I know people who visit the local bars just to experience a few sets of dart game on the best dart board.
Surprised to know this? Well, it is the harsh truth simply because there are really good dart boards at such places which passionate players enjoy. If you are one of them, it is time that you buy your own dart board and that too the best one so that you can enjoy the high quality game right from the comfort of your own place. Unless you have the perfect one, you will keep missing the board at the local pub. But how do you choose the right one among so many brands available in the market?
Keeping the requirements of beginners as well as pro dart gamers, I have created the list of top 10 dart boards which will help you to make the final choice very comfortably.
Top 13 Dart Boards
- Viper Shot King Sisal/Bristle Steel Tip Dartboard
- Winmau Blade 5 Bristle Dartboard
- Winmau Diamond Plus Tournament Bristle Dartboard
- Unicorn Eclipse Pro Bristle Dartboard
- Winmau Blade 5 Dual Core Bristle Dartboard
- Viper League Pro Sisal/Bristle Steel Tip Dart Board
- Ignat Games Professional Dartboard Kit - Bristle/Sisal Tournament Dart Board
- Viper Razorback Sisal/Bristle Steel Tip Dartboard
- WIN.MAX Electronic Soft Tip Dartboard Set with Cabinet, 12 Darts LED Display
- WIN.MAX Blade 18” Bristle Dartboard
- Innocheer Safety Darts and Kids Dart Board Set
- Viper Hudson Sisal/Bristle Steel Tip Dartboard & Cabinet Bundle
- Doinkit Darts – Magnetic Dart Board
Head to Head Comparison Among Top 3 Dart Boards
Here are the top 3 dart boards you may need to consider for your next games:
13 Best Dart Boards
1
Viper by GLD Products Viper Shot King Sisal/Bristle Steel Tip Dartboard
GLD is a leading brand in dart board industry and this Shot King model of dart board is the best dart board you can get in the market. Being made of high quality sisal bristle fiber makes the dart board super strong and durable. The bristle fibers make room for the dart tip (when the dart hits the board) and they return to their original position as soon as you pull the dart off the board. The staple-free nature of the board prevents bounce-outs and finally helps the player to score higher.
The durability factor is also dependent on the feature of movable number ring and that feature is also available in this board. The movable number ring feature allows the badly injured areas of the board to heal while you keep on hitting the other less injured parts of the board. This one is 18 inch in diameter and 1.5 inches thick; that implies it is an international tournament size dart board made for pro players. This GLD board comes with 6 steel tip darts and another notable feature of this board is that it accommodates both steel tip and soft tip darts. This board comes with mounting hardware and this means you will have no difficulty in mounting the board to the place that suits you.
Pros
- 18 inch professional level dart board made with sisal/bristle fiber
- Ultra-thin galvanized rounded wires to prevent bounce-outs
- Accommodates both steel tip and soft tip darts
Cons
- Several bad spots on the board
2
Winmau Blade 5 Bristle Dartboard
The Winmau dartboard is going to give you the pleasure of experiencing the next generation of game-changing performance. This one is one of the top rated dart boards that have undoubtedly pushed the boundaries of dartboard technology into another level. The wiring system of the professional-level bristle board provides with 9 mm square extra scoring area in the doubles along with 6 mm square extra scoring area in the trebles. The 14% reduction in the web surface area (as compared to the previous Blade 4 version) provides the potential for higher scoring. Not only that, the Dynamic Sector Wires are 20% thinner as well as the Radial Wires are 10% thinner.
These are the features which will enable you to have higher scoring potential in the history of dartboards. The optimization of razor wire angle (through reduction of the blades by 30 degrees) will allow the increase of dart deflection in the scoring bed. Along with the thinnest wiring feature, the Ultimate Tensile Strength of the dynamic sector wire has been increased by 20% so that the dart points can glide past the wire and sink into the scoring bed. In addition to these, the new Bullseye along with the 25 ring feature carbon diffusion technology for the super hard surface along with improved performance and unmatchable durability of the board. The Rota-lock, triple wheel lock-and-level system helps creating the perfect radial alignment and levelling which results in easy rotation and finally to increased life of the board.
Pros
- Professional bristle dartboard with British Dart Organization endorsement
- 14% thinner wiring system
- Radial wires are 10% thinner
- Reduced Bounce-outs and improved dart deflection with 30 degrees reduction in razor wire angle
- Triple wheel lock-and-level system
- Super durable with carbon diffusion technology
Cons
- Not particularly suitable for children or novice players
3
Winmau Diamond Plus Tournament Bristle Dartboard
This dartboard is made at a professional level with the capability to install it into your house with ease. It offers technology that gives you 9mm square extra scoring area. Therefore it offers fewer bounce outs and a greater score. The board has great customer reviews and is one of the best selling boards on the market.
