Shot Michael Smith (World Champion) Review

My review of the Shot Michael Smith World Champion

This is first and foremost a dartboard that tells a story: Michael Smith's world title, PDC world champion 2023. Shot built this signature edition to celebrate that win, and it shows from the moment you unbox it, the visual design is polished, almost collector-grade. It's above all an entry-level collector board aimed at fans, rather than a technical performance board. It uses a round wire spider with a staple-free bullseye, while the rest of the wire remains stapled in the usual way. It's a standard competition size (18 inches), with no federation approval claimed.

My on-the-oche test of the Shot Michael Smith World Champion

On the oche, the round wire spider does its job for a board at this level, with a staple-free bullseye that tidies up the central zone. You get a decent feel across the common scoring zones, without chasing the sharpest specs on the market. It's first and foremost an entry-level collector board, but for regular play at home or with friends, it delivers.

Durability of the Shot Michael Smith World Champion

With a 7/10 score, durability sits in the upper-mid range for this price segment. The sisal fibres handle repeated sessions well, and the staple-free bullseye tidies up the central zone on the aesthetic side. It's not built for intensive club use, but it will hold up very well for regular home play.

Setting up and mounting the board

The 18-inch diameter matches the standard competition size, so mounting is straightforward with any classic wall bracket. There's nothing specific to flag here: this board mounts just like any traditional sisal board, with no particular constraints.

Price and value for money

Expect to pay generally between €40 and €55 for this signature edition, a price consistent with its entry-level collector positioning, even if the "Michael Smith World Champion" collector angle can push the price up slightly compared to an equivalent unbranded Shot board. Value for money remains solid if you buy it with the right expectations: part of the price goes toward the name and visual design, not just the raw technical specs.

Verdict: should you buy the Shot Michael Smith World Champion?

Yes, if you're a Michael Smith fan or you like having a board with real character on your wall, Shot's build quality won't let you down day to day. However, if you're primarily after the best technical board to improve your game or play in a club, there are better-positioned options on pure specs-to-price, without the signature edition premium.