| Introduction and Darts Equipment |
From "Family Sports"
episode SPT-108 |
|
|
|
advertisement
|
The sport of darts is actually hundreds of years old. Thought to have originated in England as an indoor version of archery, the game may in fact go back even further -- having evolved out of a spear-throwing game played by soldiers during periods between battle. The game's distinctive board probably originated from early use of a tree's cross-section, the concentric growth-rings of which would have formed a natural target. Around the beginning of the 20th century, rules and equipment became standardized with the growth of the game's popularity as a competitive activity in English pubs. At the time, games of chance (and especially gambling) were illegal in the pubs. Darts was ultimately deemed permissible when it was effectively demonstrated that it was a game of skill rather than chance. Much like billiards, another classic indoor game, the basic premise of darts has remained essentially constant over time, but there are now numerous variations on game-play as well as ongoing refinement in the equipment. Darts is an ideal indoor game since it requires little room to play and limited expense in terms of equipment or gear to purchase. Though the investment is small, the variety of available options -- in terms of accessories and style of board -- is fairly large. Steve Wiley, a darts specialist with Galyan's sports stores, talks with DIY Family Sports host Belma Johnson about how to select the board with the ideal characteristics for you.
Parents concerned about children's safety around sharp-tipped projectiles would be wise to consider one of the newer boards designed to work with rubber-tipped darts (figure A). Instead of a sharp steel point, the darts feature blunt rubber tips that simply lodge in the surface-pegs of the safety board (figure B) and won't damage walls or furniture or cause injury.
For older players, steel-tipped darts (figure C) offer the more traditional variation of the game, and the heavier darts have a more stable feel. These are generally used in conjunction with a bristle-style board made of compressed synthetic fibers. The sharp point of the dart penetrates the bristled surface of the board (figure D), but once the dart is removed, the bristles essentially return to their original position. A high-quality bristle board will last through years of use. Steel-tipped darts, with their fine balanced feel, and the traditional bristle-board are preferred by darts purists.
Electronic dartboards that work with soft-tipped darts (figure E) have become increasingly popular in recent years. The electronic board automatically keeps score so players can concentrate on technique rather than on scorekeeping. When the dart is thrown properly, the blunt tip penetrates one of the tiny openings in the board surface (figure F), and the scorekeeping function automatically tabulates the points associated with that region of the board. A safety-version of the electronic board is also available: it works with rubber-tipped darts.
As your game improves and you enter the ranks of the true darts enthusiasts, you'll no doubt want to upgrade your arsenal with high-quality darts and some of the accessories that are available. Custom dart-flights (the finlike elements at the rear of the dart that allow it to fly straight) not only help players easily identify which darts are theirs but are actually used by experienced players to adjust and refine the flight characteristics of the dart (figure G). Other accessories include interchangeable tips and barrels, a specialized dart tool for making fine adjustments and custom carrying cases.
Family Sports fun fact: In the early days of darts, the round bottoms of barrels were used as targets. In fact, there is historical evidence that the pilgrims on the Mayflower played the game during their sea journey using the butt of a wine cask as their board.
RESOURCES :
Cyber/Darts
Online resource for Darts
Web site: www.cyberdarts.com
Accudart
Accudart, Inc.
East Rutherford, NJ 07073
Phone: 201-896-3200
Fax: 201-896-3206
The American Darts Organization Book of Darts
Model: 1558212477
Author: Chris Carey
1993
The Lyon's Press
New York, NY 10011
Phone: 212-620-9580
Fax: 212-929-1836
Website: www.lyonspress.com
| 
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
