Reddit mentions: The best dart backboards

If you can't drill holes in a wall a paper wound board may be your only real option, but those cheap boards will deteriorate very fast. A week of regular play and you will need a new one. You might actually be better off buying a cheap electronic board, those can be pretty light, and they may stay up with a few 3m strips. Then you don't have to worry about the board falling apart, and if you play with soft tips, you won't worry about missing and putting a hole in the wall that you weren't allowed to put a hole in.

If you are allowed to drill a hole, the most cost effective way to play steel tip darts is to get a board like this that will last 100 times longer (that isn't even an exaggeration) than a paper wound board but only cost about twice as much.

I use soft tips in my bristle boards quite often. Keypoint tips work the best for me.

I don't know how well soft tips stick into drywall but I am certain that they are more likely to glance off than a steel tip. I would put up a back up board anyway. A cork lined backer will catch a lot of misses, which reduces the number of wild ricochets that find their way to vases and lamps.

There are ways to hang one securely that do not require bolting to the wall. I use a French cleat on my backer board and I can slip it off and out of the way any time I want (I can even hang a painting in it's place and no one knows I use my dartboard there). I have an edge glued pine board but for reduced weight (and better cost) pick up a 1/2" or 3/8" MDF board, and spread wood glue for affixing the cork.

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No cabinet for me! I'm currently using a backboard, similar to this: https://www.amazon.com/Viper-Framed-Dartboard-Backboard-Mahogany/dp/B002LF8TPU/ref=sr_1_4?s=leisure-sports-games&ie=UTF8&qid=1523773261&sr=1-4&keywords=dartboards. It took me more tries than I want to admit to to get it right, but it's fine. What I'll do next is get a 4 X 8 ft piece of fiberboard, mount my new board (I have a new One80 Gladiator II waiting), and build a raised oche that's mounted to the fiberboard with hinges, and make my own surround with foam from a local store. Sounds like a lot of work, but it is easier than you'd think.

I have to say, that was not what i was expecting for wall protection. Very cool tho.

I was assuming you were wanting to protect from thrown darts. If you need that, then this works pretty well.

http://www.amazon.com/Dart-World-47601-Wall-Protector/dp/B004VKZZ82

I think you're trying to find this: https://www.amazon.com/Trademark-Global-Game-Dartboard-Darts/dp/B000OQDLJC/ref=sr_1_10?ie=UTF8&qid=1505922571&sr=8-10&keywords=dartboard

How is this for a foam surround?

https://www.amazon.com/Viper-Framed-Dartboard-Backboard-Mahogany/dp/B002LF8TPU/ref=sr_1_1?s=sporting-goods&ie=UTF8&qid=1466619416&sr=1-1&keywords=framed+dart

Also how do I determine whether to get soft tip or metal tip? Is it just by preference?

You can cover the plywood with cork or felt, or padding and cloth... be creative - if you drink lots of wine then you already have the cork. :)

I purchased one of these - yeah it was $50 and I could have made one cheaper, but for me it was worth it to just buy the damn thing and forget about it.

You just need a bigger surround. This may be big enough.

All I can find is stuff referring to it that specific one as "Target Bulls-eye". Another similar board was called a "Finnish dartboard". Can't find any rules.

http://www.amazon.com/TG-Dart-Game-Darts-Board/dp/B0055B2MQO

Cork Dart Board Backer 36" x 24" x 1" https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00CRGW5Y4/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_ueuLDbWS06XA1

If you commonly miss low, I would recommend this...not all that much more than the insulation you were looking at.

Extended Foam Surround