🎯 Dartboard Review: Unicorn Eclipse Ultra 2.0 Dartboard - Professional - Ultra Thin Wires 🎯
Thinking about upgrading your dartboard? Let's take a look at the Unicorn Eclipse Ultra 2.0, a board that's making waves in the darts community!
✨ First Impressions & Design:
The Unicorn Eclipse Ultra 2.0 is a showcase of modern dartboard technology. It features a stunning design with a black "Venom" spider that is 33% thinner and less embedded than its predecessors, creating larger scoring areas and significantly reducing bounce-outs. The "Abyss Printing" provides high-contrast, vibrant segments for better focus and a sleek, modern look. The Madagascan Grade A sisal is expertly crafted for a balance of dart penetration and grip, ensuring your darts stick in well. An innovative "UniLock" system makes mounting easy and secure, while the Ultra-Vis metal number ring with white numbers on a black ring provides excellent legibility and a sharp contrast.
👍 What Players Are Saying:
Reviews from both professional reviewers and everyday players are overwhelmingly positive:
* Performance & Bounce-outs: The ultra-thin wiring and high-quality sisal are a huge hit. Players report a dramatic reduction in bounce-outs, leading to higher scores and a more consistent game. The board is described as "firm yet soft," providing the perfect balance for darts to stick in securely.
* Durability: The board's durability is a standout feature. The sisal is noted for its rapid recovery, with a firm and consistent playing surface that holds up well to extended play, even in high-impact zones like the treble 20.
* Visibility: The anti-glare Black Venom spider and high-contrast Abyss Printing receive high praise for improving visibility and reducing distractions, helping players to maintain focus on their target.
* Aesthetics: Many reviewers love the board's appearance, calling it "beautiful" and "impressive." The professional, high-tech look is a definite plus.
🤔 Things to Consider:
* Aesthetic Longevity: One review mentioned that while the board's performance is superb, the paint on the wiring may have some cosmetic wear over time. While this doesn't affect play, it's something to be aware of if aesthetics are a top priority.
* Price Point: As a professional-grade, high-tech dartboard, it comes at a premium price. However, most reviewers agree that the performance and durability justify the cost.
🏆 Our Verdict:
The Unicorn Eclipse Ultra 2.0 is a revolutionary dartboard that lives up to its hype. Its combination of ultra-thin, anti-glare wiring, high-contrast graphics, and durable sisal makes it a top-tier choice for serious players and professionals. If you're looking for a board that can help you score higher, reduce frustrating bounce-outs, and withstand intense practice sessions, the Unicorn Eclipse Ultra 2.0 is an excellent investment that will truly elevate your game.
🎯 Dartboard Review: Target TOR Professional Dartboard 🎯
Ready to level up your game? Let's take a deep dive into the Target TOR Professional Dartboard, a board designed for serious players.
✨ First Impressions & Design:
The Target TOR is a modern, professional-grade dartboard that's officially approved by the WDF (World Darts Federation). It's constructed with premium 215-MDG Madagascan sisal, which is known for its dense, self-healing properties, promising a long lifespan. The board features a smooth, sanded surface with bold, bright colors for optimal visibility. A key design innovation is the stainless steel spider, which is engineered to be low-profile, significantly reducing bounce-outs. The board also boasts a "36XTEN" rotational number ring that allows for 10 smooth rotations to ensure even wear, a feature that many players appreciate for maintaining a clean and professional appearance. The "Peak-Fix" mounting system is also a standout, providing a stable and secure fit on various wall surfaces.
👍 What Players Are Saying:
Initial reviews and feedback from players highlight several key strengths:
* Quality & Feel: Players describe the board as "crisp and well made" with a "dense" sisal surface. Darts are said to sound and feel "lovely" hitting the board and stay in firmly.
* Bounce-outs: The low-profile stainless steel spider is effective, with reviewers noting a reduction in bounce-outs.
* Aesthetics & Functionality: The modern, symmetrical look of the board and the innovative 36XTEN number ring are popular features. Players appreciate that they can rotate the board to prevent wear without the logos or text becoming misaligned.
* Durability: While it's still a relatively new board, early feedback suggests it holds up well to extensive use, with one player noting that the holes close up fast and no sisal has come out after several hours of daily play.
