Luke Humphries won the 2024 PDC World Championship playing with a clean, front-weighted torpedo barrel and a grip most players would call understated. He beat Luke Littler 7-4 in the final at Alexandra Palace to take his first world title and reach World No. 1, and the nickname Cool Hand has stuck. The TX3 is the barrel Red Dragon built to that preference, sitting in his signature range alongside the pricier Prestige and the TX1 Pioneer.
We haven’t thrown these ourselves, so instead of a hands-on verdict you’ll find the manufacturer’s published specs and a round-up of what owners and independent reviewers actually make of them.
Key Specifications
The Cool Blue Special Edition is the most widely stocked version. It uses a short, front-weighted torpedo barrel with an elliptical front, finished with a polished silver body and blue accent rings.
- Material
- 90% tungsten, polished silver body with blue accent rings (Cool Blue SE)
- Weights
- 22g, 24g (steel tip)
- Barrel length
- 43.2mm (both weights)
- Barrel diameter
- 7.13mm (22g), 7.56mm (24g)
- Profile
- Front-weighted torpedo with an elliptical front
- Grip
- Subtle radial grooves, rated 2 of 5 by Red Dragon
- Points
- Silver-effect high-tensile, 2BA thread
- Shafts
- Nitrotech polycarbonate
- Flights
- Hardcore extra-thick standard
- Typical price
- £55–£70 (RRP £69.99)
How They’ve Been Received
Buyers repeatedly praise how naturally the darts sit in the hand and how little adjustment they need before the throw feels comfortable. The front-weighted profile gets particular credit. The one thing owners keep flagging is the grip, which the smooth radial grooves make gentler than some players expect.
What Reviewers Say
Independent reviewers frame the TX3 as a light-grip, front-weighted design that rewards a relaxed hold:
“If you like a shorter barrel, front-weighted and not too much grip – the trifecta for a 2-grip hold”
Owner feedback is warm on feel and flight, but the same reviewers who like the darts are honest that the grip does not bite:
“the ring cuts are subtle and don't offer much grip, but create a nice aesthetic”
What owners consistently praise
- Front-weighted balance that most find natural straight from the box
- Little adjustment time before the throw feels settled
- Nitrotech shafts and Hardcore flights are a solid step up on budget kit
Common criticisms
- Grip rated 2 of 5, too smooth for players who want heavy texture
- Limited to 22g and 24g in steel tip
- Sits at the premium end for a 90% tungsten set
The Grip: What to Expect
Sources broadly agree here, which is unusual. Red Dragon rates the grip at 2 out of 5, and independent reviewers land on the same figure, describing subtle radial grooves that guide the fingers without imposing. This is a design choice to match Humphries’ own hold, not a shortfall.
Expect a smooth barrel that flows out of the hand rather than one that locks your fingers in place. It works best for front and mid grippers with a relaxed release. If you rely on aggressive texture to keep control, this is the wrong dart, and the published rating makes that easy to judge before buying.
Who They Suit
These suit players who throw with a light, front-weighted grip and want a dart that stays out of the way. The torpedo profile pushes the balance forward and encourages a natural front hold, which owners say produces a clean, repeatable release. Fans of Humphries who want his barrel shape are the obvious buyers.
If you want more bite, Red Dragon’s own Gerwyn Price Blue Originals sit higher on the grip scale at 4 of 5. For a different signature barrel from the man Humphries beat in that 2024 final, the Target Luke Littler G1 is a natural comparison.
The Consensus
Owners rate the TX3 highly for balance and a throw that settles quickly, and satisfaction on Red Dragon’s own reviews runs high. The trade-offs are a grip that is intentionally light, a weight range limited to 22g and 24g, and a price near the top for 90% tungsten. If you grip lightly and want the barrel Cool Hand plays with, the feedback says you will get on with it.
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.