The great thing about darts is the low barrier to entry. All you need is a dartboard and some darts, and you’re good to go. You can even share a set of darts between multiple people if need be.

A decent set of darts can be bought for not very much money at all, but as with most sports, better equipment can make you a better player. It can increase your performance and consistency. So we set out to find, what darts do the pros use?

The pros use darts that suit their style of play. Weight, Length, shape, and grip type are all personal preference. The darts used varies depending on the pro.

While a good dart can help your game, it is essential to understand that what works for one player may not work for another.

We’ve created a list of the top dart players in the PDC and discuss the darts they use as well as their characteristics. Hopefully, this article will help you to find your next set of darts!

Michael van Gerwen

MVG is currently ranked as the best player in the world, and he shows no signs of slowing down. He says he has used the same darts for years. If you look back, there does appear to be some slight changes, but the overall style and feel of the barrel have remained the same.

What darts does Michael van Gerwen use?

Michael van Gerwen currently uses 23 gram XQ Max Darts. They are a pencil-thin dart that have a heavily milled barrel with a smooth patch near the middle.

Winmau Michael Van Gerwen MvG Aspire Tungsten Steeltip Darts Set 24g with Prism Flights and Nylon Shafts (Stems)
  • Set of 3 x 24g - 80% premium quality Winmau tungsten steeltip darts set
  • Winmau Nylon shafts & Winmau Prism Delta flights
  • High end MvG point protector
  • Created specifically for the modern throw to provide effortless rhythm and power

Peter Wright

Peter Wright is a Scottish professional who just won the 2020 World Darts Championship after beating MVG in a tremendous final round. Equipped with an ever-changing Mohawk and Nicknamed Snakebite, Peter is always fun to watch on stage. He had a good year, and I hope he keeps it up.

What darts does Peter Wright use?

Peter Wright uses 22 gram Red Dragons with his namesake. The Snakebite Mambas darts are pencil-shaped with a grooved front and center. While you can get them plain in color, most are painted with a bright and colorful finish (often rainbow)

RED DRAGON Peter Wright Snakebite 3: 22g Tungsten Darts Set with Flights and Stems
  • Set of 3 x 22g - 90% premium quality Red Dragon tungsten darts
  • Red Dragon stems - designs may vary
  • Snakebite Hardcore flights
  • Peter said "I love this shape dart and the feeling that the black coating gives me is superb and really helps me up on stage to get that extra confidence"

Gary Anderson

The Flying Scotsman is a two-time PDC World Champion with back to back wins in 2015 and 2016. Known for his smooth throw and high scores, he is one of the top players in the game today.

What darts does Gary Anderson?

Gary Anderson is currently using 24 gram Unicorn Phase 4 darts. The phase 4 darts are a pencil-thin dart with very thin razor cut grooves along the length of the barrel.

Unicorn Steel Tip Darts Set | Gary 'The Flying Scotsman' Anderson Phase 3 World Champion | 90% Natural Tungsten Barrels with Blue Accents | 23 g
  • Barrel designs as used by World Champion Gary Anderson on TV, 90% Natural Tungsten
  • Gripper 3 two-tone shafts
  • Guaranteed Weight Certified ±0.1g
  • Icon Case

Raymond van Barneveld

Raymond van Barneveld is a Dutch professional darts player that has won the BDO 4 times and PDC once. He is also the first player to achieve a nine-dart finish in both the Premier League and PDC World Championship.

What darts does Raymond van Barneveld?

Raymond van Barneveld uses Target RVB95’s. They are a pencil-shaped dart that is a little thicker than average. The front half of the barrel is dimplexed while the back half has standard razor thin grooves all the way down.


Phil Taylor

Many consider Phil “The Power” Taylor to be the greatest dart player of all time. Even if you disagree, you can not deny his success. He has been the PDC Player of the Year 6 times and has made it to the finals 14 consecutive times from 1994-2007 with eight successive wins.

What darts does Phil Taylor?

Phil Taylor uses 26 gram Target Legacy Darts. They are a thick front-loaded dart that could almost be considered a stubby. They have standard ringed grooves cut through the middle of the barrel.

Target Darts Power 9Five G5 26g Steel Tip Darts
  • Player endorsed - the next generation in dart technology has been developed for and used by Phil 'the power' Taylor - 16 times Champion Of the world
  • Balanced for the stacking style of play 'the power' Is known for, each barrel has been cut with the stunning Trapezoidal grip technology to offer outstanding levels of grip and feel. The barrel is then hand sandblasted to create a distinct matte texture for improved grip at the rear, and laser Etched with Phil's signature and target logo
  • Coated in a Blush Gold and black PVD titanium nitride to provide long lasting barrel protection and enhanced grip
  • Finished with ultra. Ghost + Flight, power titanium G5 shaft and special diamond Pro dart point

Adrian Lewis

Both Phil Taylor and Adrian are from Stoke-on-Trent, England and in his early days, he had the opportunity to train with “The Power” from a young age. With 25th PDC titles under his belt, Adrian Lewis is one of the greatest dart players around.

What darts does Adrian Lewis?

Adrian Lewis uses 21 gram Target darts. They are a pencil-shaped dart with a standard ringed grove pattern through most of the barrel.

