“A Digital Dart Board by The Numbers.”
A digital dart board at its core is, well numerical. It’s a numerical system for playing games. It has a numerical method for keeping score and determining the winner. The position of the dartboard to the player is also, you guessed it, numerical.
In today’s article, the experts at edartboards.com have been asked to discuss the numbers behind digital dart boards. What they mean and how they relate to your game.
Distance to Dart Board
The proper distance from the face of the electronic dart board to the throw line is eight feet. This line is commonly called the oche. The history behind this distance is well documented. The official distance from the oche to the dartboard face for steel tip darts is 7 feet 9 ¼ inches. This measurement is determined by the Professional Darts Corporation (PDC).
The digital dart board was developed along with its counterpart soft tip darts. This development created an obvious need to change the distance to the dartboard. These modifications were necessary to reduce bounce outs. Soft tip darts are much lighter than their steel tip counterparts.
If the throwing distance were not modified, bounce outs would become a major problem. The internal sensors that registered the scores would also stand a chance of being damaged.
So, the number 8 is the distance from the oche to the dartboard face. Now you know!
Dart Board Dimensions
The regulation dimension of a digital dart board is 15.5” as opposed to 18” for steel tip dartboards. What’s the mechanical reason for the size difference? Soft tip darts need to enter a scoring hole, trigger internal sensors which in turn calculate your score. The scores then are digitally displayed on the LED scoreboard.
If the dimensions were even slightly larger, the scoring holes would be further apart. This small yet critical difference would cause more bounce outs. It would also lead to greater inconsistency in how your throws meet the dartboard target face.
In the game of electronic darts, you want the target surface area to be denser. The scoring holes need to be tighter and shaped with a concave design. The concave design is meant to guide the darts soft tip into the scoring hole and contact the sensor.
While we’re at it, it’s also worth mentioning the thickness of the target segment spiders. Called spiders because they resemble a spider’s web, these molded plastic units divide the target into scoring segments. It’s important that these spiders are made with a thin, low-profile design to prevent extra bounce outs. Hint – no one likes bounce outs.
Why is a Dart Board Numbered the Way it is?
All of you carpenters out there have heard the phrase, “measure twice, cut once.” You’ll be happy to know that Mr. Brian Gamlin, a carpenter from Lancaster England, is credited with creating the dartboard numbering system way back in 1896. Before Brian’s great idea, dartboards had a linear or random number arrangement. This did little to improve the skill and accuracy of dart players. Just throw at the board and hope for the best. What kind of game is that? There had to be a better way…and there is.
Brian had an innovative idea. He wanted to alternate high and low numbers. This way, the player would be forced to take aim at specific numbers to score. They needed to be precise with their throws. No more spray and pray. The game became one of precision and skill. Brian Gamlin's numbering system helped develop the game of darts. It also sparked worldwide competition.
Now that you know the numbers behind the digital dart board, it's time to put your knowledge into action! Whether you're perfecting your throw or setting up your ideal game space, precision matters. Check out our top-rated electronic dartboards and accessories at edartboards.com and take your game to the next level!
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