers" of England who started it all, have thought of the game now.
Source/Written by a keen darter, Steve Porter, who in spite of many hours of practice in many bars, never quite made it to professional darter status
Thursday, May 21, 2009
Which Dart Board? Bristle vs Electronic Dart Boards
A dart board is a great accessory for any games room or home bar, but how do you decide between the myriad bristle and electronic dart boards on sale? Do you go for a traditional bristle dart board, or opt for a modern electronic board? This article outlines the qualities of different types of dart boards, to help you make that decision. Whatever you decide, your new dart board is sure to provide your friends and family with hours of entertainment over many years. Being able to play darts in your own home is a huge amount of fun!
Quality bristle dart boards are made from African sisal fibers, which have the unique ability to self-heal, or close up, each time darts are removed from the surface, so there won't be any visible holes from dart tips. A well made board will be regulation size of 18 inches in diameter and 1.5 inches thick. Good features to look for include rotating wire numbers, which help prolong the life of a board, and staple free bulls eye wire to help eliminate bounce-outs. To play on a bristle dartboard you'll need to use steel tip darts. Dartboards can be mounted onto a backboard or displayed in a specially designed cabinet to protect the surrounding walls from being hit by mis-thrown darts.
Electronic dart boards are increasingly popular, using the latest technology to enable automatic scoring, score displays for multiple players, sound effects and a huge choice of different games. Most have playing surfaces that require players to use soft tip darts, which have the advantage of being softer and safer for younger members of the family. Some modern versions have a specially adapted surface that is suitable for both types of darts, depending on your personal preferences and throwing techniques. Most electronic boards enable a single player to play against the computer, which is great for practicing your skills.
Ultimately, the choice is yours, and other factors such as the look of your dart board and how it will match your décor, need to be considered too. But whether you opt for a traditional bristle board for that authentic appearance, or go for the useful additional features of an electronic board, you're sure to have hours of fun playing darts!
Caroline Smith is a regular contributor to DartBoards180.com - an online resource all about the game of darts and dart boards, including electronic dart boards and other dart supplies
Quality bristle dart boards are made from African sisal fibers, which have the unique ability to self-heal, or close up, each time darts are removed from the surface, so there won't be any visible holes from dart tips. A well made board will be regulation size of 18 inches in diameter and 1.5 inches thick. Good features to look for include rotating wire numbers, which help prolong the life of a board, and staple free bulls eye wire to help eliminate bounce-outs. To play on a bristle dartboard you'll need to use steel tip darts. Dartboards can be mounted onto a backboard or displayed in a specially designed cabinet to protect the surrounding walls from being hit by mis-thrown darts.
Electronic dart boards are increasingly popular, using the latest technology to enable automatic scoring, score displays for multiple players, sound effects and a huge choice of different games. Most have playing surfaces that require players to use soft tip darts, which have the advantage of being softer and safer for younger members of the family. Some modern versions have a specially adapted surface that is suitable for both types of darts, depending on your personal preferences and throwing techniques. Most electronic boards enable a single player to play against the computer, which is great for practicing your skills.
Ultimately, the choice is yours, and other factors such as the look of your dart board and how it will match your décor, need to be considered too. But whether you opt for a traditional bristle board for that authentic appearance, or go for the useful additional features of an electronic board, you're sure to have hours of fun playing darts!
Caroline Smith is a regular contributor to DartBoards180.com - an online resource all about the game of darts and dart boards, including electronic dart boards and other dart supplies
The Electronic Dart Board Is Great For The Home
The electronic dart board just gets better and better. The original boards came out in the 1990's and caused a lot of controversy at the time that still goes on today. The purists hate them saying it isn't "proper darts", but no one can deny their popularity. The big advantages are that the electronic game is safer and a lot more convenient than the traditional game. The darts have plastic tips so they are less dangerous and are much less likely to put holes in your wall and I think most of us appreciate the automatic scoring, especially for the Cricket game.
There are now two types of electronic dart board around, the standard board with hundreds of holes in it and the new so called "BristleTech" board, which is similar to the standard bristle boards so you can use both steel tip darts and soft tips, and it still has the electronics to do all the scoring for you as well. This is truly the best of both worlds and is surely the way of the future.
The best example of this new technology is the Halex Armada BristleTech board with a laser toe line built in as well! So not only does it enable you to play with both types of darts it marks out the throw line for you with a laser, how cool is that! So both types of darts players can make use of this board. Who knows, the electronic boards may be used in the big tournaments like the Las Vegas Classic before long.
The best example of this new technology is the Halex Armada BristleTech board with a laser toe line built in as well! So not only does it enable you to play with both types of darts it marks out the throw line for you with a laser, how cool is that! So both types of darts players can make use of this board. Who knows, the electronic boards may be used in the big tournaments like the Las Vegas Classic before long.
There are standard wall mounted boards and the arcade style that doesn't need to be set up, as they are free standing and the board is already mounted for you at the correct height. (Great! no drilling) The latest electronic dart boards are relatively cheap, at a starting price of around $50 to $300 for the all singing, all dancing arcade types.
Also bear in mind the wall mounted version of the electronic dart board is necessarily bigger than the normal bristle boards because of the electronics, so when it comes to housing your new board, you will need a larger than normal dart board cabinet to accommodate it. Please ensure that if you get a dart board cabinet for your electronic board that it will fit the cabinet, there are cabinets made to fit the larger boards.
Written by darts enthusiast Steve Porter.
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