How to Sharpen Your Dart Points (and How Often)

Nothing kills a good visit like a dart bouncing out of the treble. One of the most common causes is something you can fix in under a minute: a blunt or damaged point.

Why sharp points matter

• Fewer bounce-outs. A good point slips between the fibres of the board instead of hitting them head on.
• Your board lasts longer. Blunt points push the sisal fibres apart and leave holes. A sharp point parts them so they close back up when you pull the dart out.
• Tighter grouping. When darts go in cleanly, they're less likely to knock each other out of the way.

How to tell your points need sharpening

Run your fingertip gently over the end of each point. If it feels flat, rough or catches your skin with a burr (a tiny rough edge), it's time. You'll often notice more bounce-outs or darts hanging at odd angles too.

How to sharpen a dart point

1. Hold the dart at a slight angle to the sharpening stone, rather than straight down.
2. Roll the dart between your fingers as you draw the point across the stone a few times. Rolling keeps the point even all the way round.
3. Check it. You're aiming for a smooth, slightly rounded point, not a needle. A needle-sharp point can actually damage your board and is more likely to bend.
4. Repeat for all three darts so they behave the same.

A few gentle strokes is usually enough. If you've been playing a lot, a quick touch-up before a match or league night keeps them consistent.

How often should you sharpen?

There's no fixed rule, but most regular players give their points a quick touch-up every week or two, and straight away if a dart hits wire or the wall. Little and often beats a heavy grind every few months.

What about soft-tip darts?

Soft tips are plastic, so they don't get sharpened. When a soft tip bends or snaps, swap it for a new one. If a broken tip gets stuck in the barrel, our Broken Shaft Removal Tool will get it out.

The sharpener that lives on your keys

Our Aluminium Keyring Dart Sharpener is small enough to clip onto your keys or dart case, so you're never caught out with blunt points at the oche. It's also part of our Player's Essentials Pack, along with a broken shaft remover and finger grip wax.

Free UK delivery on every order. Now go and hit that treble.