With this board, you get angled divider wire which in turn helps direct darts for a more accurate score. The Dynamic Sector Wires are 20% thinner along with 10% thinner radial wires. The removable ring for your numbers is also an added bonus. You can rotate your board very easily. This makes your board last longer. This is 17.75" X 17.75" X 1.5" with a weight of 10 pounds. The best feature of this specific dartboard is what is called sisal fibers technology. It's described as "Self-healing." It conforms to your dart when it hits the board and holds it snuggly. The Ultimate Tensile Strength allows your dart to smoothly move past the wires and land in the dartboard. When you remove the dart, the technology allows the material to form back as if no dart was ever there.
However, if you are using your hard earned cash on a dartboard, know that one customer complained there was visible staples holding wires and did not look "clean".
Pros
- Made of high-quality materials that are made to last many years
- Colors are very vibrant and bright making it easy to see and visibly appealing
- You get a mounting system with the board that is easy to set up
- You can easily lock the board into place for sturdy play without any wiggle in the board
Cons
- A small con is not specifically with the board, but that for the price you pay, you do not get any darts with it
- The only other thing is that you get some bounce back with the darts. There isn't much, but there is still some very minimal bounce back
4
Unicorn Eclipse Pro Bristle Dartboard
A high quality, greatly priced dartboard that will make shooting darts at home easy and accurate. Unicorn provides many great features that make them one of the most purchased boards on the market.
Unicorn is known for this board to be endorsed by World Champions and PDC. It is also a very high-quality bristle board that will last a long time with minimal work from the buyer. Your dart will glide into the sisal technology. The technology is almost like elastic and expand to your dart without causing any damage to the board. You get a completely staple free construction (including the bull's eye) which mean less bounce back and better score. All Eclipse boards use Minimum Metal for maximum target which also improves your scoring averages. Unicorn made this 30% lighter than most any other board as well. It is 2" X 18.1" X 18.1" with a weight of 9.59 pounds. The most unique feature on this is the spider wiring with its' slim construction. I say this because the width of the wires are very slim and lowers most all bounce back because you have very low chances of hitting a wire. In turn, that causes you to have a larger scoring area on the board.
However, there is a downfall. If you are a heavy thrower you may experience the dart almost or actually hitting the back of the board and that "Bopp" sounds.
Pros
- The spider technology leaves hardly any bounce back and gets you a better score and larger score area
- There is mounting hardware with the board that makes it so easy to mount that it's like your hardly doing any work.
- The sisal technology on this leaves your board looking new with no holes and will last for many years
Cons
- Like I mentioned above, the only main "flaw" is heavy thrower may experience the "Bopp"
5
Winmau Blade 5 Dual Core Bristle Dartboard
Your search for the ultimate quality professional dart board can be satisfied with this Winmau Blade 5 dart board which is made with the dual core technology. This one comes from the world’s most advanced dart board manufacturer who is known for their superior technology and innovation in dart board making. This Blade 5 version has been endorsed by British Darts Organization and is thus truly international tournament sized board. The patented dual core technology ensures that there will be fewer lost darts while playing as the darts are sure to sink into the board.
The thinner wiring system makes room for 14% more scoring area as compared to the previous blade 4 version of the board. These features also ensure reduced bounce-outs and the dart deflection system has been further improved with the 30 degree reduction in the angle of the razor wire. It is the Triple Wheel-lock-and-level technology that enables you to hang the board to virtually any surface. The face of the board features high visibility playing surface along with perfect vision which finally results in higher scoring potential. Supreme quality sisal bristle fiber, 20% thinner sector wires and 14% reduction in web surface area are some of the features which add to the credibility of the Blade 5 board.
Pros
- 14% thinner wiring system
- Endorsed by British Darts Organization
- Dual core technology ensures fewer lost darts
- 30 degree reduction in razor wire angle ensures reduced bounce-outs
- Triple Wheel Lock-and-level system helps mounting on any surface
Cons
- Slightly overpriced
6
Viper League Pro Sisal/Bristle Steel Tip Dart Board
Self-healing is the USP of this Viper Razorback dartboard and this proposition makes it one of the best professional dart boards. The material used to make the dartboard is high quality sisal bristle fiber and therefore the durability factor is unquestionable. When you are serious about the dart game, scoring high is obviously your priority and this implies, you will hate the bounce-outs. The Staple-free spider of this board makes use of the razor thin galvanized wires which not only helps in increasing the surface area but at the same time prevents the bounce-outs.