Adrian Lewis G3 23g Steel Tip Darts
  • Precision Ringed grip & Nano grip
  • Natural 90% tungsten
  • Pro grip black short shaft

James Wade

James Wade is currently the most successful left handed dart player. Winning his first major title at 24, he has continued to perform. Besides his wins, has many other notable accomplishments. James was the first player to beat Phil Taylor in the Premier League. He is one of only three players in the world to hit a nine-darter in the World Grand Prix and the Grand Slam of Darts.

What darts does James Wade?

James Was uses 20 gram Unicorn James Wade Purists darts. They are a standard pencil barrel with evenly spaced groves through, with the grooves getting closer towards the back.

Unicorn Silver Star 80 Percent Tungsten, James Wade Darts, Silver, 24 g
  • Natural Tungsten
  • Gripper 3 shafts
  • Engraved Unicorn Hallmark
  • Length: 49.78mm Diameter: 6.99mm

Rob Cross

Winning his debut PDC match against Phil Taylor in 2018, Rob Cross is currently ranked Number 2 in the league. He has an impressive record for a player who has only been playing professionally for a few years and has a promising future.

What darts does Rob Cross?

Rob Cross uses 21 gram Target Voltage darts. They are a thin dart with a much smoother grip than most. Even the few grooves it does have cut in it are shallower than similar models.

Target Darts Rob Cross 23G Steel Tip
  • 90% Tungsten
  • 48 mm short barrel
  • Complete with pro grip shaft and no.6 flights

Gerwyn Price

Another relative newcomer to the pro circuit, Gerwyn Price has been doing reasonably good for himself lately. With back to back wins at the Players Championships and his first televised win at Grand Slam of Darts in late 2018, Gerwyn Price is on a hot streak.

What darts does Gerwyn Price?

Gerwyn Price uses his own 24 gram Red Dragon Darts. They are a standard pencil thin dart with a shark fin groove every 5mm or so. There is also a version that has diamond grains infused into the barrel for a better grip!

RED DRAGON Gerwyn Price 24 Gram - Tungsten Steel Darts Set with Flights and Stems
  • Set of 3 x 24g - 90% premium quality Red Dragon tungsten darts
  • Hardcore flights
  • Red Dragon Nitrotech shafts
  • World Number 3 The Iceman Gerwyn Price changed the darts world creating a New Order at the 2018 Grand Slam of Darts, when he beat double world champion Gary Anderson in a tremendous final to win his first televised major title.

Michael Smith

One of the younger players in the PDC, Michael Smith is currently ranked 6th and has won 6 titles since his debut in 2008. His most recent win is a victory against Rob Cross in the Shanghai Darts Masters in 2018

What darts does Michael Smith?

Micheal Smith uses 24 gram Unicorn Maestro Silver darts. They are a standard pencil shaped dart with deep grooves in the middle and a set of ringed cuts both in front and behind.

Unicorn Steel Tip Darts Set | Michael 'The Bully Boy' Smith Silver Star | 80% Natural Tungsten Barrels | 22 g
  • Natural Tungsten
  • Gripper 3 shafts
  • Engraved Unicorn Hallmark
  • Length: 46.99mm Diameter: 7.14mm

What Do These Darts Have In Common?

There is no right or wrong dart. If there were, the pros would all use the same one. However, looking at the results above we can conclude a few things.

  • All pros use tungsten darts. Tungsten is dense, allowing you to have a thinner but heavier dart
  • 21 to 24 grams appears to be the sweet spot
  • Most pros use a barrel that has a thin pencil shape. Thinner barrels make tighter grouping easier which means higher scoring.
  • Most pros prefer a barrel with heavy grooves cut along its length.

Out of all the differences, grip type appears to be the most varied from player to player. For the longest time, most dart grips consisted of heavy knurling. Now the trend has turned to a variety of alternatives. From ringed cuts to infused diamonds the options are endless.


Breaking Down Everything Else


What Weight Darts Do Pros Use?

Darts can weigh between 12 to 50 grams. Pro dart players use darts that are 22 grams in weight on average. The heavier a dart is, the straighter it will fly when thrown.

A lighter dart will have more of a parabolic curve when thrown and will hit the board from a higher angle. These are of course basic generalizations as there are other variables that will affect trajectory.


What Dart Shafts Do The Pros Use?

Most pro dart players use a medium-size plastic or nylon shafts. The length of the shaft used will complement the dart barrel type and throwing style.

If you purchase any of the sets mentioned above, they will generally come with shafts. I personally have always liked aluminum shafts but I appear to be in the minority.

If you are unsure where to start, Harrows Supergrips are generally known as a favorite of most players. Grab a pack of 15 here.


What Dart Flights Do The Pros Use?

Most pros use standard shape dart flights. Using a standard flight helps get a higher landing angle on the dart, which is preferred by most pros. A higher angle on the board leaves more space for following darts.

Flights are for more complex than most people give credit for. Different shapes, sizes, materials, all affect the path of travel. We have a full guide to flights that you can find here, What Dart Flight To Buy?


So What Should You Get?

Its personal preference of course and will take some trial and error to find what works for you. Modern darts designs are well thought out, scientifically crafted torpedoes of accuracy.

You really can’t go wrong with any of the above options as they all have a proven record of performance.