🤔 Things to Consider:
* Firmness: One reviewer mentioned that if you like a firm board, this one is for you. This might be a preference for some players and a potential con for others.
* Self-healing: A single review expressed some concern that the "self-healing" technology wasn't as effective as they'd hoped, with the board looking "battered after a week's use" with normal points. However, this seems to be a rare case, with most other reviews praising the durability.
* Compatibility: One user mentioned that they wished it was compatible with the Scolia auto-scoring system, which might be a consideration for tech-savvy dart players.
🏆 Our Verdict:
The Target TOR Professional Dartboard is a strong contender in the high-end dartboard market. It brings a host of modern features, including a low-profile spider and an intelligent rotation system, that address common frustrations of serious players. The combination of premium materials and thoughtful design makes it a practical and visually appealing choice. While a couple of minor concerns were raised, the overall consensus is that the Target TOR is a top-tier board that is highly recommended for anyone looking to improve their game with a durable and innovative piece of equipment.
🎯 Darts Review: Winmau Blade 6 Triple Core Dartboard 🎯
Looking to upgrade your setup to a professional-level dartboard? We've taken a deep dive into the Winmau Blade 6 Triple Core, and here's what you need to know!
✨ First Impressions & Design:
The Blade 6 Triple Core is a testament to dartboard engineering, and it’s endorsed by the PDC, meaning it’s the choice of the pros. Its design is both functional and sleek, featuring a seamless playing surface and a pioneering ultra-thin wiring system that is angled at 60 degrees to maximize scoring and minimize bounce-outs. The bullseye and outer bull are also 25% thinner, making them a larger target. A standout feature is the world’s first laser-cut anti-glare number ring, which ensures excellent visibility from any angle. The board is finished with all-new graphics, giving it a premium look right out of the box.
👍 What Players Are Saying:
Customer feedback is overwhelmingly positive, with an average rating of around 4.8 out of 5 stars. Reviewers consistently highlight several key strengths:
* Durability & Quality: The board's triple-core carbon construction with reinforced sisal is a major selling point. Players report that it holds up incredibly well to heavy use and that the self-healing properties are fantastic, keeping the surface looking new for longer.
* Bounce-Outs: The ultra-thin wiring and Density Control™ wire technology are a huge hit. Players note a significant reduction in bounce-outs, leading to more consistent scoring and less frustration.
* Mounting System: The Rota-Lock mounting system and included Spirit Master leveling tool are praised for making installation and rotation quick and easy, ensuring the board is always perfectly level and secure.
* Professional Feel: Many users feel this board provides a true professional playing experience, with excellent dart retention and a satisfying, muffled "thump" when darts hit the sisal.
🤔 Things to Consider:
* Price Point: The Blade 6 Triple Core sits at the top of the price range for dartboards. While most reviewers believe the quality justifies the cost, some loyal fans of the Blade 6 Dual Core question if the added features are worth the extra money.
* Softness of Core: A few reviewers have noted that the triple-core sisal can feel slightly softer than previous models, which, while beneficial for dart retention, has been a point of discussion for players who prefer a firmer board.
* Long-Term Wear: A small number of reviews have mentioned that the board's surface doesn't "seal up" as well as they'd hoped after extended use, though this is a minority opinion.
🏆 Our Verdict:
The Winmau Blade 6 Triple Core is an outstanding dartboard and a definite "real deal" for serious dart players. It's the pinnacle of dartboard technology, offering unparalleled quality, durability, and features like the anti-glare number ring and the Rota-Lock system. If you're a competitive player or someone who plays often and wants the best possible darting experience, this board is a superb investment. For those on a budget, the standard or Dual Core models might be a more cost-effective choice, but for top-tier performance, the Triple Core is in a class of its own.
🎯 Dartboard Review: Mission Samurai 4 Dartboard 🎯
Ready to upgrade your playing surface with a serious competitor to the market leaders? We've taken a deep dive into the Mission Samurai 4 Dartboard, and here's what you need to know!
