Take your game to the next level with Viper dartboards, dartboard cabinets, and dartboard surrounds. Before you buy a dart board, it’s important to know the basics of what features to look for and what to avoid. The same goes for buying dartboard cabinets online. There’s a lot to look at out there, so let’s get right into it!

The first thing to determine when looking at a dart board, is what type will suit your specific needs the best. There are two different types of dartboards: electronic dartboards and steel tip dartboards. Steel tip dartboards, which are sometimes called “bristle” or “cork” boards are actually made out of sisal, these are more traditional dartboards. Electronic dartboards, as the name implies, are electronic and are a relatively newer way to play darts. 

STEEL TIP DARTBOARDS

Most steel tip dartboards are made out of a natural fiber called sisal, which is sectioned into biscuits which are then compressed into the shape of a dartboard. Again, these are sometimes called bristle or cork boards, but no dartboard has ever been made out of bristle and the only cork dartboards are going to be novelty items. 

It’s important to look at multiple features when buying a steel tip dartboard, and knowing what to look for will make that process easier.
 
Quality of Sisal
You’ll probably notice that many steel tip dartboards look similar, yet the price tags can vary substantially. One of the biggest factors that affects the price of a steel tip dartboard is the quality of the sisal it is made of. 

Dartboards are made out of sisal because of its self-healing effect. As the dart board is used, the fibers will get pushed out of the way and then eventually return to their original position. Lower end sisal dart boards won’t heal as fully as higher quality ones. African sisal fibers make the highest quality steel tip dartboards. High quality sisal means the “self-healing” aspect is more pronounced. These higher end dartboards will also have more vibrant colors and last longer.
 
Spider Wire and Staples
The spider wire is what separates all of the segments on a dartboard, which is what allows the play to see what they actually score. The type of spider wire your board has is the second thing to look at. There are three main types of wire used on sisal dartboards: razor, triangular, and circular. 

As you might have guessed, razor wire is the thinnest of the three types. Having a razor-thin spiderwire on your dartboard reduces the area that darts can bounce off of, resulting in less bounce-outs and higher scores overall. Triangular wire is thicker than razor wire, but since it has a triangular shape, it allows darts to bounce into the board, instead of out, if they happen to hit it. Circular wire is the thickest of the wires and while darts can glide off the rounded edges into the board, out of the three types, circular will cause the most bounce outs. If you’re a casual player who throws darts for fun, the type of wire on your dartboard doesn’t need to be a huge concern. It becomes much more relevant with competitive and professional players, who pretty much always use razor wire dart boards. 

Along with the type of wire, you might see dartboards that call out a “staple-free” feature. This refers to whether or not the dartboard wire is secured with staples. If staples are used, it adds to the surface area in which a dart can hit and bounce out. You’re going to want a board with at least a staple-free bullseye because that area is small enough to begin with. Other than that, the same general guideline as above applies. If you’re a casual player, a few staples in your board aren’t going to be a huge concern. It really becomes a more serious consideration with professional dart players or dart league players. A quick way to tell whether or not a board has staples is based on its spider wire. Razor wire is never secured by staples, while triangular and circular almost always are.

Movable Number Ring
Movable number rings on dartboards are often overlooked, probably because most steel tip dartboards have movable number rings. But the reason you want a dartboard with a rotatable or movable number ring is because it allows you to prolong the lifespan of your dart board. The treble 20 is the highest scoring spot on the board so it’s often aimed at the most. So, after a while it will start to look more worn down than the rest of the board. This is where movable number rings are so useful. All you have to do is detach the metal number ring, rotate the board, then secure the ring back in place. The 20 segment will now be fresh and new, and the old 20 segment sisal fibers will have time to heal before you rotate again. 

ELECTRONIC DARTBOARDS

Also known as soft tip dartboards, electronic dartboards are plastic dartboards that can keep score automatically. They typically come programmed with a variety of games so the learning curve for playing on an electronic dart board is much lower than traditional steel tip dartboards. 

One of the most important things to know about electronic dart boards is that they can only be played on with soft tip darts. Steel tip darts will easily damage the electronics of the board and quickly make it useless.
 
Automatic and Online Scoring
The biggest difference between an electronic dart board and a steel tip dart board is their ability to track score automatically. All electronic dartboards have some amount of games programmed into them. More expensive dartboards typically have more games and more customizable options than cheaper electronic dartboards, such as more game variations and special modes like player versus computer. They may also allow more players to play at once and offer better and more comprehensive display systems. So even though many dart boards will look similar at first glance, what they offer can vary greatly.

