Target Bolide 02 Review – Serious Grip at a Sensible Price

The Bolide 02 is a non-signature dart built around two design priorities: an aggressive grip and practical tip management via Swiss Points. There is no player association driving the price and no elaborate colourway story. What Target has focused on instead is a barrel that grips firmly across its full length, holds its weight consistently, and comes with more useful hardware in the box than you would expect at this price.

It sits in the middle of the tungsten market and competes well there. Players who need a lot of purