Steel Tip vs Soft Tip Darts (2026)
The darts follow the board, not the other way around. Steel tips go into a bristle board and nothing else, soft tips go into an electronic board and nothing else, and using the wrong one destroys equipment. Beyond that, steel tip is the traditional game with better feel and no scoring help, and soft tip scores automatically, weighs less and is far more forgiving of a wall behind the board.
RED DRAGON Pegasus 24g Tungsten Steel Tip Darts
~$38
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| RED DRAGON Pegasus 24g Tungsten Steel Tip Darts | Turnart Soft Tip Darts, 18g, 9 Pieces | |
|---|---|---|
| Board required | Bristle only | Electronic only |
| Automatic scoring | No | Yes |
| Typical weight | 20 to 26 g | 16 to 20 g |
| Damage to a wall behind the board | Real, use a surround | Minimal |
| Bounce outs | Fewer | More |
| Noise | Quiet thud | Board beeps and thuds |
Choose the RED DRAGON Pegasus 24g Tungsten Steel Tip Darts if…
You have a bristle board and want the real game. Steel tips are heavier, stick more reliably, and the feel of a good tungsten dart entering sisal is most of why people take up the game. Scoring by hand is part of it, and a chalkboard or an app handles that.
Protect the wall. A missed steel tip goes into whatever is behind the board, and plaster does not recover, so fit a surround or mount the board on a backboard. Also fix the board to something solid: a board that moves absorbs energy and causes bounce outs, and a heavy board falling off a hook is worth avoiding.
Check RED DRAGON Pegasus 24g Tungsten Steel Tip Darts on Amazon
Choose the Turnart Soft Tip Darts, 18g, 9 Pieces if…
You have an electronic board, you play with children around, or you are throwing at a rented wall. Soft tips cannot go into plaster the way a steel point can, the board scores automatically, and the lighter dart suits players who are not used to a heavy one.
Carry spare points, because soft tips break, and check the weight limit for your board, since electronic boards specify a maximum dart weight and exceeding it damages the segments. Some boards can be noisy, both from the impacts and from the sound effects, which is worth knowing if the room shares a wall with a bedroom.
Check Turnart Soft Tip Darts, 18g, 9 Pieces on Amazon
Related
Comparison based on published manufacturer specifications and the general consensus of owner reports. We have not tested these products side by side. Confirm current specifications and prices before buying. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases, at no extra cost to you.
Deciding on a specific model? We review the Accudart Match Pro dartboard cabinet set review and Red Dragon Pegasus tungsten steel darts review in full.
Frequently asked questions
Can I put steel tip darts in an electronic board?
No. The steel point punches through the plastic segments and damages the scoring matrix underneath, and it will not be covered by any warranty. Some boards are sold as dual use with a replaceable bristle face, but a standard electronic board takes soft tips only.
Can I put soft tips in a bristle board?
You can and it does no harm to the board, but the plastic points bend and break quickly and bounce out far more, so it is a poor experience. If you own a bristle board, buy steel tips, and use conversion points only if you already own darts you like.
What weight dart should I start with?
Somewhere in the low twenties for steel tip is a common starting point, and 18 grams is typical for soft tip. Heavier darts fly flatter and need less lift; lighter darts need a firmer throw. Try a couple of weights if you can before committing, because the difference is noticeable.
How high should the board be?
The standard is a bullseye height of 5 feet 8 inches with a throw line of 7 feet 9 and a quarter inches measured horizontally from the face of the board. Getting both right matters more than most equipment choices, because practising at the wrong distance builds the wrong aim.
Measuring your own room before anything is delivered? The Game Room Layout Planner is the paid version of these pages: 8 printable worksheets you fill in with your own numbers, plus the full PDF, $29.
How we work: we compare published manufacturer dimensions, the governing playing standards for each game, and reviews from owners who live with the equipment. We do not test games in person, and we say so on every page. Clearance figures here are researched guidance for planning a room, not professional advice: measure your own space, and have a slate table delivered, assembled and levelled by an installer rather than moving it yourself.