BRISTLE DARTBOARDS

Bristle dartboards are probably the most common type of board you will encounter. These boards were started by British company Nodor in the 1930s and are used in games involving steel tip darts. A common misconception about bristle boards is that they are made out of pig bristles; this is not true. The material used in these boards is called sisal, a stiff fiber that comes from a species of agave plant. Sisal is also used to make rope, twine, paper, cloth, and carpet.  The sisal fibers are compressed and glued to the back of the dartboard. The reason for the use and contruction of these fibers on dartboards is that when you remove the dart, the hole closes, which leads to a longer lifespan for your dartboard. 

Find a selection of bristle boards here.

ELECTRONIC DARTBOARDS

Electronic dartboards are commonly involved in bar dart leagues and used with games involving soft tip darts. The electronic dartboard and soft-tip darts were invented by American darting company, Arachnid. There are also quite a few models that are compatible with steel tip darts, but this is a new technology and they are constandtly changing. Each electronic board has thousands of tiny holes, and when a dart lands in one of them, the score is automaticaly recorded. Currently, many models of electronic dart boards exist for home use. If you play in a league, or maybe are interested in joining one in the future, look for a regulation sized 15.5” electronic dart board. Also look for extra thin segment dividers as these allow for more holes in the target areas. If you are serious about improving your scores, look for a board with a dart averaging feature that will keep track of your performance. Also look for handicapping options that can level the playing field when you have trouble trying to convince your friends to play against you.

Find a selection of electronic boards here.