It's never really been a secret that beer can dramatically improve any given activity. What's more, if you look at
the phenomenon of darts, you can see that beer can also transform a friendly, lighthearted pastime into an international competitive sport! Whether they're taking place in pubs or big sports arenas situated in a variety of locations around the globe, the knightly darts bouts have become revered for the displays of skill from the players, and the cheeky, 'pubbish' warmhearted atmosphere that surrounds even the biggest of arenas with loads of cameras and sponsorship banners.
If this idyllic description of the game makes you want to hit your nearest bar and try your luck with no experience, do mind that people there
will be begrudgingly competitive and possibly beat you up if you display too much beginners’ luck! Jokes aside, darts can be a great way to socialize and also develop some wicked wrist action that can a) turn you into a pro darts player, and b) open to you the possibility of moonlighting as a shuriken-throwing ninja hitman! This is a dartboard-related review, though, so don't expect to hear precious information on how to become a professional assassin. (We charge for that sort of stuff, big bucks too - we're not PETA.)
So, if you've already decided to get onboard this happy-go-lucky, beer-induced bandwagon, we'd like to help you pick out the best possible dartboard for you, so that you can improve yourself and maybe even start winning some of the competitions!
First off, when choosing a dartboard, you need to decide what sort you'd like to go with. For instance, the most popular boards are those made out of wood or cork, such as the
Hathaway Centerpoint Solid Wood Dartboard and Cabinet Set. Depending on the kind of wood, its quality, and its availability, the price may vary of course, but since these materials are most commonly found, they tend to be the least expensive.
After wood, the second-best material of choice seems to be metal, though these models usually come with a set of magnetic darts and are predominantly made for kids. There are, of course, a fair number of magnetic models made for adults as well, but the kid-friendly ones are more prevalent in the world of magnetic 'dartery.'
Another rather interesting design choice that’s been introduced into the world of darts recently is the electronic dartboard, which features a bunch of premade holes, into which a specifically designed dart should enter to register a hit. Thanks to its design, this board is then able to automatically calculate a player's score, which may not be that big of an advantage, in all fairness, but it's still an interesting property nevertheless.
Since darts isn’t really a sport that requires a number of props, various manufacturers have found various ways to make their dartboards seem more attractive to the buyer. For example, one of the most popular versions of these boards you can find are those made with a wooden case that looks like some sort of cupboard. Once you open the doors of these elaborate
dart chests, so to speak, you can find a dartboard and some neatly organized playing darts, as well as a chalkboard with a piece of chalk for recording the score! So it's a whole package, really!
Another ongoing theme with the manufacturers of these boards worth checking out would be the tendency to include custom-made team logos on their dartboards. This can be a great asset for you if you're already into darts as a competitive sport and have your own team as well. If you're looking to fully kit out your game room, then why not check out our reviews for some of the best pool tables and
air hockey tables too?
Price
As far as dartboard pricing is concerned, about the most important thing that determines it would be the type of dartboard you're dealing with. Traditional wooden models typically occupy both the least expensive and the most expensive ends of the spectrum, as different kinds of wood have different properties and are sold at a variety of price points. On the other hand, some more recently developed models are filled with electronic circuits and those kinds of modern gadgetry, so they may come at a slightly higher price point on account of that. Of course, the manufacturing brand may also play a role, as more prestigious names will surely sell more expensive goods.
Features
In the world of darts, there are only a few things you need to start playing the game:
a dartboard,
some darts, and maybe a chalkboard with a piece of chalk to keep track of how good and dominant you are (or not)! In the following list, we'll give you a list of properties you should look out for when buying yourself a brand new dartboard.
The list of features to look for in a dartboard:
- Material Used
- Whether There Are Darts Included
- Chalkboard Scorer
- Mounting Hardware
- Team Logo Graphics
An attractive display of graphics on your dartboard may be a great team spirit-boosting element that can propel your team straight to victory!
Construction and Design
When it comes to construction, most boards are built rather straight-forwardly - they're round with a bit of wiring to separate the scoring sections. This basic property of a dartboard can be further enhanced by some electronics, which many manufacturers actually ventured to do, so that you, an avid darts player, can choose between traditional and modern playing surfaces for your future darts-related feats! Perhaps the biggest stepping-out from the norm would be the inclusion of entire cabinets and other pieces of supportive equipment around the board itself, which can come in handy, especially if you're a beginner.
Performance and Ease of Use
Since dartboards aren't exactly the most complicated sporting utensils out there, using them isn’t going to be a major challenge for you, even if you've been living under a rock until now, with no Internet whatsoever! You throw the dart, and if it sticks to the board, chances are you've managed to score; if you hit the wall or the waiter, you've not scored. Simple as that.
Perhaps the biggest perplexity you'll encounter when playing darts would be with electronic models, which can sometimes malfunction and not count the darts you graciously managed to sneak onto the board. Other than this small inconvenience, using dartboards and playing darts in general is always a pleasurable experience, and as long as you're practicing regularly, you're sure to have some competitive results as well!
Even though throwing darts in itself is always a rather pleasurable experience, doing so without an appropriate dartboard WILL take away at least 33.33% of the fun, and if you ask us, that's 33.33% too much! Step up your dart game and get yourself a dartboard with printed score numbers, in color! If you already have the standard one, you might like some of the newly developed magnetic ones, too! Check out our top five list and see for yourself!
Featuring a new range of exciting builds that nowadays include neon lights, magnetic darts and what not, dartboards have become top-tier sports props that one would want to have, even if they don't play darts! To get your dart-wielding hands on a high-quality dartboard, check out our top five review and pick the perfect model for you!