✨ First Impressions & Design:
The Samurai 4 represents the next evolution of Mission’s professional-grade bristle boards, engineered for maximum performance and longevity. It is crafted from superior, vein-free Madagascan sisal which promises rich, non-fade colors and exceptional self-healing properties. The wiring is a standout feature: an ultra-thin knife-wire spider finished in a striking white color. This white spider contrasts sharply with the vibrant colors of the board, not only making the board visually "jump out" at the player but also helping darts glance over the wire and into the scoring zones, dramatically reducing bounce-outs. The board features a clean, symmetrical number ring and includes a stabilizer kit for secure, level mounting.
👍 What Players Are Saying:
Feedback for the new Samurai 4 is incredibly positive, often drawing comparisons to the market's most popular boards. Players consistently highlight several key strengths:
Aesthetics & Visibility: The white ultra-thin spider is a major hit. It makes the scoring segments pop, enhances visibility, and gives the board a fresh, modern look compared to traditional black wires.
Bounce-Out Reduction: The combination of the knife wire construction and premium sisal compaction ensures minimal bounce-outs, which is crucial for maximizing scoring potential.
Quality & Durability: The use of vein-free Madagascan sisal, along with improved manufacturing techniques, is designed to give the Samurai 4 exceptional self-healing properties and a longer lifespan, holding up well under heavy use.
Stability: The inclusion of an adjustable stabiliser kit on the back ensures the board sits flush and rock-solid against the wall, maintaining perfect alignment and stability during play.
🤔 Things to Consider:
Availability: As a newer generation model, the Samurai 4 may face temporary stock shortages, reflecting high demand and recent release.
Brand Loyalty: While the Samurai 4 is highly competitive, some players remain fiercely loyal to established brands like Winmau. Switching may require overcoming perceived differences, although reviews suggest the Samurai 4 is easily a match for its rivals.
Wire Color Preference: While the white spider is praised for aesthetics, some players may prefer the traditional, less noticeable black wire that they are accustomed to.
🏆 Our Verdict:
The Mission Samurai 4 Dartboard is an outstanding professional-grade board that offers a genuine, high-quality alternative to market leaders. With its stunning white knife-wire spider, premium Madagascan sisal, and built-in stabiliser kit, it delivers exceptional precision and longevity. If you're looking for a top-tier board that combines superior playability with a bold, modern aesthetic, the Samurai 4 is definitely worth the investment.
🎯 Dartboard Review: Harrows Pro Matchplay 2 - Professional Dartboard 🎯
Looking for a competition-standard board that offers professional performance without the premium price tag? We've taken a deep dive into the Harrows Pro Matchplay 2, and here's what you need to know!
✨ First Impressions & Design:
The Harrows Pro Matchplay 2 is engineered to the highest specifications for competitive play, featuring a traditional design optimized for modern performance. It is constructed from premium high-density East African Sisal, known for its excellent durability and self-healing properties. The board utilizes knife-wire technology with an ultra-thin, staple-free spider that is deeply embedded in the sisal, ensuring darts deflect into the scoring areas rather than bouncing out. The number ring is fully rotational, allowing you to maximize the lifespan of the board by shifting segments for even wear.
👍 What Players Are Saying:
The Harrows Pro Matchplay series is consistently praised by the darts community for being a fantastic, no-frills performer that punches above its weight class. Players consistently highlight several key strengths:
Exceptional Value: This board is widely recognized as one of the best value professional boards on the market, offering quality and features comparable to higher-priced rivals.
Bounce-Out Reduction: The razor-thin knife-wire spider is highly effective, with players reporting minimal bounce-outs, leading to higher scoring potential and a more professional experience.
Durability: Reviewers find the high-density sisal provides great longevity for home practice, especially when rotated regularly.
Classic Feel: The board delivers a traditional, solid feel and sound upon impact, which many players prefer over some newer, ultra-soft or multi-core boards.
🤔 Things to Consider:
Mounting System: The Pro Matchplay 2 typically uses a simpler mounting bracket compared to the advanced Rota-Lock systems found on Winmau boards. This means leveling and rotation can be slightly less convenient or require more frequent adjustment.
Sisal Consistency: While generally high quality, some reviews occasionally suggest that the sisal density can be less consistent across the board than what is found in the absolute top-tier, premium-priced models.
Aesthetics: The Pro Matchplay 2 focuses purely on performance, featuring a clean but less visually striking design than some competitors that use vibrant PVD colors or unique spider finishes.
