It had seemed like, in recent years, Dutch darts had been on somewhat of a decline. Three-time PDC World Champion Michael van Gerwen struggled for top form, and the likes of Noppert and van Duijvenbode, despite finding some success, have failed to step up to the elite echelons. Things are suddenly changing:
- Product: Gian Van Veen Signature Darts
- Brand: Red Dragon
- Variation: Tour Edition, 22g (Steel Tip)
- Material: Tungsten (90%) with Diamon Fusion/Element Grip
- Price: £74.90
Even Jermaine Wattimena, who had enjoyed a stellar run of form going into 2025, has never seemed consistent enough to carry the Netherlands’ banner
With the second biggest name in Dutch darts, Raymond van Barneveld, seemingly fading into the background, a new name was needed to step alongside MVG, in an effort to carry forward the sport in their home country, and reclaim their stake as the dominant force in darts.
There was, however, a newer generation bubbling up and perhaps it will be this group who write the next chapter.
Gian van Veen seems to have taken the opportunity with both hands, and after standing alongside Danny Noppert earlier this year, in a new look pairing for the PDC World Cup of Darts, he then soundly defeated his ‘captain’ during a fine run at the recent World Matchplay!
The weapons of choice for the reigning PDC World Youth Champion are the 2025 release: Red Dragon Gian van Veen Tour Edition.
Introduction:
No longer is the element grip synonymous with Peter Wright – now it’s Gian who flies the flag for a unique, somewhat underutilised style of grip.
‘Unique’ may just prove the key word with most of what van Veen does and uses. A throwing action like none other, the Tour Edition barrels have been meticulously crafted to the exact specifications required by ‘The Giant’, with a balance point set in place with his unique setup in mind.
First Impressions:
On the surface, Gian uses what would appear to be a relatively simple style of dart. A singular ring at the rear with two black painted grooves, and then a simple ring grip towards the front and centre of the barrel. It’s here, however, that the simplicity starts to fade away.
The front and central ring grip features, as I mentioned previously, an element grip (or to give it it’s correct name – diamond fusion grip), coated both in the grooves, as well as on top of the rings themselves. This provides Gian with a comfortable, yet aggressive grip, helping him remain confident in his equipment and throw in the intense heat of the stage.
While perhaps not the longest lasting grip, in its original appearance, with proper maintenance and care, the barrels retain their grip over an extended period of time. Indeed, many prefer the slightly worn in version.
While for Gian, it’s not a concern of his, it may be worth weighing up the grip against the longevity of the barrel when deciding whether to opt for the Tour Edition barrels, or one of the other designs in the ever-expanding GVV range.
Specifications:
One thing I found quite surprising about these darts, having owned and used the original Red Dragon Gian van Veen darts, was the overall width of the barrel. The 22g version I tested had a total width of 6.5mm, which is unusual nowadays for a player branded dart.
While a shock, I found it a logical decision – Gian’s darts lie flat in the board upon entry, and so, much like Phil Taylor, Gian can use the first two darts as markers, to guide the third dart into the treble bed. The thicker barrel offers a greater surface area, and thus a larger point of contact when in the board.
Unlike the rest of the GVV range, the Tour Edition (steel-tip) is available exclusively in Gian’s match weight of 22g, as well as also being produced in soft-tip, with the latter weighing in at 18g. Both the steel-tip and soft-tip are 48.26mm in length, and are both 90% tungsten. The 6.5mm width of the steel-tip remains consistent across the soft-tip version.
In The Box:
The darts arrive with a set of Red Dragon Gian van Veen Extra-Thick Standard flights, as well as a set of short, black, Red Dragon Nitrotech stems. The barrels are either fitted with a standard 32mm silver point, or Red Dragon Triton soft-tip point, depending on the version you purchase.
For personalisation and finding the perfect weight / model for you you can’t beat the hand on retail experience. Our friends at Pinnacle Darts will be please to help!
Price and Value:
Direct from the Red Dragon website, the darts will set you back £74.90, earning you 74 rewards points. In addition to this, if you’ve not already, you’ll be able to sign up to the Red Dragon Newsletter to save 10% off your next order, saving nearly £8!
These are a premium darts toward the upper end of the range for similar darts. However it should be noted that the diamond grip is always such and is complex and costly piece of advanced manufacturing. They are clearly very high quality and well as technically advanced and so the price tag is good value.
A huge thank you to Red Dragon and Darts World for sending these fantastic darts out to review! Let us know your thoughts at @Darts_World over on X (Twitter)!
——ENDS——
Words and photos: Joe Reid
Graphics: Red Dragon
Supported by Pinnacle Darts: Yorkshires Premier Dart Shop 🎯 – 11 Wellgate, Ossett, WF5 8NS, Wakefield. Contact On Whatsapp 📲07368 129056
