Few individuals consider the amount of care and repair required while owning a dartboard unless they are serious dart enthusiasts. Most people hang it on the wall and leave it there after purchasing one. However, this is not at all encouraged.
Rotating your board is one of these minor but critical maintenance tasks. But how often should a dartboard be rotated? To get the most life out of your dartboard, several manufacturers recommend turning it every two to three days. Although this is a good rule of thumb, numerous factors influence when and how frequently you should rotate your dartboard.
Dart board maintenance is essential if you have one in your basement, garage, or bar or pub. Many things must be done to keep it lovely and in great functioning order. It is neither time-consuming or difficult, but it is frequently overlooked, resulting in the need to replace a dartboard prematurely.
Rotation Frequency
In addition to keeping it in a cool, dry place free of heat and humidity, rotating your dartboard on a regular basis is critical. It will be determined by where it is kept and how much you work the board.
Regardless of how frequently it is used or how many people use it, you should rotate it at least once every week. If you are a frequent player, you should absolutely prevent damage by rotating on a near regular basis.
Many manufacturers recommend turning your dartboard every two to three days. Others advise waiting two to three hours if it has been used continuously for any length of time. If you play or practice frequently, some experts and solid hobbyists recommend rotating it everyday.
It is crucial to note, however, that newer dartboards will require more frequent rotation until the 12 and 20 sections have seen significant play and attrition. After that, you can gradually reduce the frequency. However, you will still need to rotate the board on a regular basis.
Why Do You Rotate Your Dartboard?
Rotating your dartboard on a regular basis is one of the most important things you can do to maintain the board looking good and running properly for as long as possible. Dartboards consisting of cork or fiber will be used more frequently.
The purpose of rotating a dartboard is to prevent misuse in certain regions. Some portions of the dartboard, such as the 12 and 20, will sustain greater damage than others over time. Rotating helps to mitigate this. Other areas will be more heavily used than others, and constant rotation will equal out accumulated wear and tear.
Unfortunately, this has no impact on the center, which is where a dart is most likely to hit the bullseye.Apart from repainting, the only thing you can do is keep it clean. However, if you have a weathered bullseye, it is a testimonial to your dart wizardry; congratulations!
How to rotate a Dartboard
Dartboards are available in a variety of shapes and sizes. Electronic dartboards are generally constructed of plastic, whereas competitive dartboards, such as this one from Winmau, are made of bristle.
Some dartboards cannot be turned at all, thus they must be touched up or replaced entirely.
Dartboards made of cork and bristle
A "number ring" is a metal ring bearing numbers that is found on many cork and bristle boards. Remove this number ring before moving the board.
When you do this, make sure you only spin it a few segments/sections clockwise. You can go counterclockwise, but you must be constant in your movement. Don't go clockwise one day, then counterclockwise the next.
Dartboards made of wood, paper, and plastic
Rotation is not required for wood, paper, or plastic dartboards. If your dartboard is made of any of these materials and the surface begins to wear, there isn't much you can do.
If the board is made of paper, you can repaint it or use your finger. Rub the surface back and forth gently until the holes blend together. This won't always work, but it's worth a shot.
Any visible damage to wood or plastic may necessitate a complete replacement. Plastic board holes will swell with repeated use, making it difficult for darts to penetrate the surface. The wood will become riddled with holes, rendering the board unplayable.
Final Thoughts
Rotating your dartboard comes down to how frequently you use it and where you use it the most. When compared to the rest of the dartboard, the 20 bed may receive the most wear for a professional. A novice, on the other hand, may have wear all over the board rather than just in one area.
As you can see, rotating frequently is always a good idea. However, not rotating enough might be an issue, causing uneven damage to the board. Not rotating it enough can also reduce its longevity and force you to replace your dartboard more regularly.
There are several aspects to effective dartboard maintenance, but the most critical component in determining how much use you will get out of your board is ensuring that it wears evenly.