The Soft-Tips the Pros Secretly Favor
Three sharp beeps, three darts buried in the treble 20, and every point on them is plastic. Soft-tip pros sweat their equipment as hard as any steel-tip player — and their choices follow a clear pattern.
The Pattern: Light, Balanced, Personal
Professionals configure their soft tip darts around their own playing style and throwing motion. There's no single "pro dart," but there is a common lane.
Most professional soft-tip setups fall in the 16 to 20 gram range. Electronic boards usually cap dart weight at 18 or 20 grams anyway, so the light range isn't just taste — it's the rulebook.
Models the Pros Reach For
The Viper Diamond soft tip darts are a popular choice among professionals, prized for their balance and styling. They're a common sight wherever soft-tip is played seriously.
The Arachnid Tungsten soft tip darts are another preferred option. They earn their spot through durability and a high-density barrel.
Treat both as reference points rather than requirements. Even at the top level, the deciding factor is personal preference and comfort.
Why Tungsten Keeps Showing Up
Tungsten is denser than the other common barrel metals. A tungsten barrel can be slimmer at the same weight, which leaves room for tighter groupings on the board.
It's hard-wearing too. That mix of slim profile and durability makes tungsten the practical favorite among serious players, soft tip included.
Cheaper metals need a fatter barrel to reach the same weight. In a game about stacking three darts in one small bed, slim wins.
Soft Tip vs. Steel Tip Gear
A soft tip dart carries a flexible plastic point built to lodge in the perforated segments of an electronic board. Steel tip darts carry metal points for traditional bristle boards — more durable, but tougher on boards and walls.
- Keeps spare tips on hand so a broken point never stops the game
- Reinforced cone stands up to the impact of darts up to 20 grams
- Twists on tight and fits all standard 2BA soft tip dart threads
New to the plastic side of the sport? Start with what a soft tip dart is.
Heavier or Lighter Within the Range?
Heavier darts can bring more control and accuracy to players with a solid grip and sound throwing technique. Weight choice still varies plenty from player to player.
Within a 16-to-20-gram window the differences feel subtle, but they add up over a full game. Try the top and bottom of the range before you settle.
Beginners are usually better off starting lighter and simpler. You can throw pro-grade darts on day one, but building technique first makes the upgrade mean something — here's whether soft tip darts suit beginners.
What's Worth Copying From the Pros
Stay inside the legal weight window. Check your board's or league's cap before buying, because a beautiful 20-gram set is useless on an 18-gram-max board.
Favor a slim, dense barrel you can group tightly. And once a configuration works, leave it alone — pros build their setups around one repeatable throwing motion.
Finding Your Own Setup
The right dart comes down to comfort, grip, and throwing style. Weight, flight shape, and shaft length all deserve real attention.
Practice and experimentation settle the question. Rotate through a few configurations, watch which one groups tightest, and commit to it.
When you're ready to shop, our roundup of the best soft tip darts is the place to start.
Borrow the pros' weight range, then let a few hundred throws — not the branding — pick your final set.