DartsDNA — Matched to your throw

Brand guide

Best Darts Brands: Target, Winmau, Red Dragon, Harrows & Unicorn

If you're looking to buy a new set of darts, you'll quickly come across the same major manufacturers: Target Darts, Winmau, Red Dragon, Harrows and Unicorn.

All five produce darts used from beginner and amateur level through to the professional game, but their ranges, technologies and designs can be very different.

So which is the best darts brand?

The answer isn't as simple as choosing a manufacturer.

At DartsDNA, we believe the better question is: which brand makes a dart that best matches the way you naturally throw?

Let's look at five of the biggest names in darts.

Harrows Darts

Harrows is one of the longest-established specialist darts manufacturers.

Founded in England in 1973, Harrows now manufactures from purpose-built facilities in Hoddesdon and distributes its products internationally.

The brand has a long history of producing tungsten darts, flights, shafts and other equipment and remains particularly well known among traditional darts players.

Its current professional roster includes Damon Heta, Ryan Searle, Dave Chisnall and Luke Woodhouse.

Harrows offers everything from relatively straightforward ring-grip barrels to more distinctive shapes, grip patterns and player-specific designs.

What is Harrows known for?

Harrows is particularly interesting if you want to explore different barrel designs without assuming that more complicated machining automatically means a better dart.

Some players perform best with surprisingly simple equipment.

Target Darts

Target Darts has become one of the most recognisable modern brands in the sport, combining professional player ranges with a strong focus on product design and technology.

Target launched in 2006 and has built its reputation around innovation, premium design and engineering.

One of its best-known developments is the Swiss Point system, which allows compatible steel-tip points to be removed and replaced in seconds. Players can change the length, style and grip of their points without using a traditional repointing tool.

Target also offers a huge variety of barrel designs, from relatively simple straight barrels through to highly machined premium darts.

The company's professional player portfolio includes Luke Littler and Rob Cross, while 16-time World Champion Phil Taylor has also had a long association with the brand.

What is Target Darts known for?

Target can be particularly interesting for players who enjoy experimenting with their setup because the Swiss Point system makes changing point length and style considerably easier.

But that doesn't mean every Target dart will suit every player. Barrel shape, grip position, dimensions and weight still matter considerably more than the logo on the dart.

Winmau Darts

Winmau is one of the historic names of world darts.

Founded in 1946 by Harry Kicks, the company has been involved in the sport for generations and produces everything from tungsten darts and accessories to some of the world's best-known dartboards.

The Winmau Blade dartboard range is particularly famous, with the Blade 6 generation continuing the company's long-running dartboard development.

Winmau also has a major professional presence. Its player ranges include darts associated with Michael van Gerwen, alongside numerous other professional and former world champion players.

What is Winmau known for?

Winmau's catalogue covers a wide range of barrel shapes and grip profiles, making the brand relevant to many different throwing styles.

For DartsDNA users, that's the important part: don't simply choose Winmau because a professional uses them. Look at whether the individual barrel actually matches your grip and release.

Red Dragon Darts

Red Dragon is another extremely popular darts manufacturer, particularly with players looking for a huge choice of tungsten darts across different price points.

Its catalogue includes everything from relatively affordable tungsten sets to professional signature ranges and more elaborate barrel designs.

Red Dragon is closely associated with some of the biggest professional players in darts, including Gerwyn Price, Peter Wright and Luke Humphries.

Those player ranges also demonstrate just how different darts can be within a single manufacturer.

Peter Wright alone has used and released numerous barrel designs, while the wider Red Dragon catalogue includes straight, torpedo, tapered and other barrel profiles.

What is Red Dragon known for?

Red Dragon is a good example of why choosing darts purely by brand doesn't necessarily narrow things down very far.

Two Red Dragon darts can have completely different dimensions, balance characteristics and grip profiles.

The manufacturer might get you through the door. The barrel still needs to suit your throw.

Unicorn Darts

Unicorn is another of the historic names associated with professional darts.

The brand has been involved with many major players and world champions over its long history and remains particularly recognisable for its professional player ranges.

One of the best-known examples is Gary Anderson, whose signature darts have included several generations and variations of his familiar straight-barrel design.

Unicorn has historically been strongly associated with straightforward, traditional tungsten dart designs alongside more specialised player equipment.

What is Unicorn known for?

For players who prefer a relatively uncomplicated barrel, some of Unicorn's classic designs demonstrate an important lesson:

A dart doesn't need an extremely complicated grip pattern to perform at the highest level.

Target vs Winmau vs Red Dragon vs Harrows vs Unicorn: Which Is Best?

There isn't one winner.

All five brands produce high-quality tungsten darts, and all five manufacture barrels capable of being used at a very high standard.

The more useful comparison is what happens when you look at the individual dart.

Consider:

A £100 dart from your favourite brand isn't automatically a better match than a £40 dart from another manufacturer.

Does the Brand of Darts Really Matter?

Brand matters in areas such as manufacturing, available technologies, accessories, design and product choice.

But the name printed on the packaging doesn't determine whether the dart will work with your throw.

Imagine two players.

One grips with four fingers towards the front of the barrel and prefers a substantial front section.

The other uses two or three fingers towards the rear and needs a clear rear reference point.

Giving both players the same dart simply because it's made by the “best” brand makes very little sense.

Their requirements are different.

What Darts Should I Buy?

Instead of starting with: “Should I buy Target, Winmau, Red Dragon, Harrows or Unicorn?”

Start with: “What type of dart suits the way I throw?”

Understand your natural grip position, how you hold the barrel and how you release the dart.

Once you know those things, you can start comparing suitable darts across different manufacturers.

That's exactly why DartsDNA exists.

DartsDNA helps you understand the characteristics of your natural throw and uses them to identify equipment that is better matched to you.

Because there isn't one best darts brand. There's a dart that's better suited to your throw.