When you begin playing darts, you might face a big dilemma – what type of dartboard is best? Many players prefer the traditional sisal or bristle dartboard, while others opt for the more modern electronic one. Choosing your dartboard type is a matter of personal taste and you would need to experiment with both options before you make up your mind. However, based on most players’ feedback, ours included, we recommend the bristle dartboard. Here is why.
These dartboards provide a genuine experience
Darts is not a new sport. People all over the world have been playing it for over 150 years. This game was first played in the UK, roughly in the 1860s. Obviously, back then players didn’t have those fancy electronic dartboards we now have. For this reason, they started playing on dartboards made of materials they could easily find, such as elm wood.
Later, around 1935, the first sisal dartboard appeared and it remained, up until the present date, the most popular type of dartboard. What we’re trying to highlight here is the fact that this is the type of board you should be using if you want to enjoy an authentic darts experience.
Bristle dartboards are resistant
Bristle or sisal dartboards are made of compact fibers that allow the dart to enter the board with ease and also to be removed from their surface without leaving marks. At least, this is the case of quality bristle dartboards such as the Assassin Elite Pro Dartboard. Specially designed to allow darts to make their way through its fibers, this dartboard prevents annoying bounce-outs, while the self-healing fibers allow the surface to recover easily after each hit. Once you pull out a dart from this type of board, you can immediately notice that the mark it left behind quickly disappears.
These features can be encountered in most dartboards you can come across nowadays, which makes this type of product a good investment. While electronic dartboards can and more than often are fairly sturdy too, the main disadvantage they entail is precisely the electronic system they’re counting on. If that gets ruined during transportation or because you dropped liquids on its surface, that’s usually the end of life for the board.
They are affordable
Again, due to their complex electronic system and the different elements it comprises, electronic dartboards are more expensive than bristle ones. If you’re only at the very beginning of your darts journey, spending around 100$ or more for an electronic board might not be a wise choice when you can get a reliable and durable bristle board for half that price or even less.
Moreover, most sisal dartboards, including ours are also accompanied by accessories such as darts sets that are included in the price. This way, by purchasing them, you’re basically getting all or most the darts gear you need for the game.
They’re easy to maintain
Bristle or sisal dartboards require minimum maintenance, and they are also more resistant than electronic ones when it comes to transportation or liquids being spilled on their surface. Clearly, it’s not recommended to pour water or any other liquid on a bristle dartboard, let alone wash it. However, if a small quantity of liquid accidentally gets to your board and you wipe it fast, you’re most likely going to be able to save it, which cannot be said about an electronical dartboard in the same situation.
Furthermore, due to their removable ring, these dartboards offer enhanced longevity. The ring allows you to place the board in different positions in order to avoid hitting the same segment over and over again, which would produce damages. By regularly rotating the numbered ring, you preserve your dartboard and you also get used to different point systems, which is both challenging and fun.
Bristle dartboards provide more accuracy
Because this type of dartboards usually have a thinner wireframe on their surface, they enable players to gain more accuracy, which translates into higher scores. The problem with more prominent wireframes is that they cause glare as the light shines on their surface, and this is a disturbing factor that can easily lead to mistakes. Also, the bigger the wireframe is, the higher the chances of hitting it instead of the board’s surface and lose precious points.
You won’t struggle to mount or move them
One of the main benefits of sisal or bristle dartboards is their lightweight. Most players, regardless of their age and gender, have no trouble moving these portable items. This entails multiple advantages as you can take the board with you whenever you go on holiday, move it in different rooms of your house or even take it at a party and have fun while competing with your friends.
Also, since these items are quite compact and require minimum or no assembly, you won’t find it hard to mount them on any wall. Most products of this kind are also provided with a comprehensive set of mounting instructions and the necessary kit. Our dartboards, for example, feature a complete mounting kit and all the instructions you need to set up your dartboard correctly, plus a complementary oche tape that enable you to determine the right measurements.
It’s the most popular type of dartboard
Whether you start playing darts in a bar, a pub or at a friend, you’re more likely to find a bristle/sisal dartboard waiting for you there simply because these are the most popular dartboards. For this reason and if you’re seriously committed to becoming good at this sport, you should be playing on this type of board. Moreover, as you advance, you will realize that most professional players also use a sisal or bristle dartboard, which is also the kind of board used in official competitions and tournaments.
The bottom line is that there are numerous reasons why you should be using a bristle dartboard both for casual matches and, more importantly if you want to compete professionally. In case you’re looking for such a dartboard, don’t forget that we’ve got our very own, sturdy and reliable Assassin Elite Pro Dartboard that will cover all your darts needs.
I never knew the numbers were able to be repositioned! I have had the same Nodor Supabull II for at least 20 years and I never realized that. I don’t know if I need/want to remove it and rotate the board, but that’s certainly interesting to know. Still very much enjoying my tungsten darts I bought from y’all as well as the fabulous metal scoreboard that I won in your instagram contest! Thank you for making such high quality products 🙂