Differences: Bristle vs. Electronic Dart Boards

Are you a traditionalist or a modernist? Do you like to listen to the old-fashioned CD or an MP3 player? Knowing which style you're more comfortable with may help you determine which type of dart board is right for you.

Today we can choose from a wide variety of dart boards and materials from paper, wood, bristle, and electronic. These dart boards can be found in bars, pubs, and homes all over the world.

Two of the main types of dart boards are bristle and electronic. If you're trying to choose between a bristle and an electronic dart board, consider the following.

The Traditionalist: Bristle

Bristle boards receive their name from hog hair, or boar bristle, that was originally used in their construction. Today boar bristle in many cases has been replaced by African sisal or nylon. African sisal "heals" itself back to form after the dart is removed from the board.

As a result of this self-healing characteristic, bristle boards wear and last longer than paper dart boards. Bristle boards are the choice for professional dart competitions. One of the reasons professional dart players prefer bristle dart boards is that scoring is more accurate.

The Modernist: Electronic Plug it in, and turn it on. You're ready to play darts. And no one else is around. That's OK. One of the features of electronic dart boards is that you can play against the computer. Whereas bristle boards require steel-tipped darts, electronic dart boards use darts that are soft-tipped. These soft-tipped darts are softer and safer, making these boards the preferred choice for children and beginners.

Electronic boards also have the ability to communicate with you through sound, not only telling you your score but also razzing you. The good news is that you usually have the option to turn this feature off, while still maintaining the score being recorded visually.

Whether you choose a bristle or an electronic dart board, you'll have many hours of fun no matter what your means of playing it.