Short answer: Dart barrel shapes are parallel (straight), torpedo, bomb, tapered and scalloped. Shape decides where the weight sits and where your fingers land. Match it to where you hold the dart: parallel for most grips, front-weighted shapes for a front grip.
By Andy Gibson · Updated 18 October 2026
What are the main dart barrel shapes?
Makers describe a barrel by its profile (the outline from nose to back) and its weight distribution (front, centre or rear). The names below are the ones used on Winmau, Red Dragon and Harrows spec sheets.
| Shape | What it looks like | Where the weight usually sits | Suits | In our range |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Parallel (straight) | One diameter from nose to back | Centre | Most grips; the usual first barrel | Harrows Geo 01, Red Dragon Sable Parallel |
| Torpedo | Swells behind the nose, then tapers towards the shaft | Front or centre, depending on the maker | Players who hold near the front | Harrows Geo 02, Red Dragon Sable Torpedo |
| Bomb | Short, with a bulbous middle and a taper at each end | Centre or front | Players who want a short, wide barrel to hold | Harrows Geo 03, Red Dragon Sable Bomb |
| Tapered | Narrows towards one end; check which end | Away from the narrow end | Depends on the taper (see below) | All darts |
| Scalloped | A parallel or bomb barrel with a dip cut into it | As the base shape | Players who place a finger or thumb in the same spot every throw | All darts |
Parallel (straight)
A parallel barrel keeps the same diameter along its length, so it gives you the same grip at any point. Red Dragon describes it as suiting most grip styles and the shape most often recommended to beginners. Because nothing in the shape tells you where to hold it, it works best once you know where your fingers go, or while you work that out.
Torpedo
A torpedo barrel is widest near the front and tapers back towards the shaft. Red Dragon describes it as thicker at the front and suited to players who grip close to the front. Weight distribution varies, though: Red Dragon lists its Sable Torpedo as front weighted, while Harrows lists its Geo 02 Torpedo as middle balanced. The name tells you the outline, not the balance.
Bomb
Red Dragon describes its Sable Bomb as having "a pronounced bulbous mid-section with a controlled taper". A bomb is short and wide for its weight: Harrows' Geo 03 Bomb is 44 mm long, against 50 mm for the parallel and torpedo Geo barrels. Balance varies here too. Red Dragon lists the Sable Bomb as centre weighted; Harrows lists the Geo 03 Bomb as front weighted.
Tapered
"Tapered" is used two ways. On Winmau and Red Dragon spec sheets, "front profile: tapered" means the nose narrows into the point, as opposed to a round nose. As a barrel shape, a tapered barrel stays thick at the front and narrows towards the shaft, which suits players who hold the back of the barrel with the thumb where it tapers. Read the product photo and spec line to see which one you're getting.
Scalloped
A scallop is a dip cut into the barrel rather than a shape of its own. Red Dragon describes scalloped barrels as having indents that guide finger placement, so you find the same spot every throw.
Does barrel shape matter if the weight is the same?
Yes. The same weight of tungsten can be long and slim or short and wide, and that changes how the dart sits in your fingers. Harrows' Geo range shows it at 23 g:
| 23 g barrel | Profile | Length | Max diameter | Weight distribution |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Harrows Geo 01 | Parallel | 50 mm | 6.9 mm | Middle |
| Harrows Geo 02 | Torpedo | 50 mm | 7.35 mm | Middle |
| Harrows Geo 03 | Bomb | 44 mm | 8.25 mm | Front |
Source: Harrows' Geo specifications. All three are 90% tungsten with the same finish, so the shape is the only real difference. Tungsten content changes the picture as well: denser tungsten lets a maker build a slimmer barrel at the same weight, which Shot links to tighter groupings.
Choose your option
Choose your option
Choose your option
Which barrel shape suits your grip?
