Dart barrel shapes explained
A barrel’s shape decides where its weight sits under your fingers. Straight barrels spread it evenly and suit a middle grip; torpedoes put it at the front for a front grip; tapered barrels thin towards the back for a rear grip; a bomb has one fat point for a compact grip with short fingers; scalloped barrels add a waist to give your fingers a fixed spot. 55% of the darts in the DartFit catalogue are straight.
What is a straight barrel?
The same thickness from front to back, so the weight is spread evenly and the balance point is in the middle. It is the most common shape and the easiest to start with: it forgives a grip that moves a little. Long fingers that spread along the barrel feel at home on it.
What is a torpedo barrel?
Thickest towards the front and tapering to the back. The weight sits forward, which suits players who hold the dart near the front and like it to pull towards the board.
What is a bomb barrel?
One fat point in the middle, thinner towards both ends. It gives a compact grip a clear place to hold, which suits short fingers for the palm. Bombs are rare: only a handful of darts in our catalogue have this shape.
What is a tapered barrel?
Thick at the front and thinning steadily to the back, longer and slimmer than a torpedo. It suits players who hold the dart further back, because the thin rear leaves room for the fingers.
What is a scalloped barrel?
A mostly straight barrel with a narrower waist or concave section. The waist is a fixed spot that your fingers find without looking.
Which barrel shape suits me?
- Hold at the front: torpedo, or a front-weighted barrel.
- Hold in the middle: straight.
- Hold at the back: tapered.
- Compact grip, short fingers: bomb or torpedo.
- Long fingers spread along the barrel: straight.
DartFit combines your hold with your measured hand and draws your ideal barrel, labelled with the nearest of these shapes.
Frequently asked questions
Which barrel shape is best?
None is best for everyone. The best shape puts the weight where your fingers are: torpedo for a front grip, straight for the middle, tapered for the back.
Torpedo or straight barrel?
Torpedo if you hold the dart at the front and want the weight forward; straight if you hold it in the middle or are still finding your grip.
Are bomb barrels good for beginners?
They suit a compact grip with short fingers. Most beginners do better on a straight barrel until their grip settles.
Last updated: · DartFit