Some more modern electronic dart boards are even compatible with apps that allow you to see your score and stats on your phone. These online dartboards, or bluetooth dartboards, also allow people to play against each other remotely from anywhere in the world, and are becoming increasingly popular. As you may have expected, due to the technological capabilities they are usually pricier than a standard electronic dartboard. 

Segments and Spider
Soft tip dartboards have segments that are made from a durable thermoplastic material. These segments contain hundreds of tiny holes engineered to accept the plastic tips you see on soft tip darts. Beneath the segments are the electronics that sense when a dart has hit a certain segment. This is the reason why some boards caution players away from using darts heavier than 20 grams. If the board isn’t constructed for commercial use, oftentimes darts that are too heavy can damage or cause too much wear and tear on the electronics beneath the segments. 

The “spider” is what separates each scoring segment on the dartboard, also made of a durable thermoplastic material. It’s important to look for a board with a thin spider wire, since it’ll reduce your risks for bounce outs, but for electronic dartboards it’s perfectly fine to prioritize game selection and player support.

DARTBOARD CABINETS AND DARTBOARD BACKBOARDS 

Nothing completes a dartboard setup like a well-constructed dartboard cabinet or backboard. Like dartboards, there are a few different features or aspects you’ll find in more expensive cabinets than lower end ones. But even lower end dartboard cabinets can give your setup an air of professionalism, whether you have your dartboard in a decked-out game room or tucked away in a shared living space. Dartboard cabinets and backboards are both great ways to not only take your setup to the next level, but also protect your wall and even provide storage for darts and accessories. 

Dartboard Cabinet Type
The first thing you’re going to want to keep in mind is that there are different sizes for steel tip dartboard cabinets and soft tip dartboard cabinets. Most steel tip dartboard cabinets are a little shorter than electronic dartboard cabinets, because electronic dartboard cabinets need to accommodate for the extra length of electronic dartboards. Make sure you check the measurements before you buy a dartboard cabinet online to make sure that your dartboard will fit.

Another difference between the two is that steel tip dart board cabinets usually include a scoreboard and sometimes even an outchart on the inside of the doors. The scoreboard is typically a dry erase board or chalkboard so you can write and keep track of scores easily. 

Wall Protection
Dartboard cabinets and backboards are going to be one of the best ways to protect your wall from errant dart throws. The back of cabinets are designed to catch darts that miss their targets, and even if they hit and bounce out, your walls will be safe. Some dartboard cabinets even come with a clip on extender to catch any darts that might fall below the cabinet.
 
Store or Display Your Dartboard
Dartboard cabinets come in a variety of finish colors, shapes, and sizes. The overall appearance of the cabinet or backboard depends on what you’re looking for. If you want your dartboard to blend into the decor, you’ll want a classic cabinet with doors. Cabinets will usually provide room to store your darts and accessories as well. If you want to keep your dartboard visible and on display, you’ll want a backboard. Some backboards also provide storage for your darts and accessories, but their primary purpose is to protect your walls.

Most soft tip dart players don’t use backboards with their electronic dartboards since backboards are usually for wall protection, and soft tip darts don’t do as much damage as steel tip darts. However, cabinets are quite popular for electronic dartboards because of their sleek appearance and storage options. Some electronic dartboards come as a dartboard/cabinet hybrid where the dartboard is built right into the cabinet. This is a great way to achieve the look of a beautiful dartboard cabinet without having to pay for two separate pieces.

DARTBOARD SURROUNDS

Similar to dartboard cabinets and backboards, dartboard surrounds offer wall protection against errant dart throws. Dartboard surrounds have one major difference though: they are compression fit and require no mounting hardware. Dartboard surrounds are quick, cost-effective, and easy ways to protect your walls from darts, their one caveat is that they only work with steel tip dartboards. 

Quick and Easy Setup
Dartboard surrounds provide the quickest and easiest way to protect your wall from errant dart throws. They are typically made from foam, which makes them lightweight and easy to hang. They also don’t require any hardware to use, all you have to do to fit the surround over your dartboard and you’re good to go. 

Wall Protection
When you see price differences for different dartboard surrounds online, it’s most likely due to the size of the surround and the quality of the material. 

Many dartboard surrounds come in a circular shape, which is sometimes all that is needed for more experienced dart players. For beginners or more casual players, there are larger sizes available. It’s best to err on the side of caution with this one. If you’re worried about damaging your wall, opt for a larger surround to be safe, especially if you’re not the only one who is going to be playing on your dartboard. 

The quality of the material a surround is made from is also going to affect the price. Most dart board surrounds are made from some type of foam material, but it’s important to keep in mind that not all foams are made equal. More expensive dartboard surrounds are typically made of a denser type of foam, which will protect your wall more effectively and for longer than lower priced surrounds.