Plastic-Tip vs Steel-Tip Darts

Overview

Soft-tip (plastic) and steel-tip darts follow similar scoring principles, but there are a few key differences — especially around bull values and Cricket rules. Understanding these makes games smoother and avoids arguments at the oche.

Darts Score supports both play styles — you can agree the rules and use the scorer to track everything consistently.

Key Scoring Differences

• Bull and Outer Bull:
  • Soft-tip (many leagues): Bull = 50, outer bull = 50 (single dart still counts 50).
  • Steel-tip: Outer bull = 25, bull = 50.
  Some soft-tip boards treat 25/50 traditionally — always check house rules.
• Cricket Scoring:
  • Soft-tip: Bull may score points once open.
  • Steel-tip: Bull typically closes only, no scoring.
  Different leagues do different things — agree before you start.
• Segment Detection:
  • Soft-tip boards register electronically; bounce-outs may count depending on the venue.
  • Steel-tip uses wiring — bounce-outs score 0.

Does It Affect Strategy?

• Soft-tip bull scoring can change Cricket end-game strategy.
• Steel-tip players often favour D20, D16, D12 as finishing routes.
• Soft-tip players may use bull more aggressively due to point potential.
• Both formats reward consistency and clean finishing.

Make Rules Clear Before You Start

Whether you're playing at a pub, on a soft-tip board at home, or in a mixed casual group, the biggest source of disputes is scoring assumptions. Agree the following:

• Is bull 50 on both rings, or 25/50?
• Does bull score or just close in Cricket?
• Are bounce-outs counted or not?

Once agreed, the scorer keeps everything consistent — no maths, no disputes.