The Complete Handbook of Dart Backboards

Chapter 1: Understanding Dart Backboards

A dart backboard is the defensive line of a throwing area. It is the material, rigid or flexible, that sits between a dartboard and the wall or structure behind it. While it shares a line of sight with the dartboard itself, its jobs are distinct: to absorb the kinetic energy of misplaced darts, to prevent the penetrating tips of steel darts from gouging the underlying plaster or drywall, and to provide a physical boundary that defines the play area. Without one, a single bounce-out from a poorly thrown dart can leave a permanent divot in a wall, a costly repair to a venue, and an immediate and visible sign of neglect to a customer.

To understand the backboard, you must first acknowledge the physics of a missed throw. The standard throw line, or oche, for steel-tip darts is 7 feet 9.25 inches (2.37 meters) from the face of the board. A dart that reaches the board at velocity but hits the wire or the edge of the sisal at a steep angle can deflect sharply, often down towards the floor or out to the sides. A miss, by contrast, is often a flat trajectory that reaches the wall either to the left or right of the board, or a low shot that clears the board entirely. A backboard is the only standard solution designed to intersect both of these paths - the bounce-out and the wide miss - before they intersect your wall. The most