Winmau Equalizer Review

My review of the Winmau Equalizer

The Winmau Equalizer holds a unique position in Winmau's catalogue: it's the "Official JDC Training Dartboard" of the JDC (Junior Darts Corporation), designed to support young players who are seriously progressing in the sport. The idea behind this model is simple and rather clever: give junior players a board with a dual-level system and widened scoring zones to make learning easier for young players, while gradually preparing them for real playing conditions.

In practice, this is a solid sisal board, without premium pretensions, but consistent with its mission: bridging junior training and adult standards. It's not the board I'd recommend to a seasoned competition player chasing the very best bounce-out performance, but for a developing young player, or an adult who wants a genuine blade board without breaking the bank, it clearly earns its place.

My test of the Winmau Equalizer on the oche

On the oche, it feels like a classic, honest sisal board: the thin blade wire reduces deflections along the wires, without matching the bounce-out performance of the brand's premium models. The 7/10 score on this criterion reflects that reality well: bounce-outs remain occasional, especially on imprecise throws, but no more frequent than on other boards in this price range.

The real value shows up in its widened scoring zones designed to make learning easier for young players: for a developing junior, hitting a triple 20 becomes more approachable than it would be on a competition board. That's exactly the point, encouraging progress before moving on to real playing conditions.

Durability of the Winmau Equalizer

With a 7/10 durability score, the Equalizer holds up reasonably well under regular use, whether for junior or adult training. The sisal handles repeated sessions without closing up too quickly around the most-hit zones (treble 20, bull), as long as you rotate the board occasionally, as with any board in this category.

It's not built for intensive daily use in a busy club, but for family, junior, or regular personal training use, its lifespan sits comfortably within what you'd expect at this level.

Setting up and mounting the board

The Equalizer relies on a classic sisal construction, with no particular constraints tied to its junior status. Installation itself is standard: regular wall mounting, just like any other board on the market.

One point worth clarifying: the regulation height and distance remain those of the adult standard (bullseye at 1.73 m / 5'8" from the floor, oche at 2.37 m / 7'9¼"), and it's precisely this reference that enables the "natural transition" Winmau highlights. That said, for very young beginners, some junior federations adjust the throwing distance (a shorter oche) during early learning stages, worth checking with your local federation rather than assuming it as a universal rule.

Price and value for money

Priced generally at around €80, the Winmau Equalizer sits in a higher price range than you might expect for a junior training board. For that budget, you get a blade wire and a dual-level system with widened scoring zones designed to make learning easier for young players, along with JDC approval.

Value for money is therefore good without being exceptional: you're paying for a functional product that's true to its purpose, not an exceptional board. It's a sensible choice for equipping a serious young player, or for an adult who wants a genuine blade board without investing in a competition-level model.

Verdict: should you buy the Winmau Equalizer?

Yes, if the goal is clear: equip a developing young player with an official JDC training dartboard, designed to make learning easier thanks to its widened scoring zones. The JDC approval (junior body) gives confidence in the product's seriousness, and its dual-level system makes it a genuine development tool, not just a toy.

However, if you're after a premium board for intensive adult competition, you'll want to look at Winmau's higher-end models instead. The Equalizer embraces its role as a solid, honest training board without trying to be anything else.