The Game of Darts

When it’s cold outside you have to get creative and find indoor activities to keep busy. Darts is a classic game that can be played by young and old alike in the comfort of your own home. You don’t need expensive equipment or a large space to play this game. It’s a game for the whole family and everyone has room. If you’re new to the game or need a little refresher, check out below for unique facts, interesting history, and the modern dart.

DID YOU KNOW?

• The “oche”, toe line or throw line, should be set at exactly 7’-9 ¼” away from the bull’s-eye. At Peters we recommend 8 feet for home use to keep it simple.

• Official dartboards are hung so that the center of the bull’s-eye is at 68” (5’-8”). This is considered eye-level for a six foot man.

• Peters stocks everything you need to play the game including: darts, dartboards, and dart cabinets. We also carry replacement parts such as shafts, tips, and flights and carrying cases for the serious dart player.

• Dartboards take up very little space in a room. Typically the dartboard is mounted in a cabinet, similar to the picture below, to protect your wall from a stray dart and to keep darts and accessories hidden when not in play.

• Did you know there are dartboards for the visually impaired? The dartboard speaks and uses sound to aid a person on where to throw the dart.

INTERESTING HISTORY

• Historically darts in varying sizes were used in war fare, similar to miniature javelins.  It was the practice of this skills that in turn developed into a game. It’s speculated that soldiers would throw arrows and “darts” at the bottom of tree trunks. As the wood died, cracks developed and created sections. This in turn would help create the dart board as we know it today.

• Different variations of darts came about including one such game called Puff and Darts which was popular in the 1800’s. As seen below, instead of throwing the dart you would blow into a cylinder that held the dart which would project the dart at the dartboard.

• Initially darts were simply cut down arrows. The first manufactured darts were constructed from wood and wrapped with a strip of lead for weight. The flights were made from split turkey feathers.

• After World War I the first brewery leagues appeared and a world competition was established in London by 1927. By 1938 the entrants to this competition were in excess of 280,000 people. Impressive!

• Darts boosted morale in the forces during World War II. They even became standard issue in the British NAAFI (Navy, Army and Air Force Institute) sports pack, to help entertain the troops. American soldiers brought back the game of darts and began the process of spreading the game across the US.

MODERN DARTS

• TIP – There are two types of tips – soft or steel. Steel Tip Darts are used on traditional non-electronic dartboards. Nylon (plastic) tip darts are popular with families and used on any electronic dartboard.

• BARREL– The center part of the dart that you hold onto when throwing.
  • Brass Barrel – Best for beginners.  Durability that withstands the toughest challenges.
  • Nickel or Black Finish Brass Barrel – A strong barrel that won’t chip or tarnish and offers years of unending play.
  • Tungsten Barrel – A great answer for precision play and the experienced player. This dense material is more durable and results in a sleeker design for tighter groupings, reduced deflection, and better balance.

• SHAFT – Provides the proper spacing between the flight and the barrel. Manufactured in a number of different materials such as nylon, aluminum, and titanium and comes in varying lengths. Choose a shaft that allows a comfortable feel and smooth, flat trajectory for your throw.

• FLIGHT– The “feather” like end to the dart.  The purpose is to produce drag and maintain stability during the throw. No longer made of feathers, flights are available in a multitude of shapes, designs and colors. Experiment with different shapes to determine which flight work best for your playing style. A slower dart throw requires a large flight, where as a fast throw calls for a slimmer flight.

We hope to see you in Peters showroom where you can view all of our products and even test out a few we have on display.

Click to view more games for the family inlcuding: Shuffleboard, Table Tennis, Foosball, and Pinball.

Thanks for visiting Entertaining Design.

Thanks to Wikipedia, Dart Info World, and TradGames.org for additional pictures and information in this posting.