The standard dartboard is 18 inches in diameter, has 20 pie-shaped numbered sections, and the bull’s-eye. Each numbered section has a double ring on the outside perimeter as well as an interior triple ring. These areas score double and triple that number. The bull’s-eye has an inner bull and outer bull area; the inner bull is worth 50 points, and the outer bull is worth 25. There are two styles of dart boards to choose from, bristle boards and electronic boards. Bristle boards are made for steel-tip darts and are by far the most common. Electronic boards are much newer but quickly gaining in popularity.
Bristle dartboards have been around for a very long time, and when most people think of a dartboard, this is the type of board they picture. Many years ago, bristle boards were made out of hog’s hair (and this is where the term bristle comes from) or cork. Nowadays, most bristle boards are made out of material named ‘Sisal,’ which is also what rope is made of. The advantage sisal has is that it is self-healing. When a dart strikes, a board is made out of sisal dart wedges between the fibers instead of poking a hole in the material. This extends the life of the dartboard tremendously. There are cheaper boards made out of paper, cork, or other porous materials available. Still, I suggest keeping away from them and paying a little extra for a good quality bristle style board or electronic board. When shopping for a bristle dartboard, make sure that it has a moveable ring (also called a spider); this can significantly increase the life span of a dartboard.
Electronic dartboards are configured exactly like a traditional dartboard. They have the same numbers, configuration, and dimensions, but instead of being made out of sisal or another organic material, they are made out of plastic or nylon. The surface of the dartboard has hundreds of tiny holes in it. When you throw a soft-tip dart at an electronic dartboard, the internal electronics can read where your dart hits the board and will automatically keep your score for you. Electronic boards have a couple of advantages over traditional bristle boards.
For one thing, they can automatically keep score for you, and most have dozens of games built into them. They are also safer since they use soft-tip darts. On almost all electronic dartboards, you cannot use steel-tip darts, but this is starting to change with electronic boards that can use either steel-tip or soft-tip darts. When shopping for an electronic dartboard, consider the display, make sure that it is bright and clearly legible from a distance. Some also offer “X” and “O” displays for cricket style games, which is nice. Most electronic dartboards need a power supply (they don’t run off batteries), so take that into account when planning your purchase.
Traditionalists tend to prefer bristle dartboards, and they remain the standard in all international competitions. Electronic dartboards are quickly gaining in popularity and acceptance. If you have small children or are at all worried about safety, then electronic boards are probably right for you. The best advice is to try and play with both styles and see which one you like best.
