Short answer: The best darts for beginners are an 80% or 90% tungsten steel tip set at 22 to 24 g, with a straight barrel and a medium grip. A brass set does the job for occasional games. Tungsten is slimmer and holds its shape longer if you play every week.
By Andy Gibson · Updated 18 October 2026
What should you look for in your first set of darts?
Four things decide how a set throws: weight, barrel material, barrel shape and grip. For a first set, keep each one near the middle of the range. Then nothing about the darts works against you while you learn a throw you can repeat.
| What to check | Beginner starting point | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Weight | 22 to 24 g | Heavy enough to fly steadily, light enough not to need a forced throw |
| Barrel material | 80% or 90% tungsten; brass for occasional games | Tungsten is denser than brass, so the barrel is slimmer at the same weight |
| Barrel shape | Straight (parallel) | The same diameter along its length, so you can hold it anywhere while you find your grip |
| Grip | Medium: rings or moderate cuts | Holds with dry fingers without catching on release |
| Points | Fixed steel points | Nothing to adjust while you learn |
What weight darts should a beginner use?
Most steel tip darts weigh between 20 and 26 g, and Harrows recommends 22 to 24 g for a first set. At that weight a dart carries its own line to the board without needing a hard push. The figure on the box is the weight of the barrel, the metal part you hold.
Some makers suggest starting heavier, from 26 g up: Red Dragon's reasoning is that darts is a game of rhythm and momentum, and a heavier dart carries more of it. If 24 g feels as though it floats out of your hand, try 25 or 26 g. Whatever you choose, throw the same set for at least three sessions before you judge it. If your darts keep landing below where you aim, try a lighter set; if they keep climbing high, try a heavier one.
Browse by weight: 22 g darts, 23 g darts, 24 g darts, 26 g darts.
Brass or tungsten: which is better for a beginner?
A 90% tungsten alloy is about twice as dense as brass, so a tungsten barrel of the same weight is much slimmer. A slimmer barrel lets your three darts sit closer together in the same bed. Shot also notes that tungsten barrels keep their shape and grip much longer and can carry angled and lengthways grip cuts, where entry-level brass usually has rings only.
Brass costs less and is hard-wearing enough for a set kept by the board for visitors. It wears faster when darts hit each other in a tight group, and most brass sets have a simple ringed grip.
| Barrel | Thickness at the same weight | Grip | Suits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Brass | Thickest | Usually simple rings | Occasional games, a spare set for visitors |
| 80% tungsten | Slimmer | Rings and cuts | A first set for regular practice |
| 90% tungsten | Slimmer again | Full range of cuts | A first set for weekly play and league |
| 95% tungsten and above | Slimmest | Full range of cuts | Players who already group tightly |
The step from 80% to 90% is visible. Harrows' Dave Chisnall Chizzy comes in both, on the same 51 mm barrel: at 23 g the 80% version is 7.0 mm wide and the 90% version is 6.5 mm.
Which barrel shape is easiest to learn with?
A straight barrel, also called parallel, has the same diameter from front to back. You can hold it anywhere along its length, which helps while you work out where your fingers sit. The Winmau Blackout and Winmau MvG Aspire are both parallel barrels (Winmau).
A torpedo barrel is thicker towards the front and carries its weight forward. It suits players who hold the dart near the front. Luke Humphries' Red Dragon TX1 is a front-weighted torpedo, for example. Start with a straight barrel; if you find you always grip near the point, try a torpedo next.
How much grip should beginner darts have?
Grip is the texture cut into the barrel: smooth, ringed, knurled, or sharper "shark" and razor cuts. Too little and the dart slips when your fingers are dry; too much and it catches as you let go. Winmau rates grip from 1 (smooth) to 5 (aggressive). A medium grip, around 3, is the sensible place to start. If the dart still slips, a little grip wax on the fingers helps before you change sets.
Which darts should a beginner buy?
Pick by how often you'll play, not by the name on the box. All of these are steel tip sets in stock now.
For occasional games: a brass set
The Formula Sports Clone and the Mission brass set are brass barrel steel tip sets. They suit a board in the garage, a set for visitors or a first try before buying tungsten.
For a first set you'll practise with: 80% tungsten
The Red Dragon Swingfire 1 is 80% tungsten with square grooves for grip. The Winmau MvG Aspire is an 80% parallel barrel, centre weighted, with a grip level of 4, in every gram from 21 to 26 g (Winmau). The Harrows Chizzy 80% is a straight 51 mm barrel, also in every gram from 21 to 26 g.
For weekly play and league: 90% tungsten
The Winmau Blackout is a 90% tungsten parallel barrel, 50.8 mm long (Winmau). The Harrows Chizzy 90% is the slimmer version of the Chizzy above. The Winmau Wildcats is another 90% set that covers every gram from 21 to 26 g.
MVG Aspire - 80% Tungsten Steel Tip Darts
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Swingfire 1 - 80% Tungsten Steel Tip Darts
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Blackout Parallel Barrel - 90% Tungsten Steel Tip Darts
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Dave Chisnall Chizzy - 90% Tungsten Steel Tip Darts
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Wildcats - 90% Tungsten Steel Tip Darts
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Clone - Brass Barrel Steel Tip Darts
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Who it suits
- Brass set: a few games a month, a board for the family or visitors, or a first try before you spend more.
- 80% tungsten: you plan to practise most weeks and want a slimmer barrel than brass without going further.
- 90% tungsten: you're joining a league or playing several times a week. It's slimmer again, with the widest choice of shapes and grips.
- 95% tungsten and above: best left until you know your weight, shape and grip. The slimmer barrel matters most once your darts land close together.
What else do you need to start playing darts?
A bristle board, a way to mark the throw line and a few spares. The dartboard buying guide compares boards by how often you play. Hang the board with the centre of the bull 1.73 m from the floor, and mark the oche 2.37 m from the face of the board (Darts Australia's rules). A dartboard bundle puts the board, surround or cabinet together in one order.
Flights split and shafts bend as you learn, so keep spare flights and shafts on hand. A dart case keeps the points and flights from damage between sessions.
Frequently asked questions
What weight darts should a beginner use?
Start at 22 to 24 g. Throw the same set for a few sessions, then go lighter if your darts land low or heavier if they land high.
Are brass darts good for beginners?
For occasional games, yes. Brass barrels are thicker than tungsten at the same weight and wear faster, so a regular player soon moves to tungsten.
Is 90% tungsten worth it for a beginner?
If you'll play weekly or join a league, yes. A 90% barrel is slimmer than an 80% one of the same weight and comes in the widest range of shapes and grips.
Should beginners use heavy or light darts?
Start in the middle, at 22 to 24 g. Light darts need a firmer, flatter throw; heavy darts can steady a shaky throw but drop if the throw is too gentle.
What barrel shape is best for a beginner?
A straight (parallel) barrel. It has the same diameter along its length, so you can hold it wherever feels natural while your grip settles.
What weight do professional darts players use?
Most touring professionals throw between 21 and 26 g. Luke Littler throws 23 g and Luke Humphries 22 g.
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