I've been away for a while mainly because I can't find a place to play outside of my den. I live in the strange world of Southern California where the local seem to be afraid of darts...too dangerous I suppose. I guess they throw at each other and haven't found what the true sport is all about. So I am about to succom to the goofy world of soft tip.

My Steel weigh is about 20-22 grams and I just don't know how I'm going to wrap myself around those feathery 18 grammers to stay legal and keep peace amongst the group. What do most people do? Go 16 and sloppy or go 18 and watch them fly all over? Or is it somehow no big deal? Then too, I see that I have a 20 gram option these days but am warned that that may be a curse in some venues and board makers.

So what's a steel tipper to do? Or does some magical force step in and make it no big deal? Please please help a soon-to-be come backer.

I went 18g and was easy transformation. Although depending on your league and boards used some do support up to 25g

Its not too bad of a transformation at least it wasn't for me. I would say go with the heaviest soft tips you can with a similiar barrel as your steels

And don't forget your roll of quarters

The guys that play soft tip league around here pay $7 a week to play. $2 of that goes into the machine. When I used to play steel tip I had to pay $5 a week to play. Here's the major difference... In steel tip we'd have a banquet at the end of the year with free food and trophy's. Decent. But at the end of the soft tip league we'd have that same get together and I'd be handed a fat envelope wish CASH in it. Most players would get back quite a bit of money. Last time I played I think the 4 of us on my team got back about $200 EACH. Personally I've never played in a steel tip money league but in soft tip it's quite common around here.

JD wrote:

The guys that play soft tip league around here pay $7 a week to play. $2 of that goes into the machine. When I used to play steel tip I had to pay $5 a week to play. Here's the major difference... In steel tip we'd have a banquet at the end of the year with free food and trophy's. Decent. But at the end of the soft tip league we'd have that same get together and I'd be handed a fat envelope wish CASH in it. Most players would get back quite a bit of money. Last time I played I think the 4 of us on my team got back about $200 EACH. Personally I've never played in a steel tip money league but in soft tip it's quite common around here.

Nice JD! that is an upside! thanks for the info.

yea our soft tip league is the same way - money back and banquet with free food and drinks. Cost $3 a night in quarters -$20 for total league dues aside from the quarters. Then we get award pins. Steel tip league was $5 a match - then banquet with free food and drinks, Got nice plaques or trophys instead of money back

Shadowbox, check out the specials page at [You must be registered and logged in to see this link.] They have some very nice soft tip darts for around $10US.

theres really no difference between 18-22. just change the length of your shaft or shape of your flight to simulate the additional drag.

our steel league is $125 per team per season with a small banquet and awards. no cash back

our soft tip league is $6 per match in dues which goes to a huge banquet, awards, entries paid to vegas, travel funds and cash back

My Monday and Wednesday leagues only cost me $50 club fees for 12 months. The club pays all nomination fees.

Tuesday league, each player pays $18 a season registration.

Tuesday and Wednesday leagues have a presentation night once a year that covers the 2 seasons a year. It is buy your own drinks and byo nibble platters. They usually provide a dj so you can dance the night away if you want to.

I forgot, Tuesday league, if we are the home team, we pay $5 each for a light supper at the end of the game.

In our area, you get either 1,2, or3 players together and go to a bar and ask if they would sponser you. They pay $50 a season, 24 weeks, and we pay $7.75 a week per player. $4 for dues and $3.75 for the games that night. It all goes in the machine, and at the end of the year (second Sunday in May) we have a big dinner , kegs and 20 - 25 borads set up for blind draw tourny. Depending on how you finish in league you can easily make your "quarter money" back...trophies, door prizes, I will be sure to post pics