I have not played with unicorn darts since 2017 “Gary Anderson Silver Star “ or something like that. I had no particular issues with their darts, I have always liked trying different styles and manufacturers and have found that I am finding the Winmau line more to my liking. (Although I also have a set of Designa darts that I use frequently as well “ That being said I haven’t used the unicorn boards in ages, gave them up long before the conversation started regarding bounce outs. I have been using the Winmau Blade series for several years now, but I have to say I also really like the Target Aspar board.
i just bought a new set of Unicorn darts yesterday, because i like the types of grip they use to make the fingers sit still as i aim, which is my number 1 priority when choosing darts Target however make darts with great balance and they are easier to predict the trajectory of, so i see the appeal of them for most people
I still play with them Unicorn power darts. Bought them in the mid nineties and they are still grippy as anything. My brother in law bought me a Unicorn eclipse 2 board and the jury is still out on that.
I read that same tweet which prompted this video and was in huge shock! I only started playing Darts in August 2022 and have always used Target Darts. I remember the infamous 3-Dart fallout for Gary Anderson in the 2015 World Final and a CZcams comment I saw at the time said that the boards used in the BDO were much better, they of course were Winmau boards. I have a Unicorn board and annoying my Darts tend to stick in the board and are a pain to retrieve, but at the club I play my tournaments at, they have Winmau boards and my Darts go in nicely but are much easier to retrieve.
I bought a Unicorn Eclipse Pro board here in NZ back in 2008. It lasted forever. The black inks were deep in the sisal, and it healed well. Then they must've moved their manufacturing elsewhere as when I acquired a unicorn Eclipse HD board it fell to bits. The Eclipse HD2 Board I then bought wasn't much better and those plastic numbers were atrocious. I will say the Phase 5 Rosso Phil Taylors I have are my favourite. I think the Sliksticks are pretty cool how they sideload the flights.
Every Q-school dreamer, Greenland open quarter-finalist and guy that once won a Butlins tournament in the 80s now seem to have a branded set of darts on sale at 70 quid (that they don't play with). The irony is if it's a cool looking set of darts, it could easily outsell those of a top 8 player.
Unicorn had taken the former success as godgiven for years. They didn't want to see the signs of a changing market and that's why they have these problems now.
Gutted to see my favorite manufacturer tumbling down the order. At least there is some hope left after Callan Rydz won Players Championship 19 recently.
Great video! I love collecting darts and throwing them and Unicorn still make well balanced darts- but I think their decline is multifaceted. For me it started 10 years ago or so when they outsourced the manufacturing of their products to China etc and reviewers started to notice that their match weighting was way out compared with say Target. Along with the alleged issues with their boards these problems seemed to have been detrimental to the reputation of their players darts. Combine this with Targets investment and other brands like Red Dragon/ Winmau stepping up their game and Unicorn were only heading one way.
Bang on. I played with Unicorn darts back in the 70's and they were top draw. Moving manufacturing to China was not a good business move at that time. Today the range just don't have the appeal other manufactures have.
I left unicorn when using RVB phase 5 two tones, the grip and colour lasted 8 weeks on first set and 10 weeks on second set. After that I vowed never to use them again. Bought target phase 3 taykor and they are still perfect so the proof is in the pudding.
I had a Unicorn Eclipse HD2 and it only lasted for 9mon. The spider wire pulled out making too unplayable. Switched over to Winmau Blade6 Triple Core and after 18mon it looks like I’ll get another 18mon. My boards are played daily.
Although they are loosing the huge names if I could have ten sets of darts right now I would love a set of unicorn heritage and a few others from there newest launch so maybe just moving away from player darts
I bought a set of Unicorn "Checkout" 20g tungsten darts in 1988. I still play with them. The whole dart brand this is bull shit. I can buy a set of dart for 50 pounds.... and so can the pros. So why not just buy your darts? No no.... if I could get 3 mill. pounds to play with a spicific brand of 50 pound darts, I would play with a set of Lego darts, if they made some.... this is just matter of how much the dart brands wonna play.... nothing else. They are all just in it for the money.
