Paul Schwindamann Signature Darts "The Recluse"

Pronounced like the classic bicycle company Schwinn, with a  Da-Menn on the end ...Schwin=da-menn 

Speaking of Da Mann, Paul is reguarded as "The Man" because he is the No.1 Darts player in  Kansas City. With all his wins, tournament results and level of play, that fact is self evident, and would be hard to argue against. He is a true national class player, no doubt about that.

As follows every national class player has his own signature dart, which brings me to reviewing LaserDarts, "Recluse" (Brown Recluse Spider) designed by Paul Schwindamann.

It's called "The Recluse" because it pairs well with LaserDarts flagship dart the "Black Widow". It's also called the "Recluse" because may say it pairs with his personality, but how can he be a "Recluse" and go to so many tournaments and perform at a national class level? I see his personality as they say, "No Filler, All Killer". There is no window dressing, it's straight to the point and no B.S.. 

I'm reviewing both the Steel tip version (23 gram) and Soft-Tip version (18 gram). Unlike most dart companies LaserDarts come in function dart cases with clips. 

Paul plays both Steel-Tip and Soft-Tip ...a lot. So the darts trajectory characteristics have to be very similar. Paul spec'd the groove pattern where he grips the dart (at the back), lengths, and diameters. Then it was up to LaserDarts to determine the front of the darts and work out the drill depth (balance) to make going back and forth between a 23 gram dart and a 18 gram dart virtually seamless.

I have to say this is the best matched signature dart set I have ever seen and thrown. Most company's soft-tip version of their fixed point steel-tip bare a vague resemblance.

Some companies go with 'convertible points", but the weight difference between steel and plastic throws off the balance a bit. Rather than one dart with convertible points, they went Professional  and developed two darts from the ground up ....or from the hand up? ....now I hear Paul in my brain saying, "Just get to the point Shope". ....Alright then to the point we go ...or is that the tip? Bwaaaaaa! 

Steel-Tip: 23 grams (46mm long x 7.3mm Dia). 

It's not a long/skinny dart. A lot of people will tell you a long/skinny dart is the way to go for  flatter trajectory and tighter grouping. 

I find if I don't release a long dart right, it tends to flop in the air. 

I find with the "Fatter Darts" you have more grip and control. 

When is the last time you lost a match and thought "Gee if my darts just grouped a little tighter"? ...odds are you cussed the missed double. As the say, "Triples for Show, Doubles for Dough". Go for control. 

Soft-Tip: 18 grams (42mm long x 7.0mm Dia). 

Who machines darts with such precision they groove the back of the dart above the shaft threads? LaserDarts! 

When the first "Taylor" groove came out I found it to be too "Grippy". They would stick to my hand. The grooves were too deep. 

This is a hybrid groove pattern sharp square grooves, not too deep; with deeper round grooves for a sure grip and easy release. The grip is a parody of a Brown Recluse bite By definition the bite of a Brown Recluse spider often goes unnoticed initially because they are usually painless bites, but bite none the less. 

The grooves at the front of the dart are the selling point to me. The band works as a point of distinction. You don"t feel it on your thumb; but in front of your thumb, giving you all the grooves to grip. Usually the band is external and not recessed making this dart design unique with functional purpose. Not just for the sake of, "We did it to be different". 

My new Soft-Tip setup. with L-Stlye Flights and Shafts.