Got my first set if "big boy" nylon shafts. They come with a metal ring which I see goes directly on the shaft below the flight to hold the flights in better. How exactly do these things work? Just curious. These just showed up at work and I don't have any flights to play around with.

need to get a flight punch, punch the flight then stick the ring in the hole. Whats the ring is in you spread the flight like normal and put on the shaft

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If its just the normal spring clips that sit on a nylon shaft, they are meant to keep the tangs tighter as far as I'm aware, although I never noticed much difference with them on or off.

Yea as said above, they can be used underneath the flight or used with a punch and then inserted in the hole on the flight. I recently got a flight punch and started using them this way and I find it holds the flights in much better than just going on the stem below the flight.

I didn't notice much difference with the springs either - I just took those off and threw them away lol.

To the OP - if it is a proper ring (sometimes called a pigeon ring) then yes get yourself a flight punch. This helps the flights stay on the shafts in the event the dart hits another while throwing - saves picking flights up off the floor, and they also help prevent the tangs from breaking if you robin hood the dart.

If it is a spring, then you put the flight on like you normally would and then move the spring up to the bottom of the flight. I think these were the precursor of the pigeon rings and they are supposed to preform a similar function - although I never saw much difference so didn't bother using them.

Thanks guys!

exactly as Mike said, get yourself some pigeon rings and a punch. Makes a world of difference