Choosing the Right Dartboard
The dartboard is the centrepiece of your setup. Get this right and everything else follows. Here's how to choose the best board for your needs and budget.
Bristle (Sisal) Boards
The standard for serious darts. Made from compressed sisal fibres (from the agave plant, not horsehair as is commonly believed). When a dart is removed, the fibres close up — a self-healing surface that can absorb tens of thousands of throws.
What to Look For
- Sisal quality — Higher-grade sisal is denser and more uniform, meaning fewer bounce-outs and longer life
- Wiring — The metal dividers between segments. Thinner wires = fewer bounce-outs. The best boards use blade wire (razor-thin triangular wire) instead of round wire
- Staple-free bullseye — Cheap boards staple the bullseye ring, creating bounce-out points. Quality boards use a blade system throughout
- Number ring — Should be removable and rotatable, allowing you to turn the board to distribute wear evenly (primarily around the treble 20)
- Board thickness — Quality boards are at least 35-40mm thick
Price Tiers
Budget (Under 25)
Entry-level bristle boards. Perfectly functional for casual play but will wear faster, have thicker wires (more bounce-outs), and use lower-grade sisal. Fine for beginners discovering if they enjoy the game.
Mid-Range (25-45)
Good quality sisal with thinner wires and better construction. These boards serve most home players excellently and will last years with normal use and regular rotation.
Premium (45-70+)
Tournament-quality boards used in professional competition. Ultra-thin blade wires, top-grade sisal, precision construction. The Winmau Blade 6 and Unicorn Eclipse HD2 are benchmarks in this category.
If you're playing regularly (more than twice a week), a premium board is worth the investment — the reduced bounce-outs and superior surface make a noticeable difference.
Top Bristle Board Picks
- Winmau Blade 6 — The current market leader. Blade 6 wire system, competition-grade sisal, staple-free construction. Used in many major tournaments
- Unicorn Eclipse HD2 — Ultra-thin wire, UV-coated sisal for longevity, diffuser surface to reduce glare. Exceptional quality
- Target Aspar — High-density sisal, micro-band wiring, excellent value at the mid-premium range
- One80 Gladiator 3+ — Increasingly popular, with very thin wires and dense sisal at a competitive price
- Nodor Supamatch 3 — A reliable mid-range option with good wire thickness and consistent quality
Board Maintenance
- Rotate regularly — Turn the number ring by two segments every week or two to distribute wear
- Keep dry — Never play on a wet board or store in damp conditions. Moisture destroys sisal
- Don't pull at angles — Remove darts straight out to minimise fibre damage
- No sharp storage — Don't leave darts in the board between sessions. The prolonged pressure widens the holes
Electronic (Soft-Tip) Boards
Electronic boards use plastic segmented surfaces with sensors beneath. When a dart hits, the sensor registers the segment and calculates the score automatically.
What to Look For
- Segment holes — More holes = better accuracy. Premium boards have ultra-thin holes
- Durability — Plastic segments crack over time from repeated hits. Better boards use tougher materials
- Game variety — Most offer 20-50+ game modes including cricket, 301/501, and novelty games
- Display — Clear LED or LCD scoring displays. Some have separate displays for each player
- Sound — Voice callouts, sound effects, and volume control
- Connectivity — Some modern boards offer Bluetooth, app integration, and online play
- Dart storage — Many cabinet-style electronic boards have dart storage on the doors
Price Tiers
Budget (25-50): Basic electronic boards. Limited game selection, smaller display, plastic housing. Fine for occasional family play.
Mid-Range (50-100): Better build quality, more games, clearer displays, better sensor accuracy. Good for regular casual use.
Premium (100-250+): Tournament-quality electronic boards with ultra-thin segment holes, large displays, extensive game libraries, and connectivity features. Brands like Dartslive and Phoenix dominate the premium electronic space (especially popular in Japan and Asia).
Top Electronic Board Picks
- Winmau Ton Machine — From the trusted bristle board maker. Solid build, clear display, good game selection
- Dartslive 200S — Premium connected board with app integration. Popular in Asian darts bars, now available globally
- Arachnid Cricket Pro 800 — American favourite with tournament-quality sensors and a huge game library
Magnetic Boards
Magnetic boards use a flat metal surface with printed segments. Darts have flat magnetic tips.
What to Look For
- Magnet strength — Strong rare-earth magnets in the darts hold better. Weak magnets = sliding darts
- Board surface — Should be smooth enough for darts to stick but not so slippery they slide
- Print quality — Clearly visible segments and numbers. Some cheap boards have blurry printing
- Size — Full-size (18 inches) boards feel most like the real thing. Smaller novelty boards exist but are less satisfying
Best For
Children, safety-conscious environments, offices, travel, and anywhere sharp points are unwelcome.
Price Range
10-40 for a complete set (board + darts). Several excellent sets available — look for brands that focus on strong magnets and clear, durable board faces.
Cabinets and Full Sets
A dartboard cabinet houses the board behind doors, typically with scoreboards on the inside of the doors and dart storage. They look smart in living rooms and protect the wall. Available for both bristle and electronic boards.
Bristle board cabinets: 40-100+ depending on quality and wood type
Electronic board cabinets: Often sold as integrated units
Accessories
Surrounds
Foam or rubber rings around the board that catch stray darts. Essential for wall protection. 10-25.
Lighting
Dedicated dartboard lights (ring lights, overhead strips) eliminate shadows and improve the playing experience. 15-50.
Scoring Apps
Free apps like Darts Scorer, MyDartTraining, and Pro Darts work on any phone and often include statistics tracking, training routines, and multiplayer scoring.
Decision Flowchart
- Serious player / pub quality? → Premium bristle board (Winmau Blade 6 or Unicorn Eclipse HD2)
- Regular casual play? → Mid-range bristle board
- Family fun / automatic scoring? → Mid-range electronic board
- Kids under 8 / absolute safety? → Magnetic board
- Office / breakroom? → Electronic or magnetic depending on space
- Gift for someone you don't know well? → A nice tungsten dart set is probably safer than a board (they may already have one)
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