Datadart Marauder 23 gram Steel Tip Darts

Datadart is a dart supplier that was very quiet for a long time.

That has really changed in recent times with their Legend series and now with the recently released styles Datadart are doing what some of the older brands haven’t done for a while, they’re releasing darts that are a little different to normal offerings.

The Datadart Marauders are one such set.

At a glance you could be excused if you compared the Marauders to the Mervyn King darts given the layout of the grip, but that’s where it ends.

Visually there may be a fleeting similarity but, once you really look at what’s on offer there is no comparison. 

The Marauder has a short radius nose and the barrel after the nose is equally divided into five distinct zones.

The first three of these zones are identical and all the zones are separated by a narrow ring that has been green filled.

The first three zones each comprise of a centred fine shark grip section bordered on either side by a narrow, plain ring. The second last zone is the most simple but also the zone that sets the barrels apart from most others. This zone has a scallop that has a plain ring either side, the rear ring being half as wide as it’s counterpart at the front. The final zone punctuated by a double green ring at the front, after which the profile tapers away to the standard shaft diameter.

Looking at the basic specs, the barrels are 50mm long and a tiny 6.5 mm in diameter. The shark grip on each of the first three zones is divided by 6 radial cuts. With the exception of the radial cuts the barrels are covered in a Black Titanium coating, and the rings dividing the grip zones are coloured green.

The packaging the darts are supplied in, is standard across the Datadart range, glossy outer, foam inner with a clear plastic display panel. Inside the packaging, 3 barrels with shafts installed and flights in a separate recess.

Looking at the accessories provided, the shafts are Datadart Signature black shafts they appear to be of the longer variety, and supplied with Datadart Hex flights that are in green and black to follow the theme started on the barrels.

For my grip and action these darts are way too long and after trying 3 or 4 different types of shafts I settled for standard short nylon shafts in line with the nylon shafts supplied with the package, although titanium or plastic shafts work just as well, for the review I used standard shaped flights very successfully.

At the Oche the grip is sensational, for multiple short zones. It’s a very positive grip that borders aggressive. The length of the dart and the position of the scallop give both grip and consistency in the application of fingers to the barrel. I found that the barrels performed best when held lightly and was held in a forward type grip. The darts flew straight and consistently toward whatever they were thrown at. I played through a number of practice drills with positive results, they’re just a touch heavier than I like, some of the top of board drills took a bit longer but, that would change with more practice.

The overall results were pleasing, looks were great and the grip would be about 3.5 out of five. If they came in 22g they’d be next to perfect. Overall I’d rate them at 3.5 out of 5.

If you’re looking for a lean dart with a grippy barrel this is one worth giving a go or at the very least consideration.