Darts World Cup 2025: The stars aim with these arrows

You can’t get very far in darts with target water alone. A steady hand and good nerves are the crucial skills on the way to fame and honor. Only then will the three arrows land where they score the most points. In addition to the head, the darts themselves are of course the key to success. Most players’ steel dart sets weigh barely 80 grams. But the tools used by professionals are about much more than just weight. In the following article you will find out what a dart is made of and which darts the top stars of the Darts World Cup throw for the title.

Classic steel darts consist of four parts. The heart and crucial element is the barrel, which also significantly influences the weight of the entire arrow. The handle is usually between four and five centimeters long and is mostly made of tungsten. In English, the heavy metal is also called tungsten. Barrels are screwed to the so-called shaft, a plastic element that connects the handle to the flight. Depending on the length, the weight distribution of the dart and at the same time the flight characteristics can be changed via the shaft. In order for the darts to actually reach the board, the shaft must be equipped with a flight. Flights are usually made of nylon. They stabilize the arrow and ensure that it lands tip first in the board. The steel tip (hence the name steel darts) usually protrudes about 30 millimeters from the barrel. In the professional sector, 33 millimeter long tips are preferred.

A dart can be a maximum of 30.5 centimeters long from tip to flight. The maximum permitted weight is 50 grams.

And here are the darts from ten professionals from December 15th to January 3rd play in the Ally Pally for the world title and prize money of around three million euros:

The reigning world champion and defending champion plays the TX1 Pioneer from Red Dragon in the 22 gram version. The barrel consists of 90 percent tungsten. The ring handles on the barrel are intended to ensure maximum grip when throwing. Humphries doesn’t experiment with the flights and usually relies on the standard form. When it comes to design, “Cool hand” is elegant and unobtrusive. The flights therefore come in black and white, with clear geometric elements and the subtle lettering “Cool hand”, Humphries’ nickname on the worldwide darts tour. Here you can find them

Hardly noticeable for laypeople and amateur darters: the darts of Humphries’ number 1 challenger weigh about one gram more. And with these arrows weighing 23 grams, the 17-year-old exceptional talent Luke Littler has already won three major titles this year, meaning he won three of the most important tournaments of the season. The teenager from the Mersey River in northwest England is clearly ahead among bookmakers with odds of 2.75 for 10 (as of December 13, 2025). Littler also plays with 90 percent tungsten barrels, although Target has milled significantly deeper notches into the handle of the vice world champion. His nickname “Nuke” adorns the standard flights, which are also rather inconspicuous. Here you can find them

The “Bully Boy” is one of the most popular professionals in the darts circuit. In 2023, the 34-year-old fulfilled his dream of winning the World Cup after two final defeats. The arrows with which he will aim to reach for the Sid Waddell Trophy for the second time at Alexandra Palace in 2025 come from New Zealand. Smith relies on darts that weigh 24 grams and have a center of gravity. This can be recognized by the five black rings in the middle section of the barrel. Nice eye-catcher: Smith had his initials engraved on the barrels. Also special: The “Bully Boy” plays carbon shafts. Like Humphries and Littler, he doesn’t experiment with flights. The designers have done a great job with elegant 3D shapes in black and red. There are those here

Fallon Sherrock made history at the World Darts Championship in 2019 with the first win by a woman in the Ally Pally. Since then, the trained hairdresser has been known in the darts scene beyond the borders of England. This year, the 30-year-old is trying to defeat her first round opponent Ryan Meikle with darts from Dynasty (December 17th, 10:15 p.m.). Sherrock’s arrows, which are made in Japan, weigh 22 grams. In addition, the silver barrels with blue highlights are only made of 80 percent tungsteen. In contrast to many other players, Sherrock relies on silver, slightly milled tips. The flights come in a standard shape in subtle white with the lettering A Flow. There are Sherrocks here

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Just a few years ago, Michael van Gerwen (MvG) was the undisputed leader of the PDC Darts Association’s Order of Merit. The Dutchman with the bald head won the world title three times. But now the 35-year-old is increasingly losing touch with Littler, Humphries and some other competitors. But Van Gerwen wouldn’t be Van Gerwen if he threw his arrows straight into the corner. In this, his 18th participation in the Ally Pally, he will also fight until the last match dart. Van Gerwen plays darts from Winmau that weigh 21.5 grams. The darts in this set weigh around 26 grams including shaft and flight. The barrels, lasered with the MvG brand, are made of 85 percent tungsten and have a classic ring grip. Apart from the bright green design typical of MvG, there is nothing exciting about the flights either. Here you can find them

Gary Anderson is one of the most popular players on the global darts tour. The 53-year-old Scot has walked off the stage at Alexandra Palace twice as world champion. In the legendary final of 2015, he defeated record champion Phil Taylor in the 13th and final set. Ten years later, after a short dry spell, he seems ready for his third coup. The key to a successful tournament at the “Flying Scotsman” is the Unicorn Phase 3 darts. Anderson plays it in the 23 gram version of classic ring grip. The barrels are 52 millimeters long and decorated with the Scot’s autograph. In addition, the 2016 World Cup darts were marked on the barrel with two blue rings, which symbolize Anderson’s two world titles. Here you can find them

The Saarlander is going into the 32nd edition of the PDC Darts World Championships as one of six German players. In 2023, Clemens celebrated his greatest success to date in the Ally Pally. It was only in the semifinals that he had to admit defeat to the eventual world champion Michael Smith. “The German Giant” plays 23 gram darts from Target. What is striking is the two-part ribbing on the barrels, which merge into 26 millimeter long Nano Storm tips. The Pro-Grip shafts feature standard flights designed by Clemens himself. There’s a set here