Exactly....Like ppl think some brand are doing better darts.....In the end its a pice of tungsten machined according to technical drawing......Players just want moneyyy
When I started playing 12 yrs ago, unicorn were the only name around, their down fall has been stunning. I think their downfall was greed, they cut costs and upped prices, it left a gap in the market and they've crumbled since.
I agree the fall of unicorn is multi faceted but I think one of of the biggest issues is their lack of innovation. They were several years behind target when it came to making unique shapes and styles. On top of that, winmau, harrows and red dragon really came up by producing better and more innovative products designed for the amateur player. Unicorn was and still is a straight, ringed barrel manufacturer. As a result they fell behind (that and the shotty boards).
Hmm there is nothing wrong with classic barell designs and that is not Unicorns problem.....Problem is that they were really shit with marketing and their darts were to expensive......well we dont need to talk about their boards.
@@ernestfrigelj2876 I never said there is anything wrong with classic barrel darts, but if all you sell is a "classic barrel" design while competitors are doing everything different, I'd say there is a problem. It's very hard to sell or market darts that have no innovation. I will agree that they over price several models but so do target and cuesoul.
@@acorbin3964 actually I must agree with you..... But IMO thats not the biggest reason is not working on their marketing.....like 5 years ago they had biggest budget they could sign MVG and keep M Smith and it would be different story but yea they are going different direction working on selling quantity to more "casual" players..... Unicorn are becoming Dechatlon of darts
Have played on many boards and for me the Unicorn was the worst. Even before they stopped using them for the PDC. Don't use agressive points. Visually they looked great, but ... I think Unicorn isn't innovating enough. Maybe not listening enough to the dartsplayers (the pro's) perhaps? Really loved playing with the Unicorn grippers I must say.
been saying they’re getting left behind for ages now. a team from darts corner reached out to unicorn to ask if their design team wanted some help. unicorn declined. they seem to be totally unaware that the darts world has changed around them. shame to see a hallmark british brand go by the way side. they’ll be the same as datadart by the end of the decade. flocking darts by retired/deceased players. the ballista did mark a small step in the right direction last year so maybe things might change but two premier league stars dumping you within months of each other is not a great look.
I use Gary Anderson darts I’ve had for five years. Also have his Noir darts but I use the silver as they are literally identical but have no paint and therefore better grip. I don’t think it’s all down to the darts. Their boards were TERRIBLE and that’s what the public sees on screen
Unicorn shouldn’t even exist at this point honestly, almost all their affiliated players switched to target and their boards are garbage, all I can see Unicorn doing at the moment is just making stuff for pub darts honestly, it’s sad to see Unicorn’s big downfall
@@DartsWorldyt I know, honestly it’s sad to see Unicorn going from having all top players being signed to them switching to other sponsors like Target and Shot. Now Unicorn should only be marketing to pub/county/super league and amateur darts nowdays after all the bad things they’re gone through
Not surprised to be honest, Unicorn hasn't pushed any boundaries for new designs in years. Everyone else is trying new flashy finishes and unique grip patterns, and Unicorn is just living in the past, trying to ride on just their name. Hell, even their two biggest names, Wade and Anderson, throw simple twin ring grip patterns. Evolve, or go extinct, I guess
@ray_jay I'm not hating on twin rings, I own multiple sets of them, but everyone makes them. It's not a unique grip pattern to any one company. You can get them for $25-35 a set, why pay $60-120? Just because they're Unicorn? No thanks.
I understand your take about boards but what are darts up to date? Its piece of tungsten machined to different shapes and grips.....or are you one of those new kids that must have flashy colors on your darts
Unicorn just got lazy because they thought they are untouchable. Now they bring out stupid and outdated darts, with high prizes „for the youth“. I only can go with he prizes in germany but 2-4€ for Shafts are just to high and the quality is also bad for that. They just missed the jump to go with the 21st century and got steamroaled by other companies who make better darts for half the prize.
