CHOOSE THE RIGHT DARTS BARREL!

Straight (Smooth) 

Probably the most frequently used darts. They tend to stand tail up unless you use super small flights. Using this type of barrels you get all advantages of both front and rear loaded darts. They have some weight at the front for control and enough weight in the rear to help make darts land smoothly, plus they are thin. 

PROS: 

Thin and compact which is very good for tight grouping. A lot of styles to choose in the market. 

CONS: 

The weight is spread evenly all over long barrels (not only at the balance point area), therefore the balance point is very narrow and hard to find. It makes it harder for the flight to stabilize these darts.

Front Loaded (Teardrop Shape)

If you hold your dart towards the front then front-weighted darts might be your best choice. They tend to droop, so if you prefer big flights and your darts are landing tail down then either smaller flights or front loaded darts may fix this. When we change down in flight size we sacrifice a bit of forgiveness that a larger flight provides in regards to a bad release. A front loaded barrel can also help pull the dart straighter quicker due to the balance point being forward and having the effect of a longer stem, helping our flight to pull it straighter quicker. 

PROS: 

A very forgiving barrel and combined with a long shaft and large flight probably the most self correcting. Able to stabilize a clumsy throw. 

CONS: 

A rather fat and bulky barrel reduces your chances for nice grouping. Limited in the lighter weights and less selection

 

Rear Loaded

These things can help keep the rear of your dart down even with large flights, but beware the forgiveness you get of having your large flight back because you will lose with a bad release. If your darts tend to hang, even with big flights, then rear-weighted darts are not for you. 

PROS: 

Super slender tip end gives great opportunities for nice tight grouping. 

CONS: 

Unforgiving, you do need a nice consistent throw with very little movement in the air. Has the most tip movement. Not suitable for beginners. Limited choice available.

Center Balanced

It is a very forgiving dart in the fact that it is both short and has the minimum amount of weight at the edges of the barrel enabling the flight to pull it into line quickly. The extra thickness (for those who hold the balance point) helps for a smooth release, but at the same time they have very slim tips and perfectly suit for getting lots of 180s. They have slightly less tip movement during the flight than straight barrels because they are shorter. Combine that with a fast flight correction and there will be very little movement by the time it hits the board. 

You might think that being center-loaded these darts should behave similar to straight barrel but sometimes they tend to droop a bit but all in all combining them with slim flights fixes it in a moment. 

PROS: 

Very forgiving as the majority of the weight is at the balance point the flights does not need to pull them straight. Nice for a good release. Tapered tip for good grouping. Short barrels so the flight can correct it easily. 

CONS: 

Little choice on the market.

Torepdo Shaped

This is a very successful combination of straight and front loaded barrel, so you get the best of both shapes.The shorter barrel helps the flight to correct it quicker due to the fact that its extremities are closer to the balance point, in the same manner as the center-balanced darts but a bit more weight forward. 

PROS: 

Forgiving in flight. Nice and thick for good release (something you can get your thumb around). 

CONS: 

A little bit too fat at the front end for good grouping.

Kredit : Arena

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