What is the reason for the formation of a dartboard?

Answer 1

So that archers in medieval England could compete with each other in the pub.

Answer 2

Some believe and claim that dart history began when bored soldiers challenge each other by throwing their spears into turned over barrel base, that later evolved into a cut up tree trunk for target.

The rings in the tree trunk turned out to be perfect for keeping scores. As winter took the game indoors, darts of shorter lengths were used and rules were created and implemented.

Darts maintained its military relation during the founding and formation of the “British Empire”; soldiers use their drinking clubs and fitted dartboards extended all over the entire Empire. Citizens in different countries embraced the sport, and the British participants remained in the lead.

As the habit of throwing "spears" at targets turned into a universal pastime, the dart then became regulated; normally the barrel was a piece of cut wood trunk that has a length of four inches with feathers fixed to one end and a metal tip at the other end.

In 1898, a “folded-paper” target was patented by an American and the barrel made up of metal was patented in 1906 by an Englishman. By this time, the system of numbering on the dartboard was formulated and accepted.

The regulation of the throwing or tossing distance also happen at about the same time, however, there are many "standards" that are used. The “throwing distance” was indicated or marked by means of three crates placed from one end to anther from a certain brewery named “Hockey & Sons” that provided beer to the Southwest part of England. The beer crates were about three feet in length, thus the distance will be nine feet in length from the line to the dartboard. The “Hockey & Sons” crate size was ultimately decreased to two feet, and thus four crates are lined up as indication to mark the distance which is eight feet in length. This eight foot space or distance continued to be the standard pattern for several years.

By the 1900’s, the game of darts and its rules was established into what is recognized and accepted today. The board size, the distance of throwing and the darts size was standardized. All over the world, many people enjoyed playing the simple sport of darts so that teams were organized to play for medals and trophies and professional clubs and associations begun.

Eventually, the spears and the wooden stumps got smaller and finally, someone had the bright idea of bringing the target indoors. Perhaps if it weren’t for the fun atmosphere of the English pub, darts would have probably been altogether lost to its medieval beginnings.

Fortunately, darts still keeps the popularity it has enjoyed throughout the centuries. And with the help of new technology, the game’s enjoyment can be passed on to generations after.

If you’re looking into the game as a hobby, it would do you well to read up on dart equipment, particularly with the darts themselves. But that is not to say that the second most important component of the game should be overlooked – and that is the dartboard.

Present-day dartboards are made up of different materials. The most popular of which are cork, sisal and some synthetic materials.

As far as measurement goes, a regulation size target area for a dartboard is 15.5 inches. Most boards in the market have a diameter of 18 inches.


Bristle Dart boards

Early dartboards were made out of coarse hog hairs called bristles and the term still remains even if alternative materials have long been used to replace it.

The most common material used for bristle boards are cork and sisal. If you’re familiar with cork, you would know that the material crumbles easily especially when it’s subjected to as much poking as the average pub dartboard can attest to.

Fortunately, there is sisal. Sisal is a fibrous material commonly used in making rope. When a dart punctures the material, the fibers give way to the point so it nestles in between fibers. No actual hole and damage is made, which means the board can last a whole lot longer than cork.

Spiders
New and experienced players alike have their shares of bounce outs. Bounce outs happen when dart hits a section of a dartboard that’s covered with wire or staple.

These wires and staples are called spiders and are usually found on the surface of the board. Spiders form the demarcation lines for scoring areas on the board. Since a dart’s point cannot penetrate the spider, the dart bounces off the board – ergo, the bounce out.

Dart makers have addressed the problem from their end by making retractable tip darts. When the tips of these darts hits a spider, it moves back slightly into the body and allows the momentum of the throw to push the tip right back into the board.

Dartboard makers on the other hand are providing the solution by imbedding thin spiders inside the board. The demarcation lines are still visible, but the problem of bounce outs is greatly reduced.


Electronic dart boards

Don’t you just love it when technology makes a good thing better?