Also look at his career average at Darts Database, you see a major decrease in average when he started playing with his Target darts up until he quit professionally, compared with his Unicorn Phase 5.
Anderson isn't the only big name there... Wade's also still at unicorn
Don't forget John Lowe
@@cactusdan94Doesn‘t he not play anymore?
I have not played with unicorn darts since 2017 “Gary Anderson Silver Star “ or something like that. I had no particular issues with their darts, I have always liked trying different styles and manufacturers and have found that I am finding the Winmau line more to my liking. (Although I also have a set of Designa darts that I use frequently as well “
That being said I haven’t used the unicorn boards in ages, gave them up long before the conversation started regarding bounce outs.
I have been using the Winmau Blade series for several years now, but I have to say I also really like the Target Aspar board.
loved my 21g John Lowes when I was a kid.
i just bought a new set of Unicorn darts yesterday, because i like the types of grip they use to make the fingers sit still as i aim, which is my number 1 priority when choosing darts
Target however make darts with great balance and they are easier to predict the trajectory of, so i see the appeal of them for most people
I still play with them Unicorn power darts. Bought them in the mid nineties and they are still grippy as anything. My brother in law bought me a Unicorn eclipse 2 board and the jury is still out on that.
I read that same tweet which prompted this video and was in huge shock! I only started playing Darts in August 2022 and have always used Target Darts.
I remember the infamous 3-Dart fallout for Gary Anderson in the 2015 World Final and a CZcams comment I saw at the time said that the boards used in the BDO were much better, they of course were Winmau boards.
I have a Unicorn board and annoying my Darts tend to stick in the board and are a pain to retrieve, but at the club I play my tournaments at, they have Winmau boards and my Darts go in nicely but are much easier to retrieve.
M Smith hasn't had consistent darts since changing.
I dont understand why would any1 change darts sponsor while being number 1 in the world......or mybe unicorn didnt want to extend his contract.
i watch all ur videos plz keep making these videos cheers
Will do!
I bought a Unicorn Eclipse Pro board here in NZ back in 2008. It lasted forever. The black inks were deep in the sisal, and it healed well. Then they must've moved their manufacturing elsewhere as when I acquired a unicorn Eclipse HD board it fell to bits. The Eclipse HD2 Board I then bought wasn't much better and those plastic numbers were atrocious.
I will say the Phase 5 Rosso Phil Taylors I have are my favourite. I think the Sliksticks are pretty cool how they sideload the flights.
Every Q-school dreamer, Greenland open quarter-finalist and guy that once won a Butlins tournament in the 80s now seem to have a branded set of darts on sale at 70 quid (that they don't play with). The irony is if it's a cool looking set of darts, it could easily outsell those of a top 8 player.
Unicorn had taken the former success as godgiven for years. They didn't want to see the signs of a changing market and that's why they have these problems now.
Gutted to see my favorite manufacturer tumbling down the order. At least there is some hope left after Callan Rydz won Players Championship 19 recently.
Doing well today too!
Not using his signature set tho
Great video! I love collecting darts and throwing them and Unicorn still make well balanced darts- but I think their decline is multifaceted. For me it started 10 years ago or so when they outsourced the manufacturing of their products to China etc and reviewers started to notice that their match weighting was way out compared with say Target. Along with the alleged issues with their boards these problems seemed to have been detrimental to the reputation of their players darts. Combine this with Targets investment and other brands like Red Dragon/ Winmau stepping up their game and Unicorn were only heading one way.
Bang on. I played with Unicorn darts back in the 70's and they were top draw. Moving manufacturing to China was not a good business move at that time. Today the range just don't have the appeal other manufactures have.
