The answer to ‘what dartboard do they use in the PDC’ is simple: they use a Unicorn Bristle Dartboard. This article will delve deeper into the specifics of this choice, exploring the reasons behind it and offering insights into the meticulous preparation and maintenance involved in ensuring a fair and consistent game at the highest level of professional darts.
⚠️ Still Using Pen & Paper (or a Chalkboard)?! ⚠️
Step into the future! The Dart Counter App handles all the scoring, suggests checkouts, and tracks your stats automatically. It's easier than you think!
Try the Smart Dart Counter App FREE!Ready for an upgrade? Click above!
The Unicorn Bristle Dartboard, specifically the Unicorn Eclipse Pro, is the official board of the Professional Darts Corporation (PDC). This isn’t a random choice; it’s the result of years of testing, feedback from players, and a commitment to maintaining the integrity of the game. The choice of dartboard significantly impacts the gameplay, influencing factors such as bounce-outs, scoring consistency, and the overall player experience. Choosing the right board ensures a level playing field for all competitors, contributing to the exciting and high-quality matches we see on television.
Beyond simply answering ‘what dartboard do they use in the PDC‘, we’ll explore the characteristics that make this board a professional standard, examine the setup procedures, and discuss the importance of maintenance to keep the board in optimal playing condition. Understanding these aspects offers a deeper appreciation for the precision and skill required in professional darts.
Why the Unicorn Eclipse Pro?
Several factors contribute to the Unicorn Eclipse Pro being the chosen dartboard for the PDC. The board is renowned for its exceptional quality and durability. Bristle dartboards, like the Unicorn Eclipse Pro, are favored over other types due to their unique properties. The tightly packed sisal fibers offer a consistent and predictable bounce-out rate, meaning darts don’t unexpectedly stick or bounce off at awkward angles. This consistency is critical in professional play, where every point counts. A well-maintained Unicorn Bristle Dartboard ensures fairness for all players, a key factor in maintaining the integrity of a professional darts competition. 
Sisal Fiber’s Role
The sisal fiber used in the construction of the Unicorn Eclipse Pro is crucial. The fibers are carefully selected and processed to create a board with a dense and even surface. This minimizes inconsistencies in bounce-out rates and ensures a consistent experience for players. The density of the sisal also influences how the darts embed into the board, reducing the wear and tear caused by repeated throws. This leads to a longer lifespan for the dartboard and sustained performance throughout a tournament.
Setting Up the Professional Dartboard
The setup of a professional dartboard is not just a matter of hanging it on the wall. There’s a precise science to ensuring the board is perfectly positioned and properly maintained. The bullseye must be placed at exactly the right height, the board must be level, and the surrounding area needs to be free from obstructions. Incorrect placement can lead to unfair bounces and inaccurate scoring, which is clearly unacceptable in professional darts. In fact, the placement of the dartboard is so precise and carefully calculated that slight variations can influence the results drastically.
Many factors are considered including the lighting conditions, the distance of the players, and the height and reach of the players. For beginners, finding a darts near by to learn more is also useful. To aid in learning the intricacies, you may also want to use a Free dart score app to help track and understand the scoring aspects.
Optimal Height and Distance
The official PDC regulations specify the exact height and distance for the dartboard. This ensures consistency across all tournaments. Deviation from these standards is not permissible, and any attempts at manipulation are strictly prohibited. This consistency directly benefits the players and allows them to focus solely on the skill of the game, free from any additional uncertainties.
Maintenance and Lifespan
Even the highest-quality dartboard like the Unicorn Eclipse Pro requires regular maintenance to extend its lifespan and ensure consistent performance. This includes cleaning the board regularly to remove dust and debris, and periodically rotating the board to distribute the wear evenly across its surface. Proper maintenance is crucial for ensuring the accuracy and longevity of the dartboard, further contributing to the overall fair and consistent gameplay.
Professional dart players, however, have more specific maintenance approaches. For instance, they may use different techniques to clean the board. They may use specialized cleaning supplies to prevent any potential damage to the sisal fibers. Additionally, the frequency of rotation is carefully determined based on the frequency of use and the quality of throws.
Signs of a Worn Dartboard
Recognizing the signs of a worn-out dartboard is essential. This can include visible damage to the sisal fibers, inconsistent bounce-out rates, and difficulty in embedding darts. The PDC has a strict procedure for when a board is deemed unusable and the board will be replaced.
