DartsDNA — Matched to your throw

Equipment guide

Dart Barrel Shapes Explained: Straight, Torpedo, Bomb & Scallop

Darts come in hundreds of designs, but most barrels can be grouped into a handful of common shapes. Understanding the difference can make choosing your next set considerably easier.

Straight Dart Barrels

A straight dart has a relatively consistent diameter through most of the barrel.

It's one of the most versatile designs because the player isn't forced into one specific grip position.

Front, middle and rear grippers can all potentially use a straight barrel, making them particularly useful for players who haven't yet developed a completely consistent grip position.

Straight barrels also provide plenty of usable space along the barrel for different grip patterns.

Torpedo Dart Barrels

Torpedo darts are generally wider towards the front before tapering towards the rear.

This creates a more front-focused profile and can give the dart a noticeably different feeling in the hand compared with a parallel straight barrel.

They're particularly relevant to players who naturally grip towards the front and prefer a more substantial section of barrel between their fingers.

Bomb-Shaped Darts

Bomb darts are typically shorter and wider, with the barrel tapering towards both ends.

The larger middle section creates a natural central reference point.

For players with a compact grip, this can make it easier to locate a repeatable position on the barrel.

The trade-off is that a shorter, wider barrel provides less room for players who spread their fingers over a larger area.

Scalloped Dart Barrels

A scallop is an indentation or recessed section machined into the barrel.

Unlike a standard grip cut, a pronounced scallop can act as a physical reference point for the fingers.

This can be extremely useful when the location of the scallop matches the player's natural grip position.

However, scalloped darts aren't automatically better. If you naturally grip at the front of the dart, a deep rear scallop may be completely irrelevant to your throw.

Which Dart Barrel Shape Is Best?

There isn't one barrel shape that's best for everyone.

The right choice depends on factors including:

Rather than starting with the question, “Which dart looks best?”, start by understanding how you naturally hold and release the dart.

That's exactly what DartsDNA is designed to do: use characteristics of your natural throw to help narrow down the equipment that makes sense for you.