In darts, hitting the target on the board is just as important as protecting the wall behind it, especially when you’re playing at home. Because not only would those holes in the wall give away the number of errant shots you’ve made, they simply are an unforgiving sight to see. And apart from ruining your wall, errant shots can also cause damages to your floor when darts fall on it and may even hurt someone when darts bounce off the board or the wall. So to protect your walls and floors from damages, and for your own peace of mind and, most importantly, for the safety of the people around you, it’s best to get a backboard for your dartboard.
Whether you’re an expert, a hobbyist, or a newbie in playing darts, there’ll be times your shots won’t land on the board but outside it. And just as you can never be too sure about where your shots would land, you also can’t be too protective of your wall, your floor, and the people around you when you have a dartboard at home. Notice the dartboards in most pubs and bars. They’re mounted on backboards, which serve as a functional shield covering the wall behind it. When a dart misses the dartboard and hits the backboard, the dart sticks to the backboard so it doesn’t hit the wall, fall on the floor or bounce off to something or someone near the board. Thus, having a backboard surrounding your dartboard will allow you to focus more on your target and keep your mind off the dangers everytime you’re playing darts.
Getting a backboard for your dartboard is also highly recommended if you plan to mount your dartboard on a wall made of concrete or stone as darts are likely to bounce back off when they hit these materials. If you don’t care much about aesthetics, you can simply use a scrap plywood that’s large enough to serve as a backboard. But if you want something that’s not only functional but would also look good on your wall, then you may consider buying beautifully framed and finished dart backboards such as the Viper’s mahogany-finished backboard or the Viper Defender II with a nice velvet surface. Commercial backboards are available in varying shapes and sizes. Most of them are made of wood and there are some that feature composite boards with felt covers in different colors. There are also themed and nicely framed backboards, and some come with chalk scoreboards.
If you’re not keen on mounting a backboard directly to your wall, you may consider a getting a dartboard surround instead. They’re generally lighweight, made with thick foam and are mostly used for tournaments. Keep in mind though that even with a dart backboard or surround, bounce-outs can still happen so it would also be good to have a floor mat, which you can use to protect your floor from darts bouncing and falling off the board.