Have you noticed a severe drop in your skills when it comes to playing darts lately?
Maybe your aim and throw are both perfect, but for whatever reason, your darts just don’t stick to the board.
The problem might not be with you – it could only be that you need to learn how to sharpen your darts.
Even if you’re using the highest-quality steel tip darts that money can buy, and you’ve been practicing your technique for years, you’re still not going to get the best score if you can’t keep your darts from falling out of the board.
Sharpening your darts is one of the most crucial forms of maintenance that you can do to keep your accessories in excellent condition.
The good news? Finding the right dart sharpener and learning how to sharpen your darts isn’t as difficult as it seems.
We’re going to give you a behind-the-scenes guide right here.
What to Look for in a Dart Sharpener
Dart sharpeners are relatively simple pieces of equipment.
That’s good news for those of you who don’t want to spend forever learning how to use a new tool.
These low-priced tools for dart maintenance are intended to give you a way of keeping your dart points in excellent condition when they start to lose some of their impacts.
Most of the time, you’ll want a sharpening stone that’s cylinder or bowl-shaped, as these options are much easier to use for beginners.
However, if you’re a pro, then you might consider using a flat sharpening surface instead.
Here are some other things to look for in your dart sharpener:
- It should always be made of stone
- It needs to be small and portable so that you can use it on the go
- Should be comfortable to hold, with a good grip
Still not sure which option to choose?
Here are a few of our favorites:
1. The Aoyoho Star Dart Sharpener
Simple, elegant, and practical, this set of two dart sharpeners from the Aoyoho brand (affiliate link) will help you to avoid burrs in your darts and ensure that you can keep your points sharp with ease.
Both convenient and easy to use, the stone sharpeners quickly remove burrs from your points, and they’re easy to grip too.
What’s more, for less than $5, they’re not going to break the bank.
2. Viper Dart Sharpener Keyring
Viper is a very well-known brand in the darts world. This company offers a wide selection of great dart accessories, including sharpeners, and burr removes.
This simple but effective sharpener is easy to use and comes with a keyring included so that you can carry it with you at all times.
If you need to make sure that you have a sharpener with you whenever you decide to play, this is the option for you.
3. Red Dragon Flat Point Sharpeners
These flat point sharpeners are specifically designed for more professional players who are looking for a flat point on their darts, rather than a rounded edge.
With four sharpeners in each pack, and each pack selling for just over $6, they’re great value for money.
Just keep in mind that these particular dart sharpeners might be a little tougher to use if you’re a beginner.
4. BumperNets Beer Mug Sharpener
This is probably our favorite option when it comes to cheap and effective dart sharpeners on the market today.
It’s a lot more fun than some of the other options available from standard sellers because it comes with a grip in the shape of a beer mug, and a key-ring attached too.
This sharpener is very easy to carry with you on the go, and it’s easy to keep track of because the beer mug covering means that your sharpener won’t get lost in your pocket.
5. Silver Bullet Dart Sharpener
Finally, if you don’t mind paying a little more for your dart sharpening accessories, then this option from PerfectDarts could be the right option for you.
This motorized dart sharpener is great for getting your darts spruced up in a matter of seconds, with very little effort on your part. Quick and easy to use, you’ll have your points pristine in no time.
Just keep in mind that it is a little easier to over-sharpen your darts when you’re using a motorized tool, so you may need to be cautious.
Is it Possible for Darts to be Too Sharp?
When your darts are blunt, they can’t perform as they’re supposed to, which means that the quality of your darts game will suffer significantly.
Over time, you might notice that the blunter your darts get, the more they bounce out of the dartboard, which means that you end up losing points.
Blunt darts can also cause damage to your dartboard and surrounding furniture over time.
Sharpening your darts is crucial to protecting your belongings and keeping the quality of your game as high as possible. However, it’s worth noting that it is possible for a dart to be too sharp too. This is why it’s so crucial for darts players to learn how to sharpen their darts properly.
If your darts are too sharp, then they can damage your board, endanger the people that you’re playing with, and more. Additionally, a dart that is too sharp can have less grip when it hits the dartboard, which means that it ends up bouncing out just as often as a blunt dart.
So, how do you know if a dart is too sharp?
Usually, if you run your dart tip over your finger and it feels like a needle, then you’ve gone too far. The only option at that point is to start over with a new dart.
This is why it’s crucial to take your sharpening process slowly and use a manual sharpener if you can.
How to Use a Darts Sharpener
Once you have found the dart sharpener that works best for you, you’ll be ready to start maintaining your darts after each game and making sure that they’re available for play.
Provided that you’re using a manual sharpener, begin by inserting the blunted dart tip into the stone opening, and start grinding at the edges of the point in a soft and steady circular motion.
You’ll want to continue grinding your dart for about 10 seconds, before checking the tip with your finger.
If you feel that the edge is jagged or rough, then you still have burrs that you need to get rid of.
You can continue to gently grind your dart until the burrs are gone – but be careful not to keep going after this point.
Make sure that you don’t press down too hard into the stone of the sharpener, as this increases your chances of damaging the point and ending up with worn darts.
If you’re using an automated sharpener, like the one we covered above, then you’ll be able to follow the instructions provided by the manufacturer.
Be careful not to sharpen your darts for more than a couple of seconds with these devices, as you can very quickly end up with a point that is too sharp.
Ready to Start Sharpening your Darts?
Often, a dart sharpener is an accessory that’s overlooked by beginners who have only played darts a couple of times in their lives.
However, as you start to fall in love with the game and play it more often, you’ll find that you need this crucial tool to maintain your games.
Most professional dart players and those who engage in the game regularly keep a sharpener located within their dart case at all times, so that they can take care to sharpen their tips after each game.
You can even find complete dart kits like this one (affiliate link) that comes with sharpeners included as part of the set.
Keeping your darts adequately sharpened is the quickest and easiest way to make sure that you keep getting the most out of every throw!
Don’t underestimate the value of sharpening your darts.