This one is just the size of the official tournament boards and therefore you can have it as your practice board if you are a professional player. The 18 inch diameter of the board along with the 1.5 inches depth makes this dartboard a truly professional piece. Along with the self-healing factor, the other aspect to look for when the durability of the board is concerned is the rotatable nature of the number ring and this board fulfills this factor perfectly. This Viper board is not just suitable for the steel tip darts but for the soft tip darts as well. So, if you are looking for a good professional level dartboard, this one can be one of the best choices.
Pros
- 18 inches is the perfect professional sized board
- Thin wire and no staples increase the scoring area
- Made with top class sisal fiber
Cons
- Self-healing feature is not very good
- Darts do not penetrate the board as expected
- The color alignment appears to be defective in most pieces
7
Ignat Games Professional Dartboard Kit - Bristle/Sisal Tournament Dart Board
This sisal dartboard is nothing but the premium quality product that will not only improve your game, but will give you great enjoyment while playing. The design of the board is exclusive and is super easy to mount (package contains all mounting equipment like the bracket, bumpers and bolts). The reduced bounce feature along with the staple free board helps increase the scoring area up to 16%. The durability of the dartboard is beyond question as the material used to make the dartboard is high grade Kenyan sisal bristle fibers.
The self healing ability is of superior quality, making the dartboard unmatchable to other competitors. Movable number rings have always been the key factor in increasing the life of any dartboard, and in this Ignat board, the moving of number rings is super easy. The segmentation system is ultra thin (it is actually 65% thinner as compared to the conventional round wire system) and this feature enables you to score more. While talking about good quality dart boards, it must be mentioned that this particular Ignat board comes with 6 steel tip darts with aluminum shafts and 2 style flights. A measuring tape accompanies the package which will help you to set up the game properly.
Pros
- Staple-free dartboard wiring system increases the scoring area up to 16%
- High grade Kenyan sisal bristle fibers ensure durability
- Perfect self healing system and easily movable number rings
- Comes with steel tip darts, measuring tape and darts guide
Cons
- Board is pretty heavy
- Steel tip darts need special attention when you are playing with kids around
8
Viper League Pro Sisal/Bristle Steel Tip Dart Board
Viper brings the League Pro model of dart board for the pro dart players. Made with super high quality sisal bristle fibers, this one is super durable. The fibers are strong and extremely elastic to allow the dart to slip through and then come back to original position after the dart is removed. The movable number ring allows the injured parts of the board to heal while a regular player hits other strong parts of the board. The movable number rings are smooth to handle and thus you can do the changes with ease.
The bullseye is free from staples and this ensures less bounce-outs. The spiders of the dart board are made with good quality rounded galvanized wires which allow the darts to slide off the spider and land exactly at the target area. The size of this dart board is just according to the international tournament regulations (18 inches in diameter and 1.5 inches depth) and this implies it is a perfect board for professional players to practice. Another important feature of this particular dart board is that it accommodates both steel tip and soft tip darts.
Pros
- Super high quality sisal bristle fiber used to make the board
- Easily movable number rings to ensure durability
- International tournament standard size
- Accommodates both steel tip and soft tip darts
- Comes with a complete set of steel tip darts
Cons
- Paint on the sisal bristle is not too good
- The darts provided in the pack are not of high quality
9
WIN.MAX Electronic Soft Tip Dartboard Set with Cabinet, 12 Darts LED Display
An all in one dartboard that includes darts with extra points in a nice cabinet that will also hold your darts. This board allows multiple players to play many different games while keeping score for you.
The Win.max has 21 different games in 65 different variations. You can play by yourself or up to 8 players at a time. Having that in mind, you can see up to 4 player's scores displayed at a time on the LED display. The cabinet allows a very large catch ring so missed shots will not cause damage to your walls. This specific board has concave segments along with not only spider technology but ultra-thin spider technology. This reduced the amount of bounce back when throwing darts. You get 12 soft tip darts, 40 soft tip points, manual and an AC adapter in this set. The cabinet itself has to storage capacity for up to 4 sets of darts. The LED screen is easy to read and has volume settings from 0-7.
A problem with this set is the darts break fairly easily. You can always buy different darts as your progress as a dart player.
