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Product Review Updated

Target Hydro Darts: Specs & Owner Reviews

Target's Hydro range fits silver Swiss Points, 90% tungsten barrels and a full accessory kit into a mid-price set. Here are the objective specs and how owners and reviewers rate them.

At a Glance

A low-cost route into Target's Swiss Point system, with three barrel shapes and a kit that punches above the price. Buyer reviews are strongly positive, though opinion splits on how grippy the milled grooves really are.

Target Hydro dart barrels at an angle showing the finely milled radial groove grip

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Target’s Swiss Point system has mostly lived at the top of the company’s range, fitted to signature darts that cost serious money. The Hydro changes that. It brings replaceable points, a full accessory kit and Target’s machining to the middle of the market, with three different barrel shapes to pick from rather than one player’s preferred spec.

That makes it an interesting set for two groups: players who want to try Swiss Points without committing to signature dart prices, and anyone in the mid-price bracket who wants more in the box than barrels and basic fittings. Rather than throwing these ourselves, this page pulls together the manufacturer’s published specifications and the reception from owners and independent reviewers.

Key Specifications

The linked set is Barrel 02, a torpedo profile that carries its width towards the front and finished in brushed silver with the blue and green Hydro flights.

Target Hydro Barrel 02 shown horizontally, with the torpedo profile widening towards the nose and finely milled radial grooves along the body
Material
90% tungsten, brushed silver finish
Weights
21g, 23g, 25g (Barrel 02); 21g to 26g across the range
Barrel length
50.5mm (Barrel 02, all weights)
Barrel diameter
6.25mm (21g), 6.5mm (23g), 6.7mm (25g)
Grip
Finely milled radial grooves and contoured cuts, medium intensity
Points
30mm silver Swiss Point, replaceable, SP tool included
Shafts
Pro Grip TAG (short, 34mm)
Flights
Pro Ultra No.6 (100 micron)
Typical price
£30–£45 (RRP £34.95)
Specifications as published by the manufacturer. Price checked across multiple UK retailers and correct at the time of writing.

How They’ve Been Received

How it's been received 4.4 out of 5 · 472 reviews
Very positive
Negative Mixed Positive
Reception is strongly positive. The headline figure comes from buyer reviews at a large online retailer rather than manufacturer-hosted ones, so it is a reasonable read on how the set lands. Independent review coverage is thinner because the range is still fairly new, but what exists is warm on the balance and the value.
Based on buyer reviews at a major online retailer. Figures are correct at the time of writing.

Buyers repeatedly single out two things: the throw and the price. A lot of owners are stepping up from starter brass or budget tungsten and rate the jump in quality highly. The most common gripe is the stock points, which several buyers reckon are only average, though the Swiss Point system means those swap out in seconds.

What Reviewers Say

Owner feedback leans firmly positive, with plenty saying these quickly became their main set.

“Look nice, throw amazing and the grip was a lot better than I thought it would be.”
— a verified buyer

Independent reviewers rate the balance and release, but describe the grooves as gentler than some buyers do, which is the one point sources tend to differ on.

“The radial grooves are finely milled and evenly spaced. They feel smooth, not overly sharp.”
— an independent darts reviewer

What owners consistently praise

  • Silver Swiss Point tips fitted as standard, with the SP tool in the box
  • Balanced, clean release that suits players stepping up from starter darts
  • Full kit of Pro Grip TAG shafts and Pro Ultra No.6 flights included

Common criticisms

  • Stock points draw the most complaints, though they are replaceable
  • Only three weights per barrel shape
  • Grip intensity divides opinion, so it may feel too subtle for some

The Grip: What to Expect

This is where the sources don’t quite line up. The barrels use finely milled radial grooves and contoured cuts rather than deep scallops or knurl. Independent reviewers describe that as smooth and controlled, a texture that guides the release rather than locking the fingers in place. Plenty of buyers, on the other hand, report the darts as genuinely grippy, with several picking the heavier weights specifically for that reason.

The honest read is a medium grip that will feel different depending on what you have thrown before. If you are coming off a smooth or lightly grooved barrel, expect noticeable texture. If you rely on aggressive cuts to feel connected to the dart, Barrel 03 sharpens things up, but the Hydro is probably not built for you.

Target Hydro Barrel 02 specifications: 30mm Swiss Point, 50.5mm barrel, short shaft, No.6 flight shape, radial grooved grip, available in 21g, 23g and 25g

Who They Suit

The Hydro suits players who want to try the Swiss Point system without paying signature dart money, and it works well as a step-up set. Someone moving on from starter brass or budget tungsten gets proper match-weight barrels, quality shafts and flights, and replaceable points in one box, with three shapes to match how they already hold a dart.

Players who need heavy texture to feel in control are the wrong audience, even with Barrel 03. The Bolide 02 offers the same Swiss Point system with a much grippier straight barrel, and Target’s signature line, including the Josh Rock Gen 1, is the place to look for longer barrels or a wider spread of weights.

The Consensus

Owners rate the Hydro as a lot of dart for the money. The barrels are well machined, the three shapes are genuinely different rather than cosmetic, and the box leaves little to upgrade on day one, with Swiss Points the headline draw at this price. The trade-offs owners raise most are the stock points and a grip that some find grippier and others find subtler than expected. If a controlled, medium-texture barrel with replaceable points sounds right, the feedback says you are unlikely to be disappointed.


How we compile this page

We don’t throw every dart ourselves. Instead we gather the manufacturer’s published specifications and weigh up the reception from owners and independent reviewers, then flag where they disagree so you can make up your own mind. Where a headline rating comes from manufacturer-hosted reviews, we say so, because those tend to skew positive.

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. This helps fund the running of this website, keeping it ad-free and user-friendly.

More Reviews

This page compiles objective specifications and independently sourced reviews rather than our own hands-on testing. Ratings and quotes belong to the sources cited. Prices, availability, specifications, and review figures are correct at the time of writing and may change over time.