DART FLIGHTS... What's the difference?
Many players have problems with flights, and I don't just mean getting them to slot into your shafts without putting your glasses on. Often players have the wrong flights fitted, which causes darts to fly inaccurately. A problem everyone has is splitting and breaking flights and having to buy new ones all the time. Hopefully you will find the info below helpful.
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Flights are the fins or wings found at the back of a dart. They serve to stabilize the dart during flight and are made of various materials. They also come in various shapes and sizes.
By changing the shape of the flight you use, you can change the way that the dart flies. For instance a large flight is better for lobbing, or floating a dart into the board. A smaller flight is best if you tend to throw with a flat trajectory.
Length of shaft will also influence the type of flight you need.
By selecting the correct shaft and flight combination for your barrels, and your style of throw, you can balance the dart to acheive optimum accuracy.
Most dart players can FEEL when their darts are balanced correctly. The dart is easy to throw, flies through the air cleanly without wobbling, and sticks into the board well.
If you throw your darts and it feels WEIRD, or flies sideways for a way, or sticks in the board crookedly or with the flight hanging down, you probably need to change either your shafts or your flights, or both.
Your other options are to change your barrels or to re-style your technique as you might do to correct a poor golf swing.
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More about flights
HARD FLIGHTS : Also known as "Poly Flights"
These are made of a stiff polyester plastic that holds shape well. The layers are permanently sealed together by heat during manufacture. Because the plastic is harder, they don't tear as easily as Soft Flights... however if they do tear, they cannot be resealed and are ruined. Hard Flights do not flex like a Soft Flight when hit, but do "pop off" the shaft when hitting another dart. This is desirable as it reduces deflection and allows tight groups. Hard Flights were originally made of a clear plastic, which resulted in fairly dull colors in printed designs. During the last few years, Melinex, a type of opaque plastic, has been used for printing hundreds of brighter designs.
NYLON FLIGHTS :
These are made of ripstop nylon fabric, and are by far the most durable type of flight. These dart flights are are very hard to tear. The stiffness varies according to the weight and type of fabric used by the manufacturer, but is roughly midway between Soft and Hard flights. The most common point of wear with this flight is at the front, where it is inserted into the shaft. Since ripstop nylon fabric is a thicker material, it is important to pry open the slots on the shaft for a properly loose fit to avoid damage to the flight. Nylon Flights are available in solid colors and dozens of printed designs.
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DIMPLEX, RIBTEX : (see left)
These, and other similar styles are actually hard flights which have been embossed with a texture. The bumpy or ribbed surface tends to stiffen the flight, which some darters consider desirable. The extra surface area also adds a small amount of drag to the flight, which makes the dart slightly more stable in some cases. The various embossed types of flights are generally a little harder to insert into a metal shaft, due to increased thickness. Use a dart tool or knife blade to gently spread open the slots at the back of the shaft.
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SOFT FLIGHTS : Also known as "Reseal Flights"
These are made of a flexible plastic sheet, preprinted with a variety of designs and then folded into shape. Adhesive (glue) holds the layers of plastic together. If the flight is torn during use, the layers can be pressed together with fingers and the adhesive will "heal" the tear. Another benefit of this type of flight is that a Soft Flight will often flex out of the way if another dart hits it. These flights used to be available in hundreds of bright, attractive designs.
(Personal note: I am finding soft flights harder to find of late. I prefer this type as they flex out of the way and tend to last twice or three times as long as the other types. Perhaps the long life of the flight is the reason suppliers now prefer you to buy the other types.)
All types of flights tend to split at the back center, where the folds meet and are hit by dart points. FLIGHT PROTECTORS are small metal or plastic devices that fit over and protect this area. The life of a set of flights may be greatly extended by using Flight Protectors. They are also reusable and may outlast many sets of flights.
Nylon flights are long lasting, but there are not a large variety available and tend to be hard to put into an aluminum shaft. Hard/Poly, Dimplex and Soft flights are a light to medium thickness.
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Flight Shape :
Generally, the smaller the flight, your dart will fly faster and have a straighter trajectory (less arc) to the board.
Using a larger flight should arc your dart and slow it down.
There is no one set answer for the size of flight a person should use. Unfortunately it is through trial and error that you may find the right flight shape for you.
NOTE : Remember that changing the length of your shafts might fix a problem you might have.
If you find short shafts too short and medium shafts too long, try Bubble Shafts. Bubble shafts look the same length as short shafts, but the flight slot is shorter so the actual shaft distance from barrel to flight is inbetween short and medium.
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Conclusion
Using the right flight is important. Get together with your friends and try swapping flights and shafts until you find the best combination for you. If you can throw OK with soft flights, and you can find some the right shape for sale, buy 10 identical sets at once. They will probably last for years.
You can buy flights here.
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