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There are several types of flights a dart player can choose from.  The purpose of the flight is to stabilize the dart during flight. 

Hard Flights, also called “Poly Flights”, are made out of a stiff polyester plastic.  They are less flexible , but come off the shaft when hitting another dart, which reduces deflection.  Nylon flights are made of nylon fabric and are very durable.  They are available in multiple colors and printed designs.   Dimplex, Ribtex are hard flights, which have been embossed with a texture.  The additional surface area adds a minute amount of drag to the dartgiving it more stability.   Soft flights are made of a flexible plastic, preprinted and folded into shape.

Flight protectors are small little metal or plastic covers that fit over the center, back of the dart where the folds meet.  Flights tend to split in this area when hit by other darts.  Flight protectors can extend the the life of a flight.

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Shafts come in a variety of types/styles.  There are Plastic shafts, which are cheap and available in an assortment of colors.   Composite shafts are plastic combined with aluminum or another metal alloy and thread into the dart.   Aluminum shafts are more durable and available in multiple colors and styles.  However, aluminum will vibrate loose, so rubber O-rings are recommended.   There are also spinning shafts.  These allow the flight to turn when struck by another dart; thereby, allowing a tighter grouping of darts.

Typically a set of darts consists of 3 darts.   What type of dart you choose is based on the individual. 

There are Brass Darts, Nickel or Silver Darts, and Tungsten Darts.  Brass Darts are the least expensive type of darts.  Bars generally use these darts as house darts due to their low cost.   Nickel/Silver Darts are inexpensive, yet durable.  These darts are popular with begginners and bargain shoppers.  Tungsten Darts are very durable.   Check the percentage of Tungsten on the package.  The higher the number the denser the dart, and generally better quality.

Did you know that dart tips should be rounded and not pointy?   Yes, that’s right.  Sharp points will actually nick the wire and/or bounce out.   A rounded (like a ball point pen) dart will slide off the wires.  Rounding your dart tip will help rduce the amount of bounce outs.   Just be careful, a flat tip is worse than sharp darts.  It will bunce off the wire and crush the fibers on the dartboard itself.   So remember: round is best!

I recently noticed that darts start to wear.  I thought it was just the usual “wear and tear” that happens to most tools/toys over time.  However, I found an article about how “accumulated dirt, skin acid, chalk dust, pretzel salt, hand lotion, beer, etc. can build up on your dart barrels. This corrosive mixture is what actually eats away that original pretty finish.”  The moral of the story: ”Keep ‘em clean” and wash your darts with warm soapy water regularly.  Click here for the rest of the story.

It’s a new season for NHDL dart players.  I thought I was going to take a break, as I have had a lot of stress in my personal life.  However, I was suckered into playing.  We are in Division 2 (not too shabby), but we played last week and STUNK!  It wasn’t so much that we were playing horribly, but more we were making rookie mistakes; not closing point holes or not pointing when should or could have.  I am uncertain if it’s because it was our first time to play darts as a team or because it was the first week back.  I am confident that we will do better this coming week.    

When out playing darts in a friendly game of darts, what is the best strategy to win? I have found that when you start out pointing, it sets the tone of the game and a friendly game can turn into something much more competitive and heated game.

Obviously, everyone wants to win, but when is enough enough? How many appoints ahead should one try to be before it’s considered a bad thing to get points?

I have been at a few local tournaments lately and I have noticed that dart players have a stance.  It’s either toes forward or the entire foot is sideways or at an angle. 

I was told the angled or sideways foot is supposed to give dart players the advantage because your dart would have less distance to travel.  Has anyone else heard this?

I have alson noticed that women tend to “bounce” while throwing darts mor often then men.  However, men tend to take more of a “stance”, being very stoic, while throwing.  The best one I have seen is where one guy looked like he was teetering; feet wide apart, on both ends of the dart line and on the balls of the foot; not the whole foot.  I didn’t see how he could maintain his composure without falling over!

If you are in the Houston area and want to play darts, then come out to Lucky Devils on March 7th to sign up for the NHDL league. A minimum of 4 players per team and at least 1 must be a female.

If you don’t have a team, sign up to be a floating sub.

WOW!  Have you seen this?  I wish my darts were this accurate.  Phil Tyalor has played his 5th perfect dart game, as shown below.   Can you even imagine the pressure of playing darts live on TV with a noisy crowd right behind you?