Start with where your fingers sit on the barrel. Red Dragon and Shot both match weight distribution to grip position: front-weighted darts for a front grip, centre-weighted for a middle grip, rear-weighted for a back grip.
| Where you hold the dart | Weight distribution | Shapes to try |
|---|---|---|
| Near the front, close to the point | Front | Torpedo, front-weighted bomb |
| In the middle | Centre | Parallel, centre-weighted bomb or torpedo |
| At the back, near the shaft | Rear or centre | Parallel, rear-tapered barrel |
| Not sure yet | Centre | Parallel |
Who it suits
- New players: a centre-weighted parallel barrel. It doesn't force a grip position, so you can find yours. Shot notes that grip habits often come from learning on someone else's set, so it pays to try more than one balance.
- Front grippers: a front-weighted torpedo, such as the Red Dragon Sable Torpedo.
- Players who want something to hold on to: a bomb, which is short and wide with plenty of surface to locate against.
- Players who like one set finger position: a scalloped barrel or a torpedo's shoulder.
The Red Dragon Sable range is a simple way to compare shapes: the same Switch Point system and multi-grip in parallel, torpedo and bomb profiles.
Choose your option
Choose your option
Choose your option
Choose your option
What are the different dart grips?
Grip is the texture machined into the barrel. It decides how firmly the dart holds your fingers and how cleanly it leaves them.
| Grip | What it is | Suits | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| Smooth | Little or no texture | Players who want a clean release | Designa Smoothies V2 M1 |
| Ringed | Rings cut around the barrel; grip depends on how deep and wide they are | Most players; one of the most common grips | Harrows Rapide Ringed Parallel |
| Knurled | A rough surface of fine crossing lines | Players whose hands get sweaty | All darts |
| Micro | Fine grooves that look almost smooth from a distance | Players who want a hard-wearing grip | All darts |
| Shark, razor or buttress | Sharp, deep-cut grooves | Players who want a very firm hold | Red Dragon Razor Edge Original |
| Multi-grip | Two or more cuts on one barrel | Players who want different feel in different zones | Red Dragon Sable |
Red Dragon's Razor Edge Original uses buttress grooves and is rated 5 out of 5 for grip, the top of its scale. The Sable range combines radial, micro and V-grooves.
Choose your option
Choose your option
Choose your option
What does a grip rating of 1 to 5 mean?
Winmau, Red Dragon and Harrows all rate grip on a 1 to 5 scale, where 1 is smooth and 5 is the most aggressive. Each brand applies its own scale, so compare ratings within one brand rather than across brands. Also check the grip zone: "full length" means the texture runs the whole barrel, while zoned grips leave smooth sections.
How do you choose a barrel shape and grip?
- Find your grip position. Hold your current darts and note whether your fingers sit at the front, middle or back.
- Pick the weight distribution to match. Front for a front grip, centre for a middle grip, rear or centre for a back grip.
- Choose the shape. Parallel if you're unsure; torpedo or bomb if you want the barrel to place your fingers for you.
- Choose the grip. Start in the middle of the scale (2 to 3) and go grippier only if the dart slips.
- Check the spec line, not just the name. As the Sable and Geo ranges show, two torpedoes can balance differently.
Every dart linked in this guide ships from our Perth warehouse. Browse the full Red Dragon, Harrows and Winmau dart ranges to compare more shapes.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best dart barrel shape?
There isn't one best shape. A centre-weighted parallel barrel suits the most grips; torpedo and bomb barrels suit players who hold nearer the front or want a set finger position.
What dart shape is best for beginners?
A parallel (straight) barrel with centre balance and a medium grip. It lets you find your grip position before you commit to a shape.
What is the difference between a torpedo and a straight barrel?
A straight barrel keeps one diameter its whole length. A torpedo is wider near the front and tapers back, which gives your fingers a shoulder to rest against and usually moves the weight forward.
What is a bomb dart?
A short barrel with a bulbous middle that tapers at both ends. At the same weight it is shorter and wider than a parallel barrel.
Are front-weighted darts better?
Only if you hold the dart near the front. Match the weight distribution to your grip position.
What grip should my darts have?
Start with a ringed or medium grip (2 to 3 out of 5). Go to knurled or razor grips if the dart slips, especially with sweaty hands; go smoother if the dart drags as it leaves your fingers. Grip wax on the fingers is another option.
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