Punching a hole in your dart flight may sound counter-productive if you are new to the game. However, a perfectly placed hole in your dart flight will allow you to place a small ring inside them to grip your dart shaft in a way that they will almost never come off. No more picking up loose flights off the floor.
There are quite a few flight punches on the market which can make it a tough decision on choosing one that is high quality and reliable. Choosing one that punches a perfectly positioned hole in your dart flight is the most important aspect to consider when choosing a flight punch.
In our comprehensive guide to the best dart flight punches, we’ll show you the best flight punches on the market and give you some advice when it comes time to choose. Let’s get started.
IN A HURRY? HERE’S OUR TOP PICKS…
| Name | Our Rating | Price |
|---|---|---|
Top Pick: L-Style Shell Lock Flight Punch | 4.5/5 | Click for Price |
| Viper Flight Punch | 4/5 | Click for Price |
| Red Dragon Darts Flight Punch | 4/5 | Click for Price |
1- Viper Flight Punch
The first flight punch we are looking at is by Viper. A well known brand to dart enthusiasts all over the world. The first thing we notice is its slick heavy duty steel design with the awesome Viper logo branded on the top of the handle.
When inserting your flight, there is a specially designed slot to mount your flight in the perfect position for a precision punch. You will never have a crooked hole as long as your flight is properly inserted into the punch.
Once the hole is punched, you just need to insert a stem ring and install your flight as you would like normal. It’s also very lightweight and portable which makes it easy to store in a dart bag.
What we like
- Precision slot for the perfect punch
- Great price
- Made of a heavy duty steel
What we don’t like
- Sometimes gets stuck when punching
Check Price and Reviews on Amazon
2- Red Dragon Darts Flight Punch
The Red Dragon Darts Flight Punch is another great flight punch to take into consideration. It looks and feels very similar to the Viper Flight Punch tool. It’s made out of a durable metal with the Red Dragon logo branded on the handle
The slot in the punch fits one flight at a time and aligns it perfectly for a precision punch. The punch dimensions are 6mm x 2mm for use with a nylon ring. It’s fairly small and lightweight which makes it perfect for carrying in a dart bag.
What we like
- Well priced
- Very sturdy and durable
- Portable
- Precision punch slot for flights
What we don’t like
- Can sometimes stick when punching
Check Price and Reviews on Amazon
3- ToBeIT Flight Hole Punch
The ToBeIT Flight Hole Punch is good if you are looking for a complete bundle. It comes with a flight punch, flights, and rings. The very first thing we noticed is that it looks very similar to the Viper and Red Dragon punches, but doesn’t necessarily perform as well.
The build quality definitely isn’t as good as the other brands based on many of the users having problems with the punch only after a few weeks after purchase. It feels cheap, flimsy, and not as durable.
What we like
- Good price
- Comes with flights and rings
- Precision punch slot for flights
What we don’t like
- Doesn’t last as long as other brands
- Low quality craftsmanship
Check Price and Reviews on Amazon
4- L-Style Shell Lock Flight Punch
The L-Style Shell Lock Flight Punch is our top pick. If you’re looking for a high quality, and highly innovative brand, then L-Style is your best bet. L-Style has been innovating products in the darts scene for years.
The first thing you may notice is the extremely shininess. This punch is made out of a heavy duty steel and is as durable as it gets. It feels solid while holding and has a good weight to it.
There is a small v-shaped slot to insert you dart flight. Make sure the edges of your flight are against the guide and you are completely straight because there is only a guide and not an actually fitted slot for a flight.
The L-Style punch also comes with its own type of rings called shell locks. These are what make this punch superior to the rest. These tiny shell locks are inserted into the slots of your flights. Once you push your flights into your stem, good luck getting them off. It’s that tight.
Make sure to use the correct dart shafts otherwise the flights may not go on straight.
Here’s a helpful video review of the L-Style punch in action:
What we like
- High quality steel
- Keeps flights locked to your dart stems
- Unique shell lock design
- Comes with shell locks
What we don’t like
- Pricey
- Need to use certain stems for best results
Check Price and Reviews on Amazon
5- Dynasty Portable Flight Punch
This is the version 2 model of the Dynasty Portable Flight Punch. The head of the punch has been reinforced for increased durability compared to the previous model. This punch is made out of a durable metal and comes with a key chain attachment. The coolest feature is how small and portable this punch is.