Different era . ..when sid died .....a lot of the original spirit died with him ...........
I left unicorn when using RVB phase 5 two tones, the grip and colour lasted 8 weeks on first set and 10 weeks on second set. After that I vowed never to use them again.
Bought target phase 3 taykor and they are still perfect so the proof is in the pudding.
I had a Unicorn Eclipse HD2 and it only lasted for 9mon. The spider wire pulled out making too unplayable. Switched over to Winmau Blade6 Triple Core and after 18mon it looks like I’ll get another 18mon. My boards are played daily.
i still play the barneveld phase5 darts - best stuff
Intreasting I only used unicorn and harrows back In the 80s. Now there more companies out there than ever
Although they are loosing the huge names if I could have ten sets of darts right now I would love a set of unicorn heritage and a few others from there newest launch so maybe just moving away from player darts
I bought a set of Unicorn "Checkout" 20g tungsten darts in 1988. I still play with them. The whole dart brand this is bull shit. I can buy a set of dart for 50 pounds.... and so can the pros. So why not just buy your darts? No no.... if I could get 3 mill. pounds to play with a spicific brand of 50 pound darts, I would play with a set of Lego darts, if they made some.... this is just matter of how much the dart brands wonna play.... nothing else. They are all just in it for the money.
Exactly....Like ppl think some brand are doing better darts.....In the end its a pice of tungsten machined according to technical drawing......Players just want moneyyy
Those were the days of darts 2003/4. Miss those days
When I started playing 12 yrs ago, unicorn were the only name around, their down fall has been stunning. I think their downfall was greed, they cut costs and upped prices, it left a gap in the market and they've crumbled since.
I've seen unicorn boards in home bargains that how far down they've gone
Personally i prefer my Unicorn eclipse pro to any other board ive played on
They didn’t have any real rival companies back then,as the games grown so has the new dart makers
Innovate or die
Uniboffin was in full effect 15 years ago
Now? Nothing.
It's a real shame unicorn
Was thinking this the other day when dobey signed with target
You can't even beat Crewe, you don't know sport 😂
@@christrickett3291 what was score last night
I agree the fall of unicorn is multi faceted but I think one of of the biggest issues is their lack of innovation. They were several years behind target when it came to making unique shapes and styles. On top of that, winmau, harrows and red dragon really came up by producing better and more innovative products designed for the amateur player. Unicorn was and still is a straight, ringed barrel manufacturer. As a result they fell behind (that and the shotty boards).
Hmm there is nothing wrong with classic barell designs and that is not Unicorns problem.....Problem is that they were really shit with marketing and their darts were to expensive......well we dont need to talk about their boards.
@@ernestfrigelj2876 I never said there is anything wrong with classic barrel darts, but if all you sell is a "classic barrel" design while competitors are doing everything different, I'd say there is a problem. It's very hard to sell or market darts that have no innovation. I will agree that they over price several models but so do target and cuesoul.
@@acorbin3964 actually I must agree with you..... But IMO thats not the biggest reason is not working on their marketing.....like 5 years ago they had biggest budget they could sign MVG and keep M Smith and it would be different story but yea they are going different direction working on selling quantity to more "casual" players..... Unicorn are becoming Dechatlon of darts
Have played on many boards and for me the Unicorn was the worst. Even before they stopped using them for the PDC. Don't use agressive points. Visually they looked great, but ... I think Unicorn isn't innovating enough. Maybe not listening enough to the dartsplayers (the pro's) perhaps? Really loved playing with the Unicorn grippers I must say.
Unicorn boards are like concrete, absolute garbage
been saying they’re getting left behind for ages now. a team from darts corner reached out to unicorn to ask if their design team wanted some help. unicorn declined. they seem to be totally unaware that the darts world has changed around them. shame to see a hallmark british brand go by the way side. they’ll be the same as datadart by the end of the decade. flocking darts by retired/deceased players. the ballista did mark a small step in the right direction last year so maybe things might change but two premier league stars dumping you within months of each other is not a great look.
