One of the best sports that you can play while in the comfort of your home is darts because all you need are sufficient space, a dartboard, and darts. However, there are some things that you should consider if you are planning to hang a dartboard in your home. One of those things is the possibility of having dart holes in your walls.
So, how do you protect your wall from dart holes? The best way to protect your walls is to have the appropriate material to cover the back of the dartboard. Your chosen material should be big enough to cover some space around the dartboard to protect the wall from miss-hits.
Best Ways to Protect Your Walls from Darts
There are numerous ways you can protect your walls from dart holes. With that said, here are some of the best ways you can do so.
Properly Positioning the Dartboard
Apart from selecting the best material as a backing for your dartboard, proper positioning of the dartboard will have a significant impact on the damage it may cause from miss-hits as well.
For example, suppose you are a player who plays only once a week and only hang your dartboard occasionally. In that case, you can hang it somewhere outside where you can have no fear of hitting something else.
On the other hand, if you play pretty frequently and hang your dartboard inside your home, you can employ different methods to minimize and prevent damages to your walls from miss-hits.
Using a Dartboard Cabinet
One of the best ways to protect your walls and the other items you might accidentally hit with your dart is by using a dartboard cabinet.
In fact, many players want to have a dartboard cabinet because of many things. First, it looks fantastic on the wall and gives off a very professional vibe. Moreover, whenever you are not playing, a dartboard cabinet can serve other purposes as well.
However, generally, dartboard cabinets are used to protect the walls from miss-hits. Of course, the bigger the dartboard cabinet, the better protection it can give. So, suppose you want to buy a dartboard cabinet. In that case, it’s best to consider its dimensions if your purpose is to have better protection.
However, having a dartboard cabinet doesn’t ensure complete protection, even if you buy a larger one. This is because a dartboard cabinet usually opens up to the sides, which means that most of the protection will be to the side of the dartboard.
Therefore, your walls will be more vulnerable in the locations above and below the dartboard. In addition, these are places where most miss-hits occur, especially for beginners.
So, if you are a beginner or some beginners will play with your dartboard, using a dartboard cabinet alone for protection may not be enough. If this is the case, you may combine a dartboard cabinet with other protection alternatives below.
Using a Dartboard Surround
A dartboard surround is designed to protect your walls from miss-hits in all directions. A dartboard surround is made of foam and placed behind the dartboard, protecting the walls from miss-hits.
Therefore, in terms of protection, a dartboard surround is way better compared to a dartboard cabinet. So, should a stray dart hit the dartboard surround, it will simply stick onto the foam and will not fall to the floor, which might cause damage to the floor or other items in your home.
In addition, a dartboard surround is very easy to install and usually requires no additional mounting. In fact, you can put it up and take it off quickly and conveniently every time you play.
When choosing a dartboard surround, its thickness is essential. Overall, a thickness of about 1 inch is sufficient. On the other hand, you may find some dartboard surrounds whose thickness is only about half an inch.
However, you need to keep in mind that thicker foam means better protection, especially if you have players who throw the darts too hard.
Sharp darts and players who throw darts with more power will easily penetrate these types of dartboard surround and might damage the wall behind them. So, for maximum protection, choose a dartboard surround that is at least 1 inch thick.
Going for a dartboard surround that is thicker than 1 inch is okay, but there will be some sacrifices as it will also be heavier. For those players who are entirely new to darts, even dartboard surrounds may not suffice since new players may tend to hit even beyond the scope of the dartboard surround.
Apart from the protection it provides, dartboard surrounds look classy and professional as well. In fact, they look excellent when hung on walls with the dartboard.
Making Your Own Protection
Suppose you are playing recreationally or there are many new players who visit your home to play darts. In that case, there may be occasional throws that will not hit the dartboard and would hit the wall instead. In fact, even experienced players have off days as well and will miss the dartboard from time to time.
Moreover, some people are not very serious about darts and do not wish to spend extra bucks for that fancy dartboard cabinet or dartboard surround but still want additional protection. In that case, you can make your backboard protection from very simple and readily available materials.
However, since these are DIY items, you should keep in mind that they will not look as aesthetically pleasing as dartboard cabinets or dartboard surrounds that you can buy in stores.
Nonetheless, there are many materials that you can use to make backboard protection. However, in choosing a suitable material, it should possess some specific qualities.
Thickness
First is the thickness. The backboard must at least be thick enough so that darts cannot penetrate it and damage the wall.
After all, the wall is what it is protecting. The thicker the material, the more protection it can provide for your walls. However, it gets heavier as well, so you may find yourself in trouble when you try to mount it.
Softness
The second thing you should consider is that the backboard must be soft enough so that the dart will stick to it should you miss the dartboard. If the backboard is not soft enough to hold the darts, the darts may bounce off and hit other items, or it may hit the floor and damage the floor and the dart tips.
Weight
Next, the material should be lightweight. This makes installing the dartboard easy, and you will not have any problems mounting it. Since DIY backboards don’t look aesthetic, some people prefer to hang them only when playing darts. Lightweight backboards are ideal since it will be easier to install and remove them.
Moisture Absorption
Modern dartboards can get damaged from moisture. Since the backboard is positioned behind the dartboard and there is direct contact between them, you have to make sure that the material you use to make the backboard will not hold moisture as it can damage the dartboard exposed to it for some time.
Materials That Can Be Used for Making a Backboard
If you choose to create your own backboard, you’ll need the appropriate materials for it. Some of the best materials to use for backboards are:
Wooden Boards
If you have extra planks or some salvaged wood big enough to use as a material for making a backboard, those will do. However, just make sure that the wood is not too hard to allow the dart to penetrate and stick to it.
Also, make sure that it is thick enough so that the dart cannot penetrate it and damage the wall. Wood is generally highly recommended for DIY backboards since it does not damage the tips of the dart when the dart hits it.
Scrap Doors
If you have any old doors that are no longer used, you can also use them to make a backboard. Cabinet doors can be used for this purpose as well. However, you may need some specific tools and the right skills to shape the door the way you want.
In addition, make sure that the doors you use are for disposal as you will be cutting and shaping them, and they can no longer be used as a door after.
Cardboards
Lightweight and more affordable, cardboards aren’t really the best material to use for making a backboard, but they can do the job. You just have to make sure that you have enough layers as cardboards tend to be very soft, and darts will penetrate them easily.
Moreover, the good thing about using cardboard is that it is effortless to make and disposable as well. Still, make sure to have enough cardboard layers to ensure that the dart cannot penetrate through it and damage the wall. This means that if it gets damaged, then you can just easily make a new one.
Final Thoughts
When it comes to wall protection, it is highly recommended that you use the proper tools, such as a dartboard surround. This is because it is made explicitly for that purpose, and it will work the best.
On the other hand, a dartboard cabinet or a dartboard surround is most suitable for a more aesthetic appearance.
However, suppose you are not a serious player and do not want to spend more bucks on dart tools. In that case, you can fashion your backboard using the material mentioned above.
