“Heavy Metal” Ryan Searle and his signature barrels are here! We have spent a long time working with Ryan on perfecting the grip and balance of his world famous darts and are happy to announce they are ready and for sale now!
As Ryan’s nickname suggests, his playing darts come in at a mighty 32g but we also have been working with Ryan on a lighter alternative for those that like the unique Searle style but in a reduced weight. As such we will be bringing out a 26g version which stays true to the original.
Barrels = 90% Tungsten
Supplied with 100 Micron Flights
Dimensions:
32g – Length 51mm – Max Width 8mm
29g – Length 50.8mm – Max Width 7.9mm
26g – Length 51mm – Max Width 7.16mm
24g – Length 50.9mm – Max Width 7.08mm
23g – Length 50.9mm – Max Width 6.75mm
22g – Length 50.9mm – Max Width 6.7mm
Point Length = 32mm (26mm protruding)
Darts designed by Ryan Searle together with Matthew Birch & Zachary Thornton.
Darts Review Channel Review:
Media:
Darts Review by Joe Reid
A review I’ve waited so long to write – introducing… the Loxley Ryan Searle 32g! A player I’ve followed for a few months on behalf of Loxley, I’ve come to learn a lot about Ryan’s unique style, as well as analysing the equipment he’s using. On that note, my review of Ryan’s Loxley shirts was published a few months ago.
Ryan’s new darts, designed by Loxley’s own Ryan Searle together with Matt Birch and Zachary Thornton, are certainly unique when compared to the darts used by the other 127 players on the professional circuit. Weighing in at 32g, Ryan’s darts truly live up to his ‘Heavy Metal’ nickname, providing a literal interpretation to an otherwise rock-music themed persona.
The darts come in a staggering 32g, yet will release in lesser weights in 2021, starting with 26g. The 32g measures at 51mm in length, with a barrel thickness of 8mmat their widest point. In contrast, the lighter 26g version will also measure in at 51mm, yet will be slightly thinner, at 7.16mm in diameter. They come supplied with a 32mm plain silver point, which compliments the striking silver barrel very well. The barrels are made from a 90% tungsten billet, in order to maximise the weight, while keeping the dart relatively thin.
Arriving in a simplistic, yet stylish plastic outer casing, the darts are secured in a matte black bar case. Already equipped are a set of short black Loxley nylon stems, reminiscent of the L-Style carbon stems that Ryan himself uses. Inside the case is a set of the new Loxley Ryan Searle dart flights, as well as a point protector in order to secure the darts in transport.
One of the first things I had to do with these darts was repoint them. After a few throws, I found the 32mm points (26mm of which protruded from the barrel) were being buried in the board, making close knit grouping near impossible for me – an issue I had a few months ago, when I reviewed the Loxley Nasir 22g darts. I swapped out the points for the 38mm Target Diamond Grip points that Ryan himself uses, in order to help the darts stand further out from the board, as well as grip the fibres better, resulting in less fall/bounce outs.
With no rings or springs supplied with the stems, they became susceptible to damage very early on, with the thicker, heavier barrel clattering into the weaker nylon stems. The same can be said for the flights, with the durable 100 micron Ryan Searle flights struggling to survive the onslaught of tungsten. While taking some damage, overall I was impressed why the durability of both the flights and stems. After a couple hours, I felt a change of setup was needed – I purchased some black stems and plain white L-Style flights, to replicate the setup Ryan uses (though now using his new L-Style flights), and set about compiling the remainder of my review.
The rear grip is a simple ring grip, with red and black painted groves. Similar to the grip on the Loxley Scarlet darts, the grip drew strong comparisons to the darts used by the late Eric Bristow. This can be used as a focus point for rear-grippers, who look to find a specific, recognisable feel along the barrel to ensure consistency in the way they hold the dart.
The central grip is unique to Ryan, with a very interesting feel – reminiscent of the knurling used on Eric Bristow’s later barrels. To describe the grip on these, I found myself watching ‘The Designer’ Zachary Thornton’s YouTube video, describing how he, with Ryan’s input, created these fantastic arrows!
If you haven’t already, check out ‘ThorntonDarts’ on YouTube! A fantastic channel, that provides a unique insight into the methods used by darts designers, as well as covering all aspects of darts with his unique style of content creation!
The darts utilise a square cut ring grip, which offers a greater level of aggression compared to a rounded cut. The ring grip is split into rings of two, with two rings grouped close together, with a wider cut separating the dual rings. A slightly rounded cut runs adjacent to the dual ring grip, enhancing the grip, as well as creating a familiar feel for Ryan – a key point in the design of the dart.
Throwing these, I was pleasantly surprised! For such a heavy dart (for context, I throw 21g barrels – these are 32g!), I found I could throw these with relative ease. With the longer points, I found grouping to no longer be an issue. The darts sat up in the board nicely, something Zachary had intended while designing the darts, to maximise Ryan’s scoring capabilities.
Final Thoughts:
Appearance: 9/10 – For me, these are the easiest set to give a rating for. In terms of visual effect, these had to be high. With the painted grooves towards the rear, as well as the intricate central grip that seems to catch the light at every possible angle – these are a true work of art! Complete with the stylish Ryan Searle flights, black Loxley stems and silver point, these will certainly turn heads at the oche!
Balance: 9/10 – From the rear, these darts have a tendency to kick to the side. From the centre, however, these fly like the bombs they are! A very direct dart, you feel as if you’re throwing a stone into a lake – very little will cause it to deviate from its intended target!
Grip: 8/10 – The primary point of grip, while not particularly aggressive (in my opinion), offers a very comfortable feel, similar to that of a knurled dart. For those looking to transfer to a ring grip from a knurled grip (with knurled darts seemingly going out of fashion in recent years), these are ideal, should you be able to handle the weight! The rear grip is a familiar feel, with the majority of players having thrown a simple ring grip dart at some point in their darting career.
Quality: 9/10 – There were two faults I found with these, yet both so minuscule I felt barely deserved to be marked down by one. The first was the central flight in the packaging – something I comment on with all Loxley darts. The flight was distorted slightly in transport, with the wings bent slightly out of shape due to the compression within the package. The second fault I found was that where ‘Loxley’ had been etched into the barrel, a second, faint line of text could be seen above, saying the same thing. Excluding this, the paintwork was near perfection, as well as every cut of the intricate grip – overall, I’m impressed!
Value for Money: 10/10 – The darts retail at £59.95, which for a dart as unique as these, I feel they are well worth splashing out on! With Ryan’s older darts selling for upwards of £100 due to their rarity, these are a must have for any darts fan – be quick, they’re selling fast! The darts are available from Loxley’s website, as well as spare flights, stems and Ryan’s own signature shirts!
Thank you to Loxley Darts for sending these amazing darts out for me to try! Loved throwing with these, a really enjoyable set to review! Keep an eye out on Darts Mad over the next few weeks, as I’ll be reporting on Loxley’s own Ryan Searle, as well as Matthew Edgar, as they both compete in the PDC World Championships! Good luck!
Wishing you all a very Merry Christmas, and a Happy New Year!
Author – Joe Reid