🏆 Our Verdict:
The Harrows Pro Matchplay 2 is an excellent choice for serious players or league organizers on a budget. It provides all the essentials of a competition-grade board—ultra-thin wire, high-density sisal, and WDF compliance—at a price point that is hard to beat. If you prioritize performance and value over advanced mounting features or flashy aesthetics, this board is a superb choice and a great workhorse for dedicated practice.
🎯 Dartboard Review: Harrows Quadro 240 🎯
We've examined the Harrows Quadro 240, a specialized dartboard that briefly revolutionized the professional game in the early 1990s. Known for introducing the "Quadruple" scoring segment, this board was designed to push the limits of scoring potential, leading to the first-ever 240-point "maximum."
✨ First Impressions & Design:
The Quadro 240 is constructed from high-quality sisal, adhering to standard matchplay dimensions for its outer rings. However, the defining design feature is the additional "Quadruple" ring situated between the Triple ring and the Bullseye. This ring rewards players with four times the value of the segment, making the Quad-20 worth a staggering 80 points. Visually, the board looks significantly busier than a standard clock face due to the extra wire and segments. It features a traditional round-wire spider, which was industry standard during its production run.
👍 What Players (and History) Are Saying:
The Quadro 240 is remembered for its extreme scoring spikes and the unique challenge it presented to professional players:
Unprecedented Scoring: The Quad-20 allowed for a maximum score of 240 (three darts in the Quad-20). This drastically changed game strategy, as a single visit could wipe out a massive lead.
Precision Training: Because the Quadruple ring is smaller and closer to the center than the Triple ring, it forced players to develop a much tighter level of grouping and accuracy.
Historical Significance: It gained fame during the 1993/94 WDC World Championship (now the PDC), where it was used on stage. John Lowe famously hit the first televised 240 on this board.
🤔 Things to Consider:
Extremely High Difficulty: The Quadruple ring is significantly narrower than the Triple ring. For average players, the risk of "missing big" into the single segments while aiming for the Quad is very high.
Crowded Bed: The extra wire required for the Quad ring creates more surface area for deflections. In the era of round-wire technology, this led to a higher frequency of bounce-outs compared to modern blade-wire boards.
Niche Status: Because the board was eventually banned from professional competition (due to scores becoming "too high" and games ending too quickly), it is now a collector's item rather than a standard practice tool.
Visual Distraction: Many players find the extra ring confusing to look at, as it breaks the traditional geometry of the dartboard they have spent years mastering.
🏆 Our Verdict:
The Harrows Quadro 240 remains a fascinating "what-if" in the world of darts. It is a collector's dream and a brilliant novelty for home "exhibition" matches. While it is not suitable for serious league practice today—as it would ruin your standard "counting" and checkout knowledge—it represents an era of experimentation. If you can find one in good condition, it offers a fun, high-octane challenge that proves just how difficult (and rewarding) hitting an 80-point segment can be.
🎯 Dartboard Review: Bull’s NL Advantage Black Professional 🎯
We've examined the Bull’s NL Advantage Black, a premium professional-grade dartboard that has earned a cult following for its exceptional durability and its striking, minimalist aesthetic. This board is engineered for the serious player who demands a "dead" sisal feel and a sleek, distraction-free appearance.
✨ First Impressions & Design:
The Advantage Black is constructed from ultra-dense African Sisal, renowned for being slightly firmer than most standard boards, which helps to "trap" the dart firmly upon entry. The standout feature is the all-black spider and number ring, which eliminates the silver glare often found on traditional boards. It utilizes a completely staple-free, knife-wire system (embedded deep into the sisal) to maximize the scoring area and virtually eliminate bounce-outs. The board features high-contrast, vibrant inks for the scoring beds, ensuring the colors pop against the matte black wiring.
👍 What Players Are Saying:
Serious competitors and club players rate this board highly for its "heavy-duty" performance:
Reduced Visual Noise: The "Black Edition" design is a game-changer for focus. By darkening the wiring and the number ring, the player’s eye is naturally drawn into the colors of the scoring beds without the distraction of reflective metal.
Superior Sisal Density: The "firm" feel of the Advantage Black is highly praised. It doesn't "leak" or wear out as quickly as softer boards, making it an excellent investment for players who practice for multiple hours a day.
