The Science of Professional Darts Equipment
Unlike amateur brass darts, modern professional darts are precision-engineered from high-density tungsten alloy (typically 85% to 95% tungsten). Because tungsten is nearly three times denser than brass, barrel manufacturers can produce ultra-slim profiles that allow multiple darts to cluster tightly inside the tiny 8mm-wide treble 20 bed.
Master Equipment Matrix: Top PDC Contenders
All specifications sourced from certified manufacturer product lines (Target Darts, Winmau, Red Dragon, Unicorn, Shot, Dynasty) and televised stage configurations.
| Player | Brand / Partner | Barrel Weight | Tungsten | Barrel Profile | Shafts & Flight System | Point Technology |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Luke Littler | Target Darts Target Luke Littler 'The Nuke' Gen 1 | 23g | 90% Tungsten | Straight Barrel Dual Pixel and Radial Groove Cut | Shaft: Target Pro Grip Short (or Target K-Flex) Flight: Target K-Flex No.2 Integrated Flight & Shaft System | Target Swiss Point (26mm Silver) |
| Luke Humphries | Red Dragon Darts Red Dragon Luke Humphries TX1 Original | 22g | 90% Tungsten | Torpedo / Front Taper Micro-Ring and Dual Contour | Shaft: Red Dragon Nitrotech Intermediate Flight: Hardcore Extra Thick Standard No.2 | Trident 32mm High-Tensile Steel Points |
| Michael van Gerwen | Winmau Darts Winmau MvG Exact Original Match Barrels | 21.5g | 85% Tungsten | Classic Parallel Cylinder Full Length Ring Grip with Natural Wear | Shaft: Winmau Prism Force Medium (Nylon) Flight: Mega MvG Signature Standard No.2 | Winmau FreeFlo Black Points (32mm) |
| Gerwyn Price | Red Dragon Darts Red Dragon Gerwyn Price Iceman Original / Avalanche | 24g | 90% Tungsten | Parallel Razor Grip Modified Buttress Grooves with Blue PVD Finish | Shaft: Red Dragon Nitrotech Short Flight: Hardcore Extra Thick Standard Iceman Signature | High-Tensile Silver Steel Points (32mm) |
| Michael Smith | Shot Darts Shot Michael Smith 'Defiance' / 'Achieve' | 24g | 90% Tungsten | Center-Balanced Straight Cylinder Square CNC Ring Cuts with Red Inlays | Shaft: Shot Koi Carbon Inbetween Flight: Shot Michael Smith Signature Standard No.2 | Shot Tribal Steel Points (35mm) |
| Peter Wright | Red Dragon Darts Red Dragon Euro 11 / Supa-Venom / World Champion SE | 20g – 22g (Alternates frequently) | 85% – 90% Tungsten | Pencil Straight / Dual Scallop Milled Diamond Cross-Cut and Micro-Grooves | Shaft: Nitrotech Short / Medium Flight: Hardcore Peter Wright Snakebite Custom | Specialist Coated Steel Points |
| Gary Anderson | Unicorn Darts Unicorn Gary Anderson Phase 3 / Phase 5 World Champion | 23g | 90% Tungsten | Classic Parallel Slim Barrel Dual Blue Ring Recesses with Clean Radial Grooves | Shaft: Unicorn Gripper 4 Short/Medium Flight: Unicorn Gary Anderson Signature Ultrafly Standard | Unicorn Silver Steel Points (26mm) |
| Stephen Bunting | Target Darts Target Stephen Bunting Gen 5 (18g Match Weight) | 18g (historically 12g) | 95% High Density Tungsten | Front-Tapered Bullet Precision Radial Grooves with Natural Tungsten Finish | Shaft: Target Pro Grip Short / Target K-Flex Flight: Target K-Flex No.6 / Pro Grip flights | Target Swiss Nano Points (26mm) |
| Nathan Aspinall | Target Darts Target Nathan Aspinall Gen 1 / Gen 2 | 26g | 90% Tungsten | Torpedo / Front-Loaded CNC Milled Rings with Black and Red PVD | Shaft: Target Pro Grip Short Flight: Target Aspinall Signature 100-Micron | Target Swiss Diamond Pro Points (30mm) |
| Rob Cross | Target Darts Target Rob Cross Gen 1 / Gen 2 | 21g | 90% Tungsten | Parallel Cylinder Classic Radial Groove Pattern | Shaft: Target Pro Grip Short Flight: Target Rob Cross Signature Standard No.6 | Target Swiss Point Silver (26mm) |
