The weight of your darts determines how the dart sits in your hand, how it flies and how often you have to adjust. There is no perfect weight for everyone, but there is a range in which most players feel at home. In this guide you'll read which weight is best to test, what the difference is between steel tip and soft tip, and how to find out for yourself what works for you.
What weight is common?
Steel tip darts usually weigh between 21 and 26 grams. Most players throw between 22 and 25 grams. Soft tip darts are often lighter: many models weigh 16 to 20 grams. The weight is always shown on the product page, usually together with the tungsten percentage.
| Weight | Feel | Often suits |
|---|---|---|
| 18–20 grams | Light and fast, needs more speed in the throw | Soft tip, players with a quick, loose throw |
| 21–22 grams | Light, but still stable | Players who throw fast or have a slight preference for light darts |
| 23–24 grams | Balanced, the safest starting choice | Beginners and recreational players |
| 25–26 grams | Heavy and steady in the air | Players with a powerful, calm throw |
What changes when you throw heavier or lighter?
A lighter dart flies faster and on a flatter trajectory, but you need more timing and it reacts more sensitively to a sloppy release. A heavier dart flies more steadily and is deflected less easily, but it takes a little more strength and can feel a bit clumsy in the fingers. It's not a question of better or worse: it's about what suits your throw.
Steel tip or soft tip
The type of board often already determines which weight you choose. On a traditional sisal board you play with steel tip darts. For an electronic board you use soft tip darts with a plastic tip. If you throw on both, a soft tip of 18 or 20 grams often feels different from your steel tip of 23 grams. That's normal and you adapt quickly.
Weight is not the only factor
Two darts of 23 grams can feel very different. A higher tungsten percentage makes the same dart thinner: a barrel of 90% tungsten is slimmer at the same weight than one of 80%. The position of the centre of gravity also plays a part. A dart with the weight at the front flies differently from a dart that is heavier at the back. So don't just compare the number of grams, but also the shape of the barrel.
You can see the difference nicely in our range, where the same series exists in several weights. Take the Bull's CP series, for example: the Nicolas Thuillier CP Steeltip 90% of 21 grams, the Liam Maendl-Lawrance CP Steeltip 90% of 23 grams and the Christel Timmermans E1 CP Steeltip 90% of 25 grams.
How to test the right weight
- Start around 23 grams if you don't know where to begin.
- Throw at least a few legs or a full training session with the same set. A few throws say very little.
- Change only one thing at a time, for example the weight and not the flights at the same time.
- Pay attention to your grouping on the board and how the dart lands, not just the feel in your hand.
- If a dart still feels strange after a week, go up or down by 1 to 2 grams.
Common mistakes
- Copying a professional's weight. Their throw is different from yours.
- Thinking heavier is automatically better. A dart that is too heavy causes tired shoulders and a dropping throw.
- Switching too often. That way you never know what makes the difference.
Still not sure? Get inspired by our beginner's guide or the explanation of the length of your shafts. You'll find all darts in the category darts.