If you've just asked "what are the best darts for a beginner?", here's the short answer. Look for a straight barrel, a weight between 22g and 24g, and 80% to 90% tungsten.

That combination is forgiving, slim enough to group tightly, and heavy enough to feel leaving your hand. It also covers most budgets, from about $35 for a brass starter set to $165 for a set you'll keep for years.

Below is what those numbers actually mean, five sets we stock that tick the boxes, and a simple way to pick between them.

In this guide

• Quick comparison: 5 beginner darts at a glance
• What weight darts should a beginner use?
• Does tungsten percentage matter for your first set?
• Which barrel shape is easiest to learn with?
• The 5 sets, reviewed
• Which one should you buy?
• FAQ

Quick comparison: 5 beginner darts at a glance

What weight darts should a beginner use?

Start between 22g and 24g. It's the middle of the range most players end up in, which makes it the safest guess before you know how you throw.

Go too light and it's hard to feel the dart leave your hand. Go too heavy and your arm starts working harder than your technique. Once you've thrown a few hundred darts you'll know which way you lean, and your next set can move a gram or two in that direction.

Does tungsten percentage matter for your first set?

Yes, but less than the marketing suggests. Tungsten is much denser than brass, so a tungsten barrel can be far slimmer at the same weight. Slimmer barrels leave more room on the board, which means fewer darts bouncing off each other when your grouping tightens up.

• Brass: cheap and chunky. Fine for finding out if you enjoy the game.
• 80% tungsten: a real step up in slimness for not much more money.
• 90% tungsten: the sweet spot. Slim, durable, and still affordable.
• 95% and above: thinner again, but the extra cost won't show up in a beginner's scores.

That's also the honest problem with the cheap sets from the big department stores. They're usually thick brass barrels with poor points, and they're often the reason a new player's grouping stops improving, not the player.

Which barrel shape is easiest to learn with?

A straight barrel. The diameter stays the same from front to back, so the dart feels the same wherever your fingers land. That's one less variable while your throw is still forming.

Torpedo, bomb and scalloped shapes all have their place, but they reward a grip you've already settled on. If you haven't worked out your grip yet, our guide to the four main dart grips is the place to start.

The 5 best steel tip darts for beginners, reviewed

1. Winmau MvG Ambition Brass: for just trying it out

If you're not sure darts will stick, this is the lowest-risk way in. It's a straight, centre-weighted brass barrel with a smooth grip (Winmau rates it 2 out of 5), and it arrives with shafts and flights ready to throw.

The trade-off is thickness. Brass needs a fatter barrel to hit the same weight, so expect to upgrade once you start grouping darts in the treble.

2. Shot Birds of Prey Osprey 80% Tungsten: the cheapest tungsten upgrade

The Osprey is a straight, centre-weighted 80% tungsten barrel built symmetrically, with knurling at both ends and shark cuts through the middle. There's no single "right" spot to hold it, which suits a beginner still moving their grip around.

One thing to know: the grip is rated 5 out of 5, the most aggressive in Shot's range. Great if your hands get sweaty on league night, less so if you like a smooth release. The set also includes a dart case.

Cheapest tungsten upgrade

Shot Birds of Prey Osprey 80% Tungsten

Straight, centre-weighted, 5/5 grip. Case included. 23g, 26g, 28g, 30g.

$60.00 Shop Osprey →

3. Target Hydro 03 SP 90% Tungsten: best value 90% set

This is the set we point most new players towards. It's a straight 90% tungsten barrel with deep radial grooves, so you get a positive grip without it grabbing your fingers.

It also uses Target's Swiss Point system. A bent or blunt point unscrews and swaps out in seconds with the included tool, instead of a trip to the repointing machine. Target also includes a month of DartCounter Premium, which is handy for tracking your averages as you improve.

Best value 90% set

Target Hydro 03 SP 90% Tungsten

Straight barrel, radial grooves, Swiss Point system. 22g, 24g, 26g.

$79.95 Shop Hydro 03 →

4. Target EXO 02 SP 90% Tungsten: for front grippers

The EXO 02 isn't a pure straight barrel. It's slim with a tapered front, and a continuous ring grip runs the full length. If you've already noticed your fingers creeping towards the point, that taper gives them somewhere natural to sit.

It shares the Hydro's Swiss Point system and comes with Target Pro Grip shafts and No.6 flights. At $20 more than the Hydro 03, it's a shape choice rather than a quality upgrade.

For front grippers

Target EXO 02 SP 90% Tungsten

Slim front-tapered barrel, full-length ring grip, Swiss Point. 22g, 24g.

$99.95 Shop EXO 02 →

5. Shot Zen Straight 90% Tungsten: a set to keep for years

The Zen Straight costs double the Hydro, and the fundamentals are the same: straight, centre-weighted, 90% tungsten. What you're paying for is the finish and feel.

It keeps the diameter minimal, adds a rear section of Shot's pyramid grip with small scallops as a reference point for your fingers, and rates a medium 3 out of 5 on grip. It's made in New Zealand with a black finish. If you already know darts is your thing, it's a set you won't outgrow quickly.

A set to keep

Shot Zen Straight 90% Tungsten

Straight, centre-weighted, 3/5 grip, made in NZ. 23g, 24g, 25g.

$164.95 Shop Zen Straight →

Which one should you buy?

Match the set to how committed you are, not how good you want to be.

• Not sure you'll stick with it: Winmau MvG Ambition ($34.95).
• Hooked, but on a tight budget: Shot Osprey ($60).
• Want the one set that does it all: Target Hydro 03 ($79.95). This is our pick for most beginners.
• Already gripping towards the point: Target EXO 02 ($99.95).
• Buying once and keeping it: Shot Zen Straight ($164.95).

Every set here from the Osprey up also ships free anywhere in Australia, because all darts over $50 qualify.

Whichever you choose, set your board up properly first. A board at the wrong height will undo any dart, so check our dartboard height and distance guide before you start practising.

Frequently asked questions

What weight dart is best for a beginner?

22g to 24g suits most new players. It's heavy enough to feel and light enough to throw smoothly, and it leaves room to adjust up or down once your throw settles.

Is 80% or 90% tungsten better for beginners?

90% is the better long-term buy because the barrel is slimmer and harder wearing. 80% is a perfectly good starting point if budget matters, and both are a clear step up from brass.

Do I need steel tip or soft tip darts?

Steel tip, if you're throwing at a bristle (sisal) board at home, at the pub or in a league. Soft tip darts are for electronic boards only, and the two aren't interchangeable.

How much should I spend on my first set of darts?

Around $60 to $100 gets you a proper tungsten set with no real compromises. Spend less and you're into brass, which is fine for testing the waters but usually replaced within the first year of regular play.

Can I change the weight of my darts later?

Not by much. The weight is built into the barrel, so a real change means a new set. Shafts and flights can shift the feel and balance slightly, but they won't turn a 22g dart into a 25g one.