Dart Point Selection Guide: Choosing the Right Point Grip

Why Dart Point Grip Matters

Most players obsess over barrel weight and grip, yet the dart point is the first thing that contacts the board — and its grip directly affects entry angle, bounce-out rate, and how cleanly darts group in tight finishes. Choosing the right point for your throwing style and board type is a small detail with a measurable impact on scoring consistency.

This guide focuses on steel tip points, the standard for sisal boards at home, in clubs, and on the professional circuit.

Standard / Straight Smooth Points

The classic dart point. A uniform taper from shank to tip with no interruptions in profile.

• Pros: Predictable entry, universally compatible with all bristle boards, simple to replace or sharpen.
• Cons: Higher bounce-out risk when hitting a wire at a shallow angle.
• Best for: All-round players, beginners building consistency, and anyone playing on a standard club or home board.

Ripper Points

Ripper points feature a series of ridges along the shaft of the point. Once the dart enters the board, these ridges grip the sisal fibres and resist pull-back forces that cause bounce-outs.

• Pros: Significantly reduced bounce-outs, especially on worn boards. The ridges also help darts stay in tight groupings near the wire.
• Cons: Slightly harder to extract from the board; the fibres grip the point more firmly. Not suitable for soft boards.
• Best for: Players who frequently bounce out on wires, those using older boards, and players targeting tight finishes like double 16 or bull.

Twister / Tornado Points

Twister points have a helical (spiral) groove machined along the point shaft. As the dart enters the board, the spiral creates a rotational force that drives the point deeper and locks it into the sisal.

• Pros: Excellent board grip, reduced bounce-outs, and the rotational entry can help darts nudge adjacent darts slightly — useful for grouping in tight segments.
• Cons: More complex extraction; the twist can occasionally cause the dart to rotate on impact, affecting flight path at range.
• Best for: Experienced players who want maximum board retention and frequently play for tight groupings or clustered doubles.

Point Length: Short vs Long

Beyond shape, point length affects balance and throwing arc:

• Short points — Move the dart's centre of gravity rearward, creating a more tail-heavy feel. Can suit players who generate natural forward lean from the barrel.
• Standard points — Neutral balance. The most common choice and the benchmark for most barrel weights.
• Long points — Shift balance forward, helping the dart nose-down through the arc. Can improve grouping for players whose darts tend to land tail-high.

Point Compatibility With Our Barrels

All barrels in our Premium Steel Tip Darts collection use a screw-in point thread, meaning you can swap points to dial in your preferred tip style without changing barrels.

The WTP FISSILE ECLIPSE EDITION ships with precision-finished steel points matched to its forward-weighted profile — paired with a grip-style point, it becomes an outstanding board-retention setup for competitive play.

The WTP TAP-AUR is engineered for a clean, neutral balance. Experimenting with long points on this barrel can help players who want to encourage a steeper entry angle and tighter doubles grouping.

Quick Selection Guide

• Bouncing out frequently? — Switch to ripper or twister points.
• Darts landing tail-high? — Try longer points to shift balance forward.
• Playing on a worn or older board? — Ripper points will grip the looser sisal fibres
• Just starting out? — Begin with standard straight points and build a feel for your natural entry angle before experimenting.

Summary

The right dart point works with your throwing style and board condition to maximise board retention and minimise variance. Since all WTP barrels use a standard screw-in thread, point experimentation is easy — start with straight points to establish your baseline, then test ripper or twister points if bounce-outs are costing you legs.