A good dartboard makes the difference between a fun evening and an evening of frustration over bounce-outs. But which brand should you choose? In this overview we compare the dartboard brands in our range, so you can quickly see which board suits your situation.
What should you look for in a dartboard?
Most boards in the shop are sisal bristle boards. The material is self-healing: the holes left by the dart points largely close up again. A few details also determine how pleasant a board is to play on:
- Wiring: thin wiring means fewer darts bounce out.
- Sisal quality: denser, more tightly pressed sisal holds darts well and usually lasts longer.
- Number ring: a rotating ring spreads the wear, because you often aim at the same spot, such as the treble 20.
- Hanging system: a board that is easy to rotate and hang level is more pleasant to play on.
How to hang the board afterwards, and at what distance, is explained in our guide to hanging a dartboard correctly.
Winmau
Winmau is known for its dartboards. The Winmau Blade 6 Dual Core has a two-layer core: a softer outer core that lets the dart in easily and a denser inner core that holds it. The wiring is ultra-thin and set at a 60° angle. The board is 450 mm wide and has the Rota-Lock system for rotating and adjusting it. You will also find the Winmau Blade 6 Triple Core PDC, with a laser-cut anti-glare number ring.
Unicorn
Unicorn has a wide range of boards in the shop. The top model is the Unicorn Eclipse Ultra, with a metal wire construction that reduces bounce-outs and a bullseye designed for more hits on the 25 and 50. Want to practise your finishes? There are training boards such as the Unicorn Contender Trainer, with larger trebles and doubles. A simpler board for home use is the Unicorn Striker, a 455 mm bristle board with a rotating number ring.
Target
The Target Tor is a board made of Madagascan sisal with ultra-thin stainless steel wiring. It is approved by the World Darts Federation (WDF) and has its own hanging system, the Peak-Fix lock and level. A board for anyone who also wants to play at tournament level. Target also makes surrounds, such as the Luke Littler World Champion Dartboard Surround Set, in our category surrounds.
Shot
Shot offers several boards, from the Shot Ranger to the Shot Bandit and the Michael Smith versions. According to the product description, the Ranger meets World Darts Federation standards and has a stainless steel bullseye. A useful choice if you want a full-fledged board for home or for the club.
Bull's
The Bull's Advantage 8 is a sisal board for intensive use, with ultra-thin wiring and a clear colour contrast. There is also a black version, the Advantage Black, and a training board with thinner doubles and trebles: the Advantage Trainer Gold. Handy if you want to combine a board and accessories within one brand.
Overview
| Brand | Example board | Key features |
|---|---|---|
| Winmau | Blade 6 Dual Core | Two-layer core, 450 mm, Rota-Lock |
| Unicorn | Eclipse Ultra | Metal wire construction, wide range, also training boards |
| Target | Tor | WDF-approved, Peak-Fix hanging system |
| Shot | Ranger | Stainless steel bullseye, for home and club |
| Bull's | Advantage 8 | Ultra-thin wiring, also a trainer version |
How to make your board last longer
Even the best board wears out, because you keep aiming at the same zones. A few habits help:
- Rotate the board regularly by a small amount, so the darts do not keep landing in the same sisal fibres.
- Pull your darts straight out of the board, without wiggling, so the fibres are damaged less.
- Hang the board in a dry place, because moisture is bad for sisal.
- Use a surround or protective material around the board, so the wall stays intact.
That last point is especially handy in a living room. You will find more options in the category dartboard accessories, in addition to the surrounds mentioned above.
Which brand suits you?
If you have just started, you do not need to pick the most expensive board. A solid sisal board with thin wiring is usually enough, especially as you still have to choose your darts. You will find help with that in our guide which darts to choose as a beginner.
If you play often and want your board to last a long time, choose a board with a dense sisal core and a rotating number ring, and turn the board a quarter turn every now and then. If you want to practise doubles specifically, a training board is a useful addition alongside your regular board. You can view the full range in the category dartboards.