Dart Points - Everything You Need to Know

Beloved by the European darts scene, steel tip points characterize the classic game of steel tip darts, the most widely known form of darts. When you purchase steel tip dart points, you'll receive 3 tips in each set.

Standard steel dart points are called "press-in" points because they have a smooth rear attachment that is firmly pressed into the nose of the barrel.

However, new dart point technology allows some steel tip dart points to be more easily swapped with threading so you can simply screw or unscrew your steel tips to replace them. Some brands that have steel tip specialty systems with this feature include Target, One80, and Laserdarts.

Soft tip points are the dart points of choice in the United States and Asia where soft tip darts reign in popularity over steel tip.

Because plastic is much easier to produce due to its cheap material makeup, soft tips are only sold in large bulk quantities ranging from 20 to 1000. For example, Fit Point Plus soft tip dart points come in 50 tips per pack while L Style Lippoint Premium soft tips come in 30 tips per pack.

A pack of soft tip dart points will last you through many games, even if you break your points frequently due to the sheer volume of points manufacturers include in each package. For league organizers and bar owners, soft tip points are also ideal for sharing with players and patrons.

Love steel tip and soft tip but wish you could easily switch between the two without buying two separate dart sets? Conversion points offer a solution that bridges steel tip and soft tip by allowing you to turn your soft tip darts into steel tip darts.

Like steel tips, conversion dart points usually come in a set of 3. Here are a few exceptions:

The L Style Hard Lip conversion points provide two sets in one package for a total of 6 conversion points.

The Fit Point Plus C.C conversion points come as a pack of 30 (10 total sets of 3).

Pro Tip: O rings and the L Style Gomu system should be used when using conversion dart points for a tighter fit because you're screwing metal to metal (tip to barrel). This is especially helpful during competitions if you're worried about your conversion dart points unscrewing during a heated match!

Unlike dart shaft lengths which can be categorized into short, intermediate and medium (plus subcategories like extra short or extra long), dart points are measured in millimeters (mm). Soft tip lengths are categorized as short (20-24mm) or standard (26-30mm) whereas conversion points and steel tip points are simply measured in millimeters.

How the point length is calculated depends on the type of point. Soft tips, conversion points, and press-in points with lipped bases (like Target Storm Points) are measured by the exposed part of the point — from the tip to the base of the threading.

Regular steel tip press-in dart points are measured by the total length from tip to end. About 4-6mm of the dart point is inside the barrel, and the exposed part of the point is what you're actually throwing with.

These specifications can definitely vary by brand, so make sure to double-check how your favorite brand's dart points are measured before you buy a new set to repoint.

Knowing how point lengths affect your throw can help guide you closer to your ideal dart setup. Most dart players agree that longer dart points provide more space in the treble or double bed for tighter grouping since less of the barrel is covering your view. Dart points are also much thinner than dart barrels, so if you want to maximize your scoring, consider longer points.

In terms of how dart point length affects the lie of your dart, it's harder to predict since it really depends on the rest of your setup. Generally, dart players agree that longer dart points will create a flatter angle because they hit the dartboard a tiny bit earlier than shorter points.

Some players also argue, however, that you'll only feel a difference in your throw if your dart points are over 40mm in length. Your flight pattern also contributes most to the angle of your dart, regardless of your dart points. Experimenting with your darts setup and finding what works best for you will point you in the right direction. 

The standard shape for steel dart points is characterized by a super subtle taper into the tip, where the diameter is almost constant throughout.

The most iconic example of standard-shaped dart points are thoroughbred points, also called English points. Simple and minimalistic. Standard tips can also feature additional texture or milling, but the overall shape of the point is categorized as standard.

For players who want to achieve tighter groupings, thin dart points will provide more space in the dartboard bed for greater accuracy. They're very lightweight due to having less material; however, some argue they're also more brittle due to their thin shape. 

One80 is the industry pioneer for ultra thin dart tips, introducing the Reflex Conversion Points and the R2 Interchange systems to the world of darts. These proprietary systems are the thinnest on the market currently, so One80 is the way to go if you're interested in going slim.

Both soft tip and steel tip darts come in a tapered shape option where the point is thicker at the base and tapers at the end.

