If you are considering buying a dartboard then your first thought will be, “I want a professional quality dartboard”. This will then lead you to the question “Well, What Dartboard do Professionals Use?”. Professional darts players exclusively use Bristle dartboards.
In a hurry? Here is a quick look at the Bristle Dartboards currently used by professionals:
1. Winmau Blade 5 Bristle Dartboard
What’s Covered In This Article
Introduction
Each of the dart board brand names who manufacture the dartboards on this list have a valid claim to the best professional dartboard. However, we believe that each board has its own strengths, and all the boards on this list are great professional dartboards.
Once you have a good idea about what dartboard professionals use, you will need to also consider other factors. The best professional dart boards come with professional body endorsements, specific wiring systems, premium materials, increased strength and durability, and more.
What dartboard do professionals use? The Winmau Blade 5 Bristle Dartboard is considered by many to be the number 1 professional dartboard. It is the latest Bristle Dartboard by Winmau, one of the most established and recognizable dart board brand names. This dartboard has been approved by The British Darts Organization (BDO). This is the governing body for the professional game of darts, so you can be 100% confident you are using the same dartboard as the professionals.
The 14% thinner wiring system is a big jump from its predecessor and credit must go to Winmau for this great improvement. No players like wiring on a dartboard, however it is needed as an integral part of the design.
The reduced wiring will lead to less bounce outs and therefore higher scoring. Additionally, bounce outs can potentially damage the darts, especially modern day tungsten barrel darts. Therefore, this board could save you money in terms of buying new darts, and you could have more fun and higher scoring when playing on this board.
The other benefits included in the latest addition, more durable material, stronger steel, thin and lightweight design, and the Triple Wheel lock-and-level system, are all great upgrades for dart players. It means the dartboard is professionally recognized, easy to carry, secure, durable, and stylish.
Specifications
- Exclusive British Darts Organization (BDO) endorsement
- Super thin wiring system
- Increased durability
- Premium steel used for strength
Built to meet the specifications of The World Dart Federation, The DMI Bandit Staple-free Bristle Dartboard is instantly recognizable by those who love the game. This bristle dartboard has been used by professionals since 1999, particularly in the Official World Cup where it has exclusively featured. The DMI Bandit Staple-free Bristle Dartboard is much loved by enthusiasts and professionals alike.
The DMI Bandit Staple-free Bristle Dartboard prides itself on its high durability and the super thin wires for higher scoring. Many within the game will tell you that this is the best professional dart board. Designed to meet the World Dart Federation specifications, it has been used in the Official World Cup since 1999.
A cool feature of this dartboard is that you can choose from The Bandit or The Bandit Duro addition. The Bandit is designed for lighter throws and humid climate conditions, The Bandit Duro contains more sisal, and is best suited for heavier throws and a drier climates.
Specifications
- Official World Cup Dartboard
- Highly durable
- Super thin wires for higher scoring
- Choice of sisal density’s based on the climate where you are
- Easy to setup and install
The American Darts Organization and the National Darts Federation of Canada are the governing bodies that exclusively endorse this bristle dartboard. The Nodor SupaMatch 3 Bristle Dartboard has been built to meet the specification of The World Darts Federation. Nodor is a well established and highly respected name within the professional game, and this dartboard is one of their leading products.
The Nodor SupaMatch 3 Bristle Dartboard is much loved within the professional game, particularly in North America where it is exclusively recognized. Nodor is one of the most recognizable dart board brand names.
The wiring system for the latest addition of this dartboard, The SupaMatch 3, is an impressive 20% thinner than its predecessor, The SupaMatch 2. That is quite a reduction and means that there is a significant chance for players to score higher on the modern version and reduce the number of bounce outs that occur during play.
Specifications
- Staple-free wiring for reduced bounce outs
- Highly durable sisal fibre and premier steel
- Super thin wiring
- SUPALOCK AND LEVEL SYSTEM for easy fit and rotation
What is a Bristle Dartboard Made Of?
Now that we know that the best professional dart boards are made from Bristle, let’s look at the material itself. Bristle dartboards are made of plant fibers known as sisal. Sisal is a very strong and durable fiber, hence it is able to take the impact of darts hitting it regularly. The sisal fibers used to make a dartboard come from a plant called the Agave plant.
Many people believe that the sisal used to make a dartboard comes from animal hair, like that of a horse or pig. However, that is not the case because this type of hair is not strong or durable enough to withstand the wear and tear and pressure a dartboard comes under.
What to consider when buying a Bristle Dartboard?
Bounce Outs
When people ask, what dartboard do professionals use? They are really thinking about the quality and benefits that the best professional dart boards provide during a game. The minimization of bounce outs is one of the main benefits offered by the dart board brand names.
A good quality sisal within the Bristle Dartboard will go someway to ensure players experience minimal bounce outs during a game. Lower compression sisal is fused together during the construction process to make the surface of the dartboard, thus making it easier for the darts to stick into the surface once thrown.
Wiring
Thin wiring is preferable when choosing a dartboard. This relates to the previous section on bounce outs because thicker wiring increases bounce outs.
The wiring on a dartboard is made of metals, and steel tip darts do not stick into these metals but instead bounce out and hit the floor. This is why thin wiring is much preferred on a dartboard, and manufacturers compete to create dartboards with the thinnest wiring.
Durability
Bristle dartboards are known for their durability. Because of the material they are made from they have self-healing powers, i.e. the board almost immediately repairs itself from the holes made by the darts. This durability gives bristle dartboards a long life span.
Additionally, the high end dartboards listed earlier in this article use the finest materials and cutting edge technology during the manufacturing process to make them as durable as possible. Therefore, although many people prefer electronic dartboards for convenience, you cannot beat a bristle dartboard for quality, durability, and style.
Weight
Bristle is a very lightweight material, and generally speaking bristle dartboards are lighter than their plastic counterparts. Although the weight of the dartboard is not usually stated, you can rest assured that most modern bristle dartboards have been designed to a lightweight specification. This means that your bristle dartboard will be easy to carry and move around from one place to another.
Ease of Assembling
Another advantage of the dartboards listed earlier is that they have all been designed with the player experience in mind. This includes how easy it is to unpack, assemble, and hang the board. The dartboards on this list are’ ready to go’ out of the box so you will be playing in no time.
Additionally, these dartboards are very secure and can be secured to most surfaces. For example, The Winmau Blade 5 Bristle Dartboard comes with a Triple Wheel lock-and-level system so you can secure the dartboard virtually anywhere.
Price
There is a lot of competition to make the best professional dart board for players of the game. For this reason we believe that dart board brand names offer great value for money when manufacturing professional quality dart boards.
Bristle dartboards usually range from $30 to $100. We would recommend buying once and buying right. That is, spend a bit more and you will have a great dartboard that will last you a very long time. However, if you want to buy a lower end bristle dartboard just to get a feel for the game that is also fine.
Although Bristle is a relatively inexpensive material, the dart boards on this list have been researched thoroughly, gone through fairly complex development processes, and been designed to high specifications. Therefore, we feel they offer great value for money.
Final Thoughts
There are three bristle dartboards mainly used in professional darts, these are The Winmau Blade 5 Bristle Dartboard, The DMI Bandit Staple-free Bristle Dartboard, and The Nodor SupaMatch 3 Bristle Dartboard. All three offer great quality and value for money.
Any of these three dart boards would be a great centerpiece for a games room, and hang very nicely in a pub or bar. They are a little more expensive than lower end dart boards, but they have many advantages, including being more durable and lasting longer.