Pros
- You can mount this very easy, then plug in a play quickly
- It runs off a battery or you can use the AC adapter
- There are sound effects while you play to make it fun
- It's visually appealing
Cons
- The only con I found is the darts break very easily and you can go through the included darts and tips very quickly
10
WIN.MAX Blade 18” Bristle Dartboard
This is among the best dart boards made for the professional dart players. The 18 inch bristle dartboard is used by professionals and international tournaments. The specialty of WIN.MAX boards is that it is not just made for professionals, but also for those who throw the darts just to enjoy the fun and excitement of the game. The 18 inch dart board suits the requirements of professionals as well as those who want to play for fun. The high technology staple-free dart board is made with blade wiring system and are equipped with unique blade system. The blades are thinner as compared to the wires and they are obviously staple-free. This feature provides a scoring surface that is not just extra strong but helps in dramatic reduction in bounce-outs. This in turn allows you to score higher and have more fun.
The board is made with true high-end material and that is the Kenyan sisal fiber. The small fibers are very strong and least brittle. This ensures that when the dart tip penetrates the board, the fibers allow the tips to slide between and thus prevents puncturing the fibers. The self-healing feature is based on this particular technology as when the dart is pulled out of the board, the fibers automatically comes back to their original position and board is completely healed. This is also the basic secret behind the extreme durability of the board. The rotatable number ring adds to the durability factor and this function is easy to perform with this board. The availability of free flights, sharpener, finger grip wax and darts adds to the attractions of the WIN.MAX 18 inch boards.
Pros
- High-tech staple-free blade wire system
- Easily rotatable number ring
- Size suitable for professionals and international tournaments
- Top class Kenyan sisal board
Cons
- Too high end for novice dart players
11
Innocheer Safety Darts and Kids Dart Board Set
If you have read various electronic dart board reviews and are looking for the best dart boards available in the market to enjoy with your family and kids, it is the Innocheer 16 inch rubber board that will satisfy your requirement. This one is safe for children and at the same time will provide you with the pleasure of unmatchable excitement that you can get from the game of darts. The soft darts are safe for children and will surely cause no damage to your furniture.
This one is easy to install as you will have the built-in metal bracket with which you can set the board on the table-top and at the same time there is the reinforced nail hole so that you can hang the board on the wall. The game of darts is known to the one of the most relaxing among the indoor sports and when you want something compact and easy-to-play game in the office, it is this Innocheer dart board that will help you to release stress. This particular pack comes with a 16 inch dart board and 9 soft tip safety darts. Looking for the perfect gift for your dear ones? Go for this dart board and you are sure to have the best dart board for the money.
Pros
- 16 inch rubber dart board which is easy to install
- 9 soft safety darts included in the package
- Great to have in office for stress releasing
Cons
- Not a classic dart board
- Suited just for kids over 6 years of age and fun playing
12
Viper Hudson Sisal/Bristle Steel Tip Dartboard & Cabinet Bundle
When you need to optimize your darting experience, this Viper Hudson dart board can be the best choice which is now available with the convenient and comprehensive bundle. This set comes with a premium quality dart board cabinet and a sisal bristle staple-free dart board. The cabinet includes a dry erase scoreboard, an out-chart board, a dry erase marker along with the mounting hardware. The cabinet is mahogany finished and black felt lined. Made with solid pine, the box joints and bronze hinges provide super durability to the whole thing.
Most importantly, there are two door stoppers provided with the set which prevents the doors from slamming over the board. Speaking about the dart board material, nothing can be better than high quality sisal bristle fiber which allows the darts to glide into the board smoothly and as soon as the darts are pulled out, the fibers return to the original position, making self-healing process complete. The movable number rings add further life span to the dart board. This board measure in accordance with international tournament size regulations and is thus fit for professional players. If you are looking for a great professional dart board, this can be the one for you.
Pros
- Comprehensive bundle featuring dart board cabinet with mahogany finish and crafted with solid pine and the box joints and bronze hinges
- Staple-free bullseye dart board made with self-healing sisal bristle fibers
- Comes with one set of steel tip darts
Cons
- Wiring is extremely bulky resulting in bounce-outs
13
Doinkit Darts – Magnetic Dart Board
When you are looking for the fun of dart game but in a safe version, this magnetic dart board can be a good choice. Doinkit brings the best quality magnetic dart board that is almost identical to the classic dartboards as far as the looks are concerned. The basic characteristics of this dartboard are just the same as the classic boards. You will find the intricately crafted cracks (just same as the cracks on the professional sisal boards) and this will give you (as well as the kids) the feeling of being in the real game.