Most steel tip barrels have a blunt edge, or "lip", where the barrel ends and the tip begins. This blunt edge on the barrel of an incoming dart gets caught on the flight of a dart already in the board, causing bounce outs and damage to the dart flights. Using tapered dart points eliminates the blunt edge, reducing the chances of bounce outs and prolonging the life of your dart flights.

Some tapered point systems include Target Storm Points, Red Dragon Raptor GT, Unicorn Swytch Volute Conversion Points, and more. All soft tip points are tapered or bulbous since bounce outs are most common with soft tip darts.

Bulbous dart points accomplish the same goal as tapered dart points: reducing bounce outs and prolonging the life of your dart flights. However, the shape is obviously different! As the name suggests, bulbous tips are more rounded at the base with a very slight taper into the point. 

Only soft tip points can offer a bulbous tip shape, sold by Colonial and Bulls. Tapered dart points are the most popular shape for soft tip points. 

Soft tip dart points can also come with holes at the base. It's not a very common feature as it can affect the flight pattern of your dart. If you have a high pitch, you'll want to stay away from holes as they may cause more bounceouts. Instead, you'll need to shoot as flat as possible for the best results with these points.

Only three brands available on our website sell soft tip dart points with holes in the base: Magic, Condor, and GLD. These tips come in differently sized bases like tapered and bulbous.

4ba threaded dart points may look wide, but they're actually reverse threaded. In other words, the barrel screws into the 4ba dart point instead of the point screwing into the barrel, so the base is tapered to accommodate the barrel threading.

When buying dart points of different thread sizes, make sure they match the threading type of your dart barrel. Otherwise, they won't fit your darts! Also, only soft tip points and conversion points come in threading sizes other than 2ba.

L Style soft tip dart points have irregular threading engineered to keep the point tight in the barrel with fewer slip outs.

Two sections of the threading are replaced with the irregular, interrupted threading shape that interlocks with the threading of your soft tip barrel to create a tight lock. It's a great innovative solution to loose dart points without using extra tools to tighten your tips!

Milling patterns are created by machining steel tip dart points to provide more grip and aesthetic to the points. The removed material creates gaps that the sisal fibers can grab onto more securely than a smooth dart point.

Etching is similar to milling in appearance, but etched patterns are created by a laser rather than machining. This allows each etched dart point to feature intricate designs and texture without removing too much material from the dart point itself.

If you're looking for a point that sticks the dart better into the dartboard, like textured or milled dart points, look at the first 10mm (or 1/4") of the tip for texture. This part of the point sticks directly into the dartboard. You can even DIY your own texture by lightly scratching up your smooth dart points with something rough like a brick.

Dart barrels aren't the only part of a dart with machined grooves. Some dart points are also precision milled, adding to the aesthetic and functionality of the dart.

Although it may look like radial grooves are intended to grip the dartboard, the rings actually provide more finger grip for dart players that hold the front of the barrel into the point. Carved grooves at the base, common in soft tip, also allow tools like the Fit Flight Extractor to tighten or remove your soft tip dart points using the plus-shaped hole in the tool.

Many grooved darts also provide texture at the tip as well. Target dart points have tons of options for grooved and milled points. Some dart points, like the Unicorn Swytch Volute conversion points, even feature a helix DNA pattern that swirls around the tip for extra grip.

Instead of taking away material from the dart point to create texture, raised grip patterns add extra material to the dart point. This is a lot more common with soft tip points than steel tip — with the exception of the Red Dragon Specialist Raptor GT's spearhead tip.

Raised grip patterns are a broad category that mostly includes barbed tips (Fit Flight), spearhead tips (Red Dragon), and raised dots (L Style). Try them out and see which dart points you like best!

Target pushed the bounds of steel tip innovation with the Swiss Point System, offering a fully interchangeable system that allows you to change your dart points anytime. Swiss Points only work with Swiss enabled Target barrels. 

Target Swiss points provide a solution to broken dart points that are extremely difficult to remove from the dart barrel, such as broken points flush against the barrel nose. Each Swiss point is engineered with a special stress point where, in the event of your point breaking, there would still be a part of the point sticking out of the barrel for easier removal with the Swiss Point tool.

