The Best Soft Dart Tips – What’s The Difference Between 2BA and ¼” Dart Tips?
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The best soft dart tips are manufactured with two kinds of threads. These include 2BA (British Association) dart threads and ¼” dart threads. The biggest difference that affects your game is the coarseness of the threads themselves.
The BA threads are finer and offer a more secure mount to your dart. The benefits are tighter tips, less wobbling, better accuracy, and higher scores. The ¼” threads are coarser and thus loosen with multiple impacts.
Let’s take a closer look at these comparisons.
Soft Dart Tips - Comparison of 2BA and 1/4"
Thread Size and Compatibility
The 2BA soft dart tip is the industry standard. It features a finer thread. This makes it compatible with most modern soft-tip dart barrels. It is widely used in leagues and competitions due to its universal fit.
On the other hand, the 1/4-inch soft dart tip has a coarser thread. It is primarily found on older or specialty dart sets. These tips need barrels specifically designed for 1/4" threading, making them less versatile than 2BA tips.
Market Availability
2BA soft dart tips dominate the market due to their widespread use in professional and recreational play. Most manufacturers produce darts with 2BA threading, and accessories like replacement tips, shafts, and converters are readily available. In contrast, 1/4" tips are less common and often need specific brands or custom orders. Some older dartboards and casual home-use dart sets still include 1/4" tips. Still, they are far less popular than their 2BA counterparts.
Durability and Performance
Both 2BA and 1/4" soft dart tips are made of durable plastic materials designed to withstand impact against electronic dartboards. Still, 2BA tips are more refined and durable, reducing breakage and wear over time. The finer threading allows for a more secure fit, reducing the chances of loosening during play.
1/4" tips have thicker threading and are sometimes seen as sturdier. Still, they are bulkier. This can affect the weight distribution of the dart. Additionally, due to their rarity, players struggle to find high-quality replacements compared to the more standardized 2BA tips.
Use in Professional and Recreational Play
Professional soft-tip dart competitions exclusively use 2BA tips due to their consistency, availability, and compatibility with modern dartboards. Recreational players who own electronic dartboards often use 2BA darts. These darts align with the most commercially available sets.
Conversely, 1/4" soft tips are typically found in older dart sets or cheaper dartboard kits. While they can still be effective for casual play, they are not widely supported in professional tournaments.
The Best Soft Dart Tips – Clear Choice
The 2BA tip is the superior choice for most players. This is due to its widespread compatibility. It also has better availability and improved durability. The Viper 2BA Tufflex II tips are a prime example of high quality engineered soft tip replacements. They have the added strength of a reinforced inner core. It is the industry standard for professional and league play, making it the most practical choice. While 1/4" tips still exist, they are largely outdated and less supported by manufacturers. Players using 1/4" tips face challenges in finding replacement parts and upgrading their dart setup.