Exceptional Self-Healing: Because of the high-quality sisal, the holes close up remarkably well. Even after months of heavy use in the treble 20, the board maintains a fresh, "un-chewed" appearance.
Ultra-Thin Knife Wire: The wiring system is among the thinnest in the industry, significantly increasing the effective size of the doubles and triples compared to entry-level boards.
🤔 Things to Consider:
Firmer Feel: Some players who prefer a "soft" entry (where the dart sinks deep with little effort) may find this board a bit too hard initially. It requires a reasonably firm throw to ensure deep penetration.
Standard Mounting: Unlike Winmau’s Rota-Lock system, the Advantage Black typically uses a more traditional bracket system. While stable, it may require a bit more effort to perfectly level and secure on uneven walls.
Niche Availability: Depending on your region, Bull's NL products can sometimes be harder to source than more mainstream brands like Winmau or Unicorn, potentially leading to higher shipping costs.
🏆 Our Verdict:
The Bull’s NL Advantage Black is a stealthy powerhouse in the darting world. It is the definitive choice for the player who wants a professional, clean-looking oche and a board that will outlast almost any competitor. By prioritizing density and visual focus, Bull’s NL has created a board that feels like a precision instrument. If you are tired of silver glares and soft sisal, the Advantage Black is a "premium-dark" upgrade that will serve you faithfully for thousands of legs.
🎯 Dartboard Review: Precise180 Endorphine Professional Dartboard 🎯
We’ve examined the Precise180 Endorphine, a high-specification professional dartboard that has gained traction for its superior visual clarity and "responsive" sisal. Designed to compete with the industry's biggest names, the Endorphine focuses on providing a premium "pop" both in terms of color and dart entry.
✨ First Impressions & Design:
The Endorphine is constructed from premium-grade African Sisal, selected for its high-elasticity fibers which aid in rapid self-healing. The most striking feature is the Pure-White Number Ring and high-definition ink, which provides a significantly brighter contrast than many standard boards. It utilizes a staple-free "Knife-Wire" system, where the ultra-slim dividers are deeply embedded into the sisal to minimize surface area and virtually eliminate bounce-outs. The board is finished with a sleek, matte black outer ring that frames the scoring area beautifully.
👍 What Players Are Saying:
Players who prioritize visual focus and a "soft-landing" entry rate this board highly:
- Exceptional Visual Clarity: The high-contrast color palette and the ultra-white number ring make this one of the most readable boards on the market. It is particularly effective in lower-light home setups where you need the segments to "pop."
- Responsive "Soft" Sisal: Many players note that the Endorphine has a slightly "softer" feel compared to ultra-dense boards like the Bull’s Advantage. Darts tend to sink in effortlessly and stay secure, making it very forgiving for players with a lighter throw.
- Minimalist Wire Footprint: The knife-wire tech used here is exceptionally thin. This maximizes the landing zone in the doubles and triples, giving you the best possible chance of high-scoring visits.
- Professional Build Quality: From the flush-mounted wiring to the vibrant finish, the Endorphine feels like a luxury piece of equipment that holds its own against the famous "Blade" series.
🤔 Things to Consider:
- Longevity for Heavy Hitters: Because the sisal is slightly more "responsive" (softer), players with a very aggressive, heavy throw or those using aggressive points (like diamond or fire points) may find the board wears a bit faster in the treble 20 than denser alternatives.
- Standard Mounting Kit: It typically ships with a standard U-bracket mounting system. While effective, it lacks the built-in leveling wheels found on Winmau's Rota-Lock system, so you'll want to ensure your wall is perfectly flat for the best results.
- Niche Brand Recognition: While the quality is top-tier, Precise180 is a more specialized brand. This doesn't affect performance, but it may be harder to find local stockists compared to the "big three" brands.
🏆 Our Verdict:
The Precise180 Endorphine is a vibrant, high-performance standout in the professional dartboard market. It is the definitive choice for the player who wants maximum visual focus and a soft, reliable dart entry. By prioritizing the brightness of the scoring beds and the thinness of the wiring, Precise180 has created a board that lives up to its name—providing that "endorphine rush" every time you hit a max. If you’re looking for a professional alternative that looks as sharp as it plays, the Endorphine is a brilliant shout.