The opening where you insert the flight is also a little larger than most other punches to allow for larger sized flights. The punched slot measures 5mm x 2mm which is just a tiny bit smaller than other brands. It is still able to fit normal shaft rings with no problem.
Overall, this is another great flight punch and is perfect if you are looking for something very small and compact.
What we like
- Very small and portable
- Low Price
- High quality and durable
What we don’t like
- No precision flight slot
Check Price and Reviews on Amazon
What to Look for in a Dart Flight Punch
To find the best dart flight punch for your needs, consider the following major aspects before finalizing a purchase.
Quality/Features
The quality of the punch is another thing you need to look at. A high quality punch is usually made of a heavy duty steel for added durability.
Another thing to look at is if there is a designated slot for your flight. Some punches do not have a predetermined slot which means you can possibly punch the slot crooked if not careful.
Shaft-Grip Ring
A shaft-grip ring will need to be placed into the slot or hole of your dart flights. Some brands like L-Style already come with these grip rings which are specifically made for their hole punch.
Best Dart Flight Punch Brands
L-Style
The name L-Style came from their love of darts and how it can convey love and peace to the world. A portion of their earnings are donated to PDJ, JSFD, and many other darts associations, and people in need of help.
L-Style is a high quality brand that has innovated the darts industry with Japanese technology. They excel in dart accessories like flights, dart shafts, cases, points, and more.
Jinta Serizawa is L-Style’s CEO and Designer. He firmly believes in putting their utmost efforts into developing products that excel in both functionality and style.
They are always striving to create the best and most innovative darts accessories on the market. If it isn’t unbreakable, then it can be improved upon.
GLD
GLD, who are well known for their brand Viper, started in a south Milwaukee Tavern. Great Lakes Dart manufacturing has grown to become one of the biggest brands in the history of darts.
They specialize in darts, billiards, and gaming tables. They have been changing the game for over 30 years and have definitely carved themselves a path in the darting community.
Red Dragon Darts
Red Dragon Darts was founded in the 1970’s by two highly skilled automotive engineers that fell in love with the game of darts while working as senior product engineers.
These engineers had researched every aspect of the tungsten market and decided to start a tungsten darts business like no other on the planet.
About 40 years later, Red Dragon boasts about its own purpose built darts facility that produces tungsten darts with high levels of machining and production.
Red dragon still embodies this pioneer belief by carrying on the founder’s passion and commitment of manufacturing the greatest products possible. They deliver directly to over 100 countries, and since founding, have made millions of dart sets.
Dynasty
Dynasty was established on July 17, 2009 by Norihiro Mifune. Their main headquarters is in Tokyo, Japan. They specialize in dart and dart accessories alike. Their products range from darts, dartboards, dart cases, and much more.
FAQs
How Does a Dart Flight Punch Work?
The flight punch has a slot for you to insert your flight. This slot aligns the flight perfectly and keeps it in place for you to punch a precision slot. Once your flight is placed into the punch, simply apply pressure to the punch to create the slot.
Once the hole is created, you will then insert a ring into the newly created hole in your flight. Next, slide your flight onto the dart shaft. The added ring will grip the shaft much tighter than if you were to just place the flight on a dart shaft without one.
This results in a dart flight that will stay attached to your dart whether they are hit from other oncoming darts, or from bouncing on the floor from a bounce out or bad throw.
Final Thoughts
The top pick is the L-Style Shell Lock Flight Punch. Although it is the most expensive punch, it is created by one of the most innovative brands in the industry and the leader in dart technology. It’s design and quality are unique and is unmatched by any other flight punch. It also comes with their specially designed shell locks for you to insert after the holes are punched in your flights.
The runner up is the Viper Flight Punch. It is another high quality, well known brand that does what you need it to do. Its made of a heavy duty steel and has a slot to place your flight for the perfect punch every time.
Whichever dart flight punch you choose for your dart flights, we hope this guide has been helpful in your purchasing decision. Thanks for reading!