Beyond the Dartboard: Other Factors
While the dartboard itself is crucial, the overall playing environment plays a significant role. This includes the lighting conditions, the temperature and humidity, and even the type of darts used. The PDC sets strict guidelines and standards to control these factors, ensuring a consistent and fair playing field for all players. This ensures that no player has an unfair advantage from external factors. The lighting, for example, needs to ensure that each player can accurately judge the distance and the placement of the board. Incorrect lighting conditions can lead to the players missing their shots.
The environment is so tightly controlled that even the slightest deviation can have an impact on the game. For example, if the temperature is too high, the board will dry out. In this case, the density of the board will be altered, and the darts might bounce out in unexpected ways. A change in the temperature or humidity can change the outcome of a crucial match. Therefore, the PDC takes the environment into consideration before selecting the location of the tournament.
Another thing that is usually considered is the type of darts used. There are numerous variations available in the market, and they all have different properties. For example, different darts might be of different sizes and weights, as well as have different shapes. These differences directly impact the overall ability of the players to accurately hit the board. Some players have even gone to extreme lengths to achieve higher-quality shots.
Sometimes, even the slightest change such as darts big flights can affect the players’ ability to properly aim.
The Importance of Consistency in Professional Darts
The choice of the Unicorn Bristle Dartboard in the PDC is a testament to the importance of consistency in professional sports. Every aspect of the game, from the dartboard itself to the environmental factors, is meticulously controlled to ensure a fair and competitive environment. This focus on consistency allows the skill of the players to truly shine, delivering the high-quality, exciting matches that darts fans worldwide enjoy.
This level of meticulous control over the environment and equipment is precisely what separates professional darts from casual play. The level of planning and control is far beyond what is needed for a casual pub game; however, the effort results in a higher quality and more competitive match.
What About Other Dartboards?
While the Unicorn Eclipse Pro is the official dartboard, other high-quality bristle dartboards are available. Many of these boards share similar characteristics, such as tightly packed sisal fibers and consistent bounce-out rates. However, the Unicorn Eclipse Pro has been rigorously tested and proven to meet the stringent requirements of professional play, making it the top choice for the PDC.
The specifications of the board are so strict that the slightest difference in material or construction can change the gameplay. This is why many people often use the same board and dart for many years. It is important to note that, in some cases, the same brand, but different models of a dart board can have huge differences. This explains why the PDC is so careful in selecting and using only the official dartboard and often does not make changes lightly.
Players who are looking for a magnetic dart board for casual play will find many options in the market, however the differences in gameplay is large, and they are never used professionally. Many players who are new to darts may consider a magnetic dart board for practice.
Conclusion
So, to definitively answer the question, ‘what dartboard do they use in the PDC?’ It’s the Unicorn Eclipse Pro, a high-quality bristle dartboard chosen for its consistency, durability, and ability to provide a fair playing field for the world’s best darts players. Understanding the meticulous attention to detail involved in selecting and maintaining this dartboard enhances our appreciation for the precision and skill required at the highest level of professional darts. Whether you’re a seasoned pro or just starting out, understanding the importance of equipment quality and consistency will elevate your game and your understanding of the sport.
For those eager to learn more about the world of professional darts, explore our resources on darts world championship games and discover the exciting world of competitive darts. If you’re interested in finding a local darts league, you can check out our page on winchester darts league.
Learn more about dartboard setups and discover other useful tips and tricks with our guide on diy dart board backing.
And for those looking for some fun, why not check out our article on darts i can’t speak and our other posts on darts scoreboard pub and darts stand decathlon. Enjoy the game!
Hi, I’m Dieter, and I created Dartcounter (Dartcounterapp.com). My motivation wasn’t being a darts expert – quite the opposite! When I first started playing, I loved the game but found keeping accurate scores and tracking stats difficult and distracting.
I figured I couldn’t be the only one struggling with this. So, I decided to build a solution: an easy-to-use application that everyone, no matter their experience level, could use to manage scoring effortlessly.
My goal for Dartcounter was simple: let the app handle the numbers – the scoring, the averages, the stats, even checkout suggestions – so players could focus purely on their throw and enjoying the game. It began as a way to solve my own beginner’s problem, and I’m thrilled it has grown into a helpful tool for the wider darts community.