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