A man known for his love of experimentation, Peter Wright has, for years, entertained and at times frustrated fans with his eagerness to try the latest prototype darts developed by his long-term sponsor, Red Dragon.
Spirit debuted in the 2022 PDC Grand Slam and promptly seemed to retire upon the tournament’s conclusion, I feel ‘Snakebite’ never quite gave these darts the chance they deserved.
Specifications and Impressions:
- Steel Tip – 21g (Used in this Review)
- Length: 54.60mm
- Width: 6.38mm
- Tungsten Percentage: N/A – Premium Tungsten Alloy
- Points: 32mm Black
- Stems: Red Dragon ‘Snakebite’ Nitrotech Medium
- Flights: Red Dragon Peter Wright Extra-Thick Standard
- Price: £79.90
While a relatively long barrel at over 54mm, the darts feature a full length grip, with a small smooth silver section in the centre to allow for Red Dragon and ‘Snakebite’ branding. The grip itself is a multiple ring grip, featuring longitudinal cuts to enhance the aggression felt while throwing. The grip reminds me of a shark-tooth cut, similar to the feel of Target Darts’ patented ‘Pixel Grip’. The positioning of the longitudinal cuts creates a hexagonal feel, comparable to holding a pencil. The groves have been painted to create a truly unique look, with red and purple paint towards the rear of the dart, and purple and blue towards the point.
Breaking the mold a little from previous releases in the ‘Snakebite’ range, the barrels feel rather thick in the hand. While perhaps not typical in Peter’s darts, it could suggest a struggle in controlling the dart, and a desire for greater ‘feel’ when throwing.
This greatly increases the appeal of Peter’s darts to the average player such as myself – I own 9 sets of Peter Wright branded darts, and these are the set I feel most comfortable throwing.
The darts are very well balanced, and will suit most styles of throw. The full length grip allows them to be near-universally used by players favouring a straight barrel dart.
Debbie Downer:
My only fault with the darts is the coating, which may wear over time around the taper, reducing the visual appeal of the barrels. A collared point, however, will help to increase the longevity of the barrels, as well as the flights you use.
Joe’s Thoughts:
I feel these are the best addition to the Peter Wright range in a very long time. Usually with player branded darts you can see a resemblance to other players’ barrels – with these, they are truly unique to Peter. Perhaps, however, that was why the darts never seemed to click, as they were just too new and unfamiliar.
In the world of professional darts, especially towards the end of the year, little time can be devoted to allowing yourself to get used to new equipment, what with major events on the horizon, and crucial ranking money on offer.
If Wright had tried these earlier in 2022 after the World Championships – perhaps an extended run with the in the Premier League, who knows what might have happened. I believe these darts were as close to ‘The Ones’ since the introduction of the Euro 11 Elements, but were introduced too late in the year for ‘Snakebite’ to give them a proper run-out.
Your Feedback:
Do you agree? Let us know on social media @Darts_World or @JoeReid180 what you think of them and what you would like to see next.
—–ENDS—–
Original piece published in darts World Magazine Issue 583
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