UK Darts Issue 17 - August 2014 | Page 34

Why We Should All Try Softip Soft-tip darts has long thought of by fans and players in the UK as a sport played only in Asia, America and on the continent, but with the recent success of top British players like Stephen Bunting in the Dartslive THE WORLD tournament more and more people in the UK are becoming aware of the sport. Dartslive installed their first UK machines at the Slug and Lettuce in Leicester Square, London last year and have followed up by opening in seven further locations through the first half of 2014. Now, I have to admit that I have fallen into the trap of saying ‘it’s not proper darts’ on more than one occasion when talking to fellow players about soft-tip, but the more I have seen the more I realise that I was wrong. Watching the British players compete quickly made me realise that, not only is the sport of soft-tip darts to be taken very seriously, but that it has a lot to offer for the amateur, part-time player who is just after a bit of fun. With this new opinion firmly established in my mind I was recently presented the opportunity to have a go on a Dartslive machine myself at the Target Darts launch in Harlow and I have a confession to make. I’m addicted!!! Of course playing against Stephen Bunting, Dave Chisnall and Scott MacKenzie, who for anyone who doesn’t know is a top soft-tip player from Hong Kong, might have made the experience more enjoyable than it would have otherwise been, it was none the less great fun. It takes a while to adjust to scoring on bullseye, the whole segment is worth 50 points and it’s twice the size of the bull on a traditional steel tip board, but once I got used to the game there was no stopping me, I would have played all day! I was somewhat disappointed then to learn that one of the new venues which has Dartslive machines is actually 50 yards from where I used to live in Leeds and which is now a 2 hour drive away. I’m not going to let geography stand in my way though and I am already arranging a trip over to Leeds with some friends to initiate them into the world of soft-tip and if I was you I would be heading over there too! For a full list of Dartslive locations in the UK and abroad head over to http://search.uk.dartslive.com/