When it comes to perfecting your darts skills, having the right bit of equipment can make all the difference.
With several dartboards on the market, it can be difficult to choose one that suits your skill level and your needs.
Explore FOCO football-themed dartboards, from £47
Luckily for all the budding Michael van Gerwens and Luke Littlers out there, we’ve compiled a list of our favourite dartboards, tested by our very own talkSPORT team.
From professional-grade options to budget-friendly picks, this guide will help you make an informed choice for your next game room upgrade.
So without further ado, let’s get into it.
How we tested
To test our selection of dartboards, we acquired three of the highest-rated options currently available on the market.
We spent a total of two weeks with each board, using them sporadically whenever the opportunity arose, whether during leisure time or when entertaining guests.
Focusing on quality, performance, ease of use, and aesthetics, we then assigned each dartboard a rating out of five to assess their overall value.
Target Luke Littler Dartboard and Darts Set
Target Luke Littler Dartboard and Darts Set, £45
Pros: High-quality board, two sets of sturdy darts, perfect for players of all skill
Cons: Darts very light [if used to heavy], stand/ wall fixing not included
Rating: 4/5
I tested the Luke Littler full dartboard set, a fantastic gift for any avid fan of darts.
‘The Nuke’ has made a meteoric rise in the sport, and his stardom has been reflected by having his own superb set.
Dartboards come in all shapes and sizes, but I was impressed that a professionally endorsed dartboard, with two sets of darts, came at this price point.
Inside the box, I discovered a fantastic board with all of the usual quirks, and of high and professional quality.
It also contained two sets of darts with a nice touch, by using his custom purple and yellow colour scheme.
The board and the darts pay homage to Littler, and look great aesthetically, should they be presented visually in a room in your house.
As a set, it also contained a sticker from sponsor Target, marking the distance that you need to stand from the board when playing a match.
A bonus treat saw a voucher for a month’s trial for a scoring app, a great bit of news, which allows you to compete with friends.
Unfortunately, it was a challenge to mount the board, given that I needed to buy an extra stand, in addition to a specific Luke Littler surround to fit the board, which came at an extra cost.
But nonetheless, the board looked fantastic when up on the stand, bringing a colourful and innovative feel to the age-old game.
I have much experience playing darts with friends from a young age, so when I first used the darts, I realised how light they were in terms of weight.
Traditionally, darts players use heavier darts, and I found myself occasionally launching them extremely high and missing the board.
But for a casual player, the darts are perfect and are of high standard, so they won’t break easily through testing.
The set doesn’t come equipped with a mat or protective equipment for any indoor room, so it could be handy to invest in some.
It is a perfect set for a casual player, as I played for hours on end and even included others.
Things were made light and versatile, so it was ideal to take them elsewhere and use them either outside or inside.
I’m an average player, but even I managed to pin a few treble 20’s and bullseyes, which rarely bounced out!
That being said, I was very impressed and I can’t wait to use it moving forward.
As a massive fan of the sport, it is a great tribute to Littler, and a must-have if you are starting as a future oche star!
Review by Ben Davies
Target Tor Dartboard
Target Tor Dartboard, £70
Pros: Looks great, easy setup
Cons: Quite expensive
Rating: 4.5/5
Watch out Luke Littler… or maybe not.
Whether you are a competitive or casual beginner, the Target Tor is a worthwhile investment for anyone.
At £69.99, the Tor is Target’s premium dartboard in their range and priced competitively against their rivals.
The first impression is strong with its eye-catching packaging – I even got an offer of a game of darts on the train home.
The board fits snugly in the box and comes with a wall mount and the correct screws (very important!).
There is a small cardboard guide that comes with a handy checkout cheat sheet on the back.
Installation is super simple, I have a separate stand so I can store it away when I’m not using it.
Even though it was a separate brand, the board still fitted perfectly.
It looks stunning. The number ring on the outside is clear, legible and easy to take off to rotate.
Now onto the playing. I spent a good few hours peppering every section, though not always by design.
Despite plenty of use, it was barely showing any signs of wear. You can tell there will be serious longevity in this board.
What I was really impressed by was how little sound and vibrations came from the board.
There were no complaints from my neighbours despite the extensive play.
I also got to try out the Target Bolide Void 03 and the Bolide 05 darts, both of which are 90 per cent Tungsten.
The Bolide Void was my favourite out of the two as it was slightly heavier at 24g and has a longer barrel.
However, both sets felt very comfortable in your hand. I did have some issues with the flights coming off, so keep plenty of spares handy, or the hole punch trick will work.
The Target Tor is the perfect board for your darts journey, whether you are just starting or have been playing for years.
It’s worth spending the money on and will no doubt outlast cheaper options.
Review by Joshua Fordham
FOCO West Ham United FC – Official Licensed Professional Dartboard
FOCO West Ham United FC – Official Licensed Professional Dartboard, £49.45
Pros: Great looking, matching football club-branded darts also available (bought separately)
Cons: Not all football fans will be able to get one for their club
Rating: 4.5/5
For football fans who want a dartboard that will also express their love for their team, FOCO provides a high-quality and officially licensed option.
The West Ham-branded dartboard that we tested looked great straight out of the box, in classic green-and-red dartboard colours with the addition of club crests on either side and “WEST HAM UNITED” printed at the top.
The board isn’t too heavy and comes with the screws and hook you need to hang it, so it’s not much work to get it set up on your wall of choice.
For our review, we were also provided with officially licensed steel-tip West Ham darts, so if you really want to go all-out in your fandom, you can complete the set.
They look great with the club badge on the flights, and they feel high-quality.
Despite my limited darting ability, once I got a feel for the weight of the darts, it was great fun trying to rack up some points, although it has to be said that hitting treble twenty consistently is still a way off for me.
For fans of other clubs, there are other sets available. The Arsenal and Liverpool boards also look great, with the latter even featuring the club’s motto: “You’ll never walk alone” on the board in Liverpool red.
All in all, these boards are a great option for football fans wanting to play darts in their home game room or bar.
It would fit in perfectly with a club scarf above or photos of iconic players on either side.
Review by Jamie Lewis
FAQs
How to set up a dartboard?
As we all know, setting up a dartboard is all dependent on the amount of space you have a home.
But, if you’re looking for the same setup as seen on TV, there are some specifics you can follow:
- Hang your dartboard at a height of 5ft 8in from the floor to the bullseye.
- Mark a line at a distance of 7 ft 9¼in to indicate your throwing point (Oche).
- If you’ve done these two steps correctly, the distance in a diagonal line to the Oche should be 9 ft 7.5in.
Do you need a mount for a dartboard?
You will need a mount to attach your dartboard to the wall.
However, more often than not, these mounting kits or brackets will be included within your set.
When choosing where to mount your dartboard, it’s worth considering your placement to avoid any mishaps at home.
Keep your board away from windows, electronics, furniture, or anything else that might get damaged by any stray darts.
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