| Raymond van Barneveld | Target Darts Target RvB Chrono / RvB Generation 4 | 25g | 95% High Density Tungsten | Torpedo Taper Front Milled Trapezoidal Grip with Titanium Carbon Coating | Shaft: Target Heli Ti Shafts / Pro Grip Flight: Target RvB Signature Ultra Standard | Target Swiss Fire Points (30mm) |
| Fallon Sherrock | Dynasty Darts Dynasty A-FLOW Black Line Fallon Sherrock Signature | 24g | 95% Tungsten | Multi-Ring Straight Barrel Shark Fin and Ring Grip Hybrid | Shaft: L-Style L-Shaft Lock Straight Flight: L-Style Fallon Signature Champagne Flights | Hard Lip Point / Steel Tip Points |
| Beau Greaves | One80 Darts One80 Beau Greaves Signature Match Barrels | 21g | 90% Tungsten | Slight Front Taper Straight Fine Micro-Ring Cuts with Natural Silver Finish | Shaft: One80 Vice Shafts Intermediate Flight: One80 Signature Standard Flights | Standard Steel Tip Points (28mm) |
Key Hardware Technologies on the PDC Stage
1. Target Swiss Point Technology
Employed by Luke Littler, Stephen Bunting, Nathan Aspinall, and Rob Cross, Target's patented Swiss Point mechanism allows players to change broken or blunt points in under 10 seconds using a pocket tool. The system features a patented groove engineered to snap at a precise shear point if dropped on concrete, ensuring the thread remains intact for immediate extraction.
2. Integrated Flight-Shaft Systems (Target K-Flex & Condor)
Molded one-piece plastic flight and shaft assemblies have surged in popularity across the PDC. Luke Littler throws Target K-Flex No.2, which eliminates Robin Hood deflections (where a dart pierces the shaft of another) and guarantees a permanent 90-degree flight angle for true aerodynamic stability throughout high-stress matches.
3. Lightweight Dynamics: Stephen Bunting's 18g Setup (Historically 12g)
Stephen Bunting gained legendary status for throwing ultra-light 12g Target barrels for over a decade. In 2023, he transitioned to 18g Target Gen 5 barrels, which provided enhanced flight stability and catalyzed his 2024 Masters championship triumph. Even at 18g, his match darts remain among the lightest thrown in top-level professional darts.
4. Heavyweight Artillery: Nathan Aspinall's 26g Barrels
Among top-16 contenders, Nathan Aspinall throws one of the heavier match setups at 26g (while tour-wide, Ryan Searle holds the overall heavyweight record at 32g). The higher momentum of Aspinall's 26g torpedo barrel delivers deep, authoritative board penetration and stability through his delivery.
Darts Equipment FAQ
What is the legal dart weight limit in the PDC?
Under official DRA (Darts Regulation Authority) rules, darts used in PDC competitions must not exceed an overall length of 30.5 cm (12 inches) nor weigh more than 50 grams per dart. In practice, most tour professionals throw between 21g and 24g, though players like Ryan Searle throw up to 32g.
What dart weight does Luke Littler throw?
Luke Littler throws 23g Target Darts (Luke Littler Gen 1, 90% tungsten) fitted with 26mm Swiss Points and Target K-Flex No.2 integrated shafts and flights.
Why do darts players prefer tungsten over brass or nickel?
Tungsten has an exceptionally high physical density (19.3 g/cm³), comparable to gold. This allows manufacturers to make a 24g barrel significantly thinner than a 24g brass barrel, leaving more room in the treble 20 bed for second and third darts.
Does Peter Wright really change his darts during tournaments?
Yes. Peter Wright is famous for tinkering with his setups mid-match, alternating between Red Dragon Euro 11 (20g) straight barrels, Supa-Venom (22g) scallop barrels, and various combinations of flight shapes and stem lengths depending on venue airflow and temperature.