Protecting your wall when playing darts: surround, backboard or both?
One fun darts evening and you easily count ten misses next to the board. Without protection that means: holes in the wall. Here is how to prevent that, neatly and for good.
What a miss does to your wall
A steel dart point pierces wallpaper, plaster and plasterboard effortlessly. The holes cluster right beside and below the board, where most misses land. In a house you own that is a shame, in a rental it literally costs you your deposit.
Option 1: the surround ring
A surround is a ring of sturdy PU rubber that you click around the board, without tools. It catches every dart that lands just beside the board, and those are by far the most misses. Added bonus: your dart corner instantly looks professionally finished and your dart points stay intact.
Option 2: a backboard
A backboard is a larger panel (for example cork or wood) behind the board. It protects a larger wall area and also dampens the sound toward the wall. The trade-off is that it is more work to fit and more prominent in your interior.
What we would do
- Standard setup: a surround ring, sorted in a minute and almost always enough
- Delicate plaster, beginner throwers or a narrow hallway: surround plus backboard
- Rental: protect it no matter what, your deposit will thank you
Frequently asked questions
Does a surround ring fit around any dartboard?
Around any board in the standard match size of 45.1 cm, so also around boards from other brands. You click the ring around it without tools.
Does a surround also protect my darts?
Yes. A dart that lands in PU rubber keeps a sharp point, while a hit on stone or plaster makes the point blunt or bent.
What do I do about holes that are already there?
Just fill with wall filler, paint over, and from then on the surround catches everything. Nobody will notice.