I use Gary Anderson darts I’ve had for five years. Also have his Noir darts but I use the silver as they are literally identical but have no paint and therefore better grip. I don’t think it’s all down to the darts. Their boards were TERRIBLE and that’s what the public sees on screen
Unicorn by the way is growing . More players . Have signed since . Pleased to say
Ironic about their board. Im only a tavern player and felt their boards were not of great quality.
If the rules are there then they should abide by them and the referee should be doing his job.
Unicorn still sell thier models, but they don't pay for thier sponsorship. I think it's a good business model.
The unicorn brand was no 1 12 years ago and had a virtual monopoly on darts - they're decline has been stunning
Unicorn shouldn’t even exist at this point honestly, almost all their affiliated players switched to target and their boards are garbage, all I can see Unicorn doing at the moment is just making stuff for pub darts honestly, it’s sad to see Unicorn’s big downfall
They have taken a strange path
@@DartsWorldyt I know, honestly it’s sad to see Unicorn going from having all top players being signed to them switching to other sponsors like Target and Shot. Now Unicorn should only be marketing to pub/county/super league and amateur darts nowdays after all the bad things they’re gone through
Lol....Unicorn are all in on earning money....they are brand with most sales..... How many pubs is there around the world and how many PDC events?
James Wade not a big name?
Not surprised to be honest, Unicorn hasn't pushed any boundaries for new designs in years. Everyone else is trying new flashy finishes and unique grip patterns, and Unicorn is just living in the past, trying to ride on just their name. Hell, even their two biggest names, Wade and Anderson, throw simple twin ring grip patterns. Evolve, or go extinct, I guess
I prefer simple twin ring patterns, guess I'll go extinct then.
@ray_jay I'm not hating on twin rings, I own multiple sets of them, but everyone makes them. It's not a unique grip pattern to any one company. You can get them for $25-35 a set, why pay $60-120? Just because they're Unicorn? No thanks.
Unicron just needs to make there boards and darts up to date plzzz we are in the modern era not 1990
I understand your take about boards but what are darts up to date? Its piece of tungsten machined to different shapes and grips.....or are you one of those new kids that must have flashy colors on your darts
winmau board is so much better
It certainly has a much better reputation
I can't hit treble 20 any more often on a Winmau board, so it's not better than any other..........
Unicorn just got lazy because they thought they are untouchable. Now they bring out stupid and outdated darts, with high prizes „for the youth“. I only can go with he prizes in germany but 2-4€ for Shafts are just to high and the quality is also bad for that. They just missed the jump to go with the 21st century and got steamroaled by other companies who make better darts for half the prize.
Unicorn was better for Phil, Phil hasn't played as good since and did it for the money!
The eclipse ultra is still a nicer board to play on than the blade 6 tbh
Madars Razma the GOAT is still a Unicorn player , and i can see madars making some good runs soon as he is provisionally the 32nd seed at the Worlds
By same token its ridiculous how companies are charging 70 and 80 quid for darts now . . . . .youd have to be a mug to pay that ...
Totally agree,not only are they a ridiculous price but they are constantly 'upgrading' to a new generation to further suck in the gullible.
Target are overpriced low quality shite compared to the tungsten quality of Unicorn
Phil Taylor should go back to Unicorn, plays much better with his Unicorn setup.
When was the last time you saw Phil Taylor throw with a Unicorn setup?
@@bdkurnatusmc you don't have to see it to know it.
@dbrouwer2007 what an argument
@@bdkurnatusmc Look at the PDPA site at averages, of the 35 highest averages Phil Taylor had, 26 of them were with Unicorn, 9 with Target.
Also look at his career average at Darts Database, you see a major decrease in average when he started playing with his Target darts up until he quit professionally, compared with his Unicorn Phase 5.