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| Q: Helix? |
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| message from smatko... on 9 Apr 93 |
I was wondering what the exact difference between an ordinary
dart and a Helix dart was? I have used ordinary darts all my
life ( 26gm and 28gm ) with a slow soft arc and seem to shoot
ok ( I would never win alot of tournaments ) but I have paid
for several beers. Could someone let me know please.
Thanks in advance.
steve
smatko...@syr.ge.com
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| framp... replied to smatko... on 12 Apr 93 |
As I understand... the Helix has a spring loaded tip, much like an
impact screwdriver. The idea is that if it hits a wire, the tip
spins slightly into the barrel. All in hopes that the tip will
spin off of the wire and still have enough left over KE to lodge
the dart into a bed.
Never actually seen them in person. Should work in theory. That
is if the darts are massive enough.
Framp..
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| b... replied to framp... on 13 Apr 1993 |
I use spring-load darts. Simple technology shock absorber thing. They
do save the odd wire-dart, but I still bounce a lot especially on
old boards where the wires are all full of pits and nicks. My points
are too sharp- this is at least as important as fancy point darts.
They are worth a point on your average, about. Not much more. Could
be a crucial point in competition, though. I wouldn't want to lose
that game to Bobby Anderson on a bounce-out.
According to the Darts World article in the magazine I just this
minute ago loaned out so I can't tell accurate citing...
(a typical disclaimer for the net, eh?) spring loaded darts are
illegal in high level tournaments, but I don't know the "official"
line nowadays. I did promise some months ago to write to Dr. Darts
to ask, but IHNGATIYet. Excuses. Excuses.
There are also hammerheads, which are popular around here. I don't
think they do much more than the spring loaded, if anything,
because the resistive pressure is greater and the momentum of the
dart changes more as the point hits metal...still, they act similarly.
And then there are the PowerPoints. Same principle, but a high-tech
design. Special tip. There is a diagram on the ad, but I couldn't
really tell if they were any different from hammerheads. According
to our team Captain these are illegal in Nationals and up. Again,
I don't know the offical rules for anywhere. Mayber by the time
we get the FAQ whipped into shape, we'll have all the Official Rules
documented. HELP.
My spring loaded darts are wearing out from the inside, which is
threaded to accommodate the grub screw that holds the spring in
place and is the thing the point hits every dart thrown. The grub
screws wear out, as do the springs. I am on the fifth or sixth
set of them in the same number of years, but I used up about 3
sets in the first year. I don't throw as hard any more. What
happens is that the spring gets up between the threads of the
grub screw and the inside of the dart. The dart is harder metal,
but one of mine has the inner threads going, so that the grub
screw gets knocked all the way back to the shaft-butt almost
every turn. I notice when I throw this dart without tightening
it every turn, it curls into the triple one. 43.
Shudda been a tun 8^)
So after the Boby Anderson game, I'm going to order a new
set of darts from across the pond. Unless some enterprising
darter sends me _his_ catalog first!
I doubt if I'll get fancy tips, though.
Spring loaded were $70 back in 87. Hammerheads about $90 now.
Other brand name darts can break the $100 mark. Hammerhead
and spring loaded kits (hard to get now) cost about $10 each.
Also, our Captain has made his own tip-repairing kit, so
he'll fix a broken dart for $10, and he uses the money
for the team... The main advantage of spring loaded darts
is the fact that you can change a broken point in less
than the three minutes you are allowed for repairs.
I had to do that once.
Also, it may be that Helix is the brand-name of the darts
that use PowerPoint technology. Too bad I can't check it now...
| If we had an index file, we could |"In fact, except for protecting |
| look it up in the index file under | individual rights, no valid |
| "Index File". | reason for government exists." |
| -- Tegan in "Castrovalva" | ... Dr. Frank Wallace |
|----------------------------------------------------------------------|
| Bill Garland = b...@kean.ucs.mun.ca | Commercial: Send me your money.|
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| Wayne Newberry replied to b... on 13 Apr 1993 |
Hi folks,
Helix darts are not spring loaded. They operate on the same basic
principle as HammerHeads and PowerPoints except they have one diff-
erence. HammerHead and PowerPoint points move straight back into
the barrel on contact. The Helix point is mounted in a sleeve which
in turn is screwed into the barrel. The sleeve has a spiral/helical
slot in it, and a small "nub" at the very base of the point forces
it to slide along this slot.
The result is that as the point starts to enter the board, it is
forced to spin, relative to the barrel. Since the weight of the
barrel is higher than the point, it is likely that the point spins
the most.
If the point spins, then in theory, it will spin off a wire in the split
second before it bottoms out, and will be driven into a scoring area
of the board.
My experience after using regular darts, HammerHeads, and Helix darts
over the years is that the Helix work best for reducing bounce-outs.
It really takes a "dead on" hit on a wire. They still happen though.
Maybe some day I'll be good enough to never hit a wire (Hah!).
Wayne
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| Thomas Taylor replied to smatko... on 13 Apr 93 |
There is an Electronic, steel tip board. It is made in England. Phil Taylor Sponsors it. Not only does it score, but it can play against you, at any level from beginner to Embassy final play. Sorry to tease, but I can't remember the name. It is usually advertised in Darts World magazine.
Manual scoring is part of the game. Knowing what you have shot, and what you have left, without having to stop and think is extremely important to your game rythm, and we all know how important that is. I have beaten several oponents because they had a two dart finish and knew the out when they got to the line, but after the first dart missed it's mark, they had no idea how to recover to finish. The door is left open, and I walk thru and close it.
Yes, you are allowed to ask the score keeper what you have shot, and what you have left, but he cannot tell you how to get it, and if you stop to ask, there goes the rythm....
stepping down now....
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