The magnet system ensures the safety of the players as well as the kids who are around. You can safely let the kids enjoy the game of darts without worrying much about their safety as no one can get hurt by the magnetic darts. So, this one is the best home dart board when you want to enjoy dart game with your entire family. The size is pretty comfortable one and is very close to the professional boards (this one is 16 inches). The neodymium magnets are strong and help in optimum performance. The board is light and durable and designed in such a way that you will find it super easy to hang it on the wall of any room.
Pros
- Extremely safe for kids
- Strong and balanced neodymium magnets ensure flawless performance
- Looks just similar to the classic dartboards
Cons
- Magnets are not as strong as expected
- The hanging system is pretty poor and the board often falls off the wall when darts are removed
Things to remember before buying Best Dart Board
When you are looking for the best electronic dart board for the money, it is necessary to keep certain things in mind. If you are an experienced professional, it is obvious that you know the key factors to look for, but if you are just an amateur dart player, it is necessary to know the thing which makes the difference between an ordinary dart board and a good one. Here are some of the things you need to look for while buying a good dart board so that your money is not wasted and you get the desired pleasure of the game of darts.
Sisal/Bristle Dart boards
This is the primary factor to look for when you buy the dart board. Sisals are extremely durable materials made with high density fibers. Not only that the sisal fiber is highly dense, they possess the true self-healing quality. The technique behind this self-healing factor is that the fibers are so elastic that they allow the tip of the darts to glide through them (they actually make room for the dart tip) and when the darts are pulled out the fibers return to their original position making the self-healing process complete.
Density and depth of the board
Boards which are adequately dense and perfectly thick are the best ones. Now, what is the adequate density or the perfect depth? Answer is that one which will allow the dart to penetrate deep enough so that it will not bounce out. Holding a dart in position and preventing bounce-outs will ensure high scoring.
Removable number rings
When a regular player uses a dart board, it is obvious that the player will keep hitting at a specific place or number. This results in injuring the dart board at a particular place and finally making that particular part of the board weaker. With the facility of removable number rings, the hitting zone can be altered and thus allow that particular spot good time to recover. This feature ensures the life span of a dart board and thus it is important to check whether the board you choose have this feature or not.
Wiring Technology
It is important to check the wiring technology of the dart board before you purchase as it is the feature that determines the chances of bounce-outs. The wiring system separate the central section of the dart board from the fringes and it has to be in such a manner so that the bounce-outs are fewer. The upgraded dart boards come with thinner wires which ultimately result in increasing the scoring area in the boards.
Dart boards made with coiled paper
Coiled paper dart boards are to be avoided if you want a real good experience in the game of darts. When you throw a dart on a board made with coiled paper, the dart hole seldom heals. Actually these boards are made for kids who do not require a long lasting board or the one that will give them the pleasure of real darting tournament.
Bulls with bladed surface
Dart boards made with bladed bulls provide with higher surface area for scoring. Boards which come with outer bullseye and micro inner bull helps in improving the game and at the same time reduce the chances of bounce-outs.
Warranty and Price
The warranty provided by the manufacturer is extremely important to consider while you buy the dart board as this is the factor which will ensure the security for the money you have spent. Make sure to check the warranty related declarations thoroughly before you spend your money. Another factor is the price of the boards. If you are not a professional player, make sure not to go for very high level and high priced boards as they may be far away from your potential and ultimately you may end up wasting the money. Similarly, make sure not to buy too cheap ones (though the money amount may be less) as they will not serve slightest of your purpose.
FINAL VERDICT
Although there are many great quality dartboards out there, someone has to land on the top. It's not to say the other boards didn't fight for the top, but they just don't have as great technology as these following three. So here are the top three boards that gave me a lasting impression. This short-list of top three will help you to make your final choice easier.
Winmau Blade 5 Bristle Dartboard
The Winmau Blade 5 Bristle Dartboard is the professional bristle dartboard that comes with 14% thinner wiring to increase the scoring area. The 30 degree reduction on razor wire angle will help dart deflection.
Winmau Diamond Plus Tournament Bristle Dartboard
The Winmau Diamond Plus Tournament Bristle Dartboard is a high quality board that has technology to have minimal bounce back with great sisal engineering. You can easily rotate the board and numbers to keep it lasting for many years and it is very easy to mount. The colors are also vibrant and easy to see.
Unicorn Eclipse Dartboard
The Unicorn Eclipse Dartboard is endorsed by World Champions while having the construction completely staple free. It offers the technology to keep your board looking brand new because it's "self healing" sisal technology. This board also offers spider wiring to allow for a larger score area and less concern about a dart bouncing out hitting a wire.
I hope that this comparative review will help you in finding the best dart board and make your dart game most enjoyable.
Last update on 2021-01-20 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
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