Customization for color, length, and style is also easy thanks to the Swiss Point tools that switch your dart points in seconds. They're pocket-sized so you can take them on the go along with your Swiss Points. Shop all Swiss Points from Target by clicking the button below:

Tapered dart points are a popular choice for seasoned dart players, so it's no wonder Target has a whole specialty series dedicated to the shape. Target's Storm Points feature two types of tapered steel tip points: press-in Storm Points and Swiss Storm points.

Press-in Storm Points can be used with any dart barrel as they're just regular press-in dart points. Each point features the signature Storm Point taper and comes in a variety of milled and grooved options for grip.

Swiss Storm Points are special in that they combine the Storm Point taper with the Swiss System's interchangeable technology. In other words, they're simply tapered Swiss Points that work with the same accessories and dart barrels as the regular Swiss Points.

One80's R2 Interchange System is yet another specialty series that allows you to change your steel tip points without repointers. All you need is the provided tool to unscrew your Interchange points.

Engineered with an ultra thin tip profile, the R2 Interchange points improve your dart scoring by encouraging tighter grouping. The slim shape provides more space in the double and triple beds so your darts can group closer together.

Due to the ultra thin shape and the construction of the R2 Interchange system, your darts will wobble and make a "twang" noise when impacting the dartboard. This is completely harmless to the dart points, but it may certainly take a while to get used to! However, this wobbling feature ensures that your darts can move out of the way of an incoming dart, allowing for tighter doubles and triples.

Another specialty system from One80, the Reflex Conversion points bring the ultra thin tip profile from the R2 Interchange System into the world of conversion darts.

Like the R2 Interchange dart points, the Reflex Conversion points also wobble when they contact the dartboard and feature a flexible structure so the dart can move out of the way of incoming darts. While the R2 Interchange points can technically also be considered conversion points, the Reflex Conversion points are true, traditional screw-in conversion points.

Another specialty system that features press-in dart points is the Red Dragon Specialist Raptor GT. Like other press-in points, these can be used with any steel tip barrel.

What sets the Specialist Raptor GT dart points apart from the rest is their proprietary spearhead tip, modeled after archer's arrows. These tips are meant to glide past the dartboard wires and stick better into the board with the help of the unique, oversized shape — effectively reducing bounce outs.

If you're looking for a rainbow steel tip, look no further! The Specialist Raptor GT points are the only dart points on the market that currently offer a rainbow, chromatic color coating.

Press-in points are sturdy dart point options... until you have to switch them out! Unlike soft tip points and conversion points where you can simply unscrew the point, press-in points require repointer tools to change points. 

The mechanics of every brand's repointer tool work differently from one another, but luckily there are tons of videos out there showcasing how to use each tool. Target has their own video on how to use their Target Multi-Pointer tool. 

We know how difficult and inconvenient it can be to repoint your darts. To take the pressure off your shoulders, we also offer repointing services for an affordable price. Not only will you save money on buying a whole repointing tool, but you'll also save time and frustration learning how to use them! Send in your darts and dart points after filling out our labor form and we got you. 

We all know that knives wear out over time. Dart points are the same way! After a while, your steel tip points will get worn out and dull, making them less effective and increasing your risk of bounce outs. Point sharpeners allow you to sharpen your dart points without any hassle so your steel tip darts are always sharp. 

Every dart sharpener is made differently and will require its own instructions for proper usage. If you don't sharpen your darts correctly, you could be causing unnecessary wear and tear instead. 

The Colonial Diamond Point Sharpener is a great on-the-go tool that allows you to manually sharpen your tools to your desired sharpness. For best results, grind your dart point in one direction against the tool — do not push and pull your point in multiple directions! 

Motorized dart sharpeners like the Shot Slydart Silver Bullet will automatically sharpen your tools for you. This method is potentially much safer as you won't have to use your own strength to sharpen your darts. 

Conversion tools allow you to turn your soft tip barrels into steel tip darts, or vice versa, for darts with a specialty system rather than regular conversion points. 

Target's 2ba Swiss Converter kit enables your soft tip barrels to use Swiss Point tips. The accessory screws into the front of the barrel where your soft tip dart points would usually go, and then the front end has an opening for your Swiss Point of choice. Each kit comes with Swiss Tools to install your Swiss Points with ease and complimentary dart o rings to ensure your new points are snug in the barrel. 

The Voks Conversion Kit includes replacement parts for Voks soft tip darts and Laser Widowmaker darts, converting them into moveable spring loaded soft tip darts. Though this kit contains parts for the Voks and Laser darts, it can convert any dart with 2ba threading. 

A great multipurpose tool for both dart shafts and dart points is the Fit Flight Extractor Plus Tool. While this tool can work with any plastic dart shaft, only Fit Flight Point Plus soft tip points can be used with this tool. 

On one end of the tool, there is a plus-shaped hole that acts as a tip tightener and slots right onto the base of any Fit Point Plus. The carved grooves of the Fit Point Plus fit perfectly into the hole and provide the grip needed to properly tighten the tips.

On the other end, there is a sharp screwdriver-shaped attachment inside the tool meant for removing broken dart shafts. If you want to learn more about how to remove a broken dart shaft from your barrel, read our A-Z Darts guide for methods and tools to remove a pesky broken shaft! Just click the button below.

Like broken dart shafts, broken dart points are inevitable. Plastic material breaks easily. But what do you do when your dart point breaks in the soft tip dartboard segments?

If your tips are flush against the dartboard segment and you can't pull them out with pliers, you'll need a dart tip punch tool to extract it from the board. These tools have an attachment that allows you to push out the broken tip into the dartboard itself. 

Once you've pushed the broken dart points into the dartboard, you'll need to disassemble your board to remove the broken tips and then reassemble it. Doing this too often can damage the matrix of your soft tip board, so we recommend only doing this once in a while.

As previously discussed, plastic dart points and dart shafts can break off in your dart barrel — and they're a real pain to remove! The L Style Bull Shaft & Tip Extractor allows you to remove both broken shafts and tips all in one tool. 

To use the Bull Extractor, insert your broken shaft or tip into the hole at the back (where it says "barrel" above) and follow the direction of the arrows (counterclockwise) etched into the case to twist out the broken piece. 

The best part about this tool is that it also works as a case to hold all the broken shaft and tip pieces inside until you're ready to throw them away. To open the case, face the front of the tool and start turning it to the right until it clicks open. It also comes as a keychain so you can remove your broken shafts and tips during any emergency, whether you're practicing at home or in the middle of a tournament. 

Dart point guards provide a taper to your steel tip dart points if your dart lacks a taper in the barrel or the point. This helps prevent bounce outs and prolongs the life of your dart flights, as previously mentioned when we discussed tapered dart points.

To use dart point guards, simply remove one from the Trident 180 disk and slide it over your point. The narrower side should be facing the sharp end of your point to give your barrel that nice taper.

Each Trident 180 Point Guard comes with 12 guards — enough for 4 sets of darts — and offers different colors to match your dart point or your barrel.

Dart o rings are truly the all-rounder in darts! From dart shafts to dart points, o rings help the threading of your accessory stay secure in the dart barrel.

Conversion points benefit the most from using o rings as the metal threading relies on the rubber grip to fit snugly in the barrel. Without o rings, your conversion points would unscrew easily.

For more information on dart o rings, how to install them on your dart points and other uses, read our in-depth blog on everything you need to know about dart o rings:

Add A Grams add weight to your darts and can be applied either to the back of your barrel with the shaft or the front of the barrel with your point. Add A Grams shift the center of gravity toward the front of the dart due to the weight added to your dart points. 

Keep note of the threading type of your Add A Gram as they're available in both 2ba and 1/4" — you can only use the same threading type with the matching Add A Gram! All Add A Grams are available in weights over 1g, up to 3g.

Dart point cases aren't as common as full dart cases, but there are still a few options out there to keep your dart points safe no matter where you take them.

Because soft tip points come in bulk and may break during competition, players often carry around multiple tips with them in the case of an emergency. Steel tip cases also secure your tips with magnetic strips like the Target Swiss Point Safe.

While not a dart point "case", the Winmau Premium Steel Tip Point Protector holds three steel tip points for safekeeping in a handy little device. You can insert your darts in the point protector fully dressed or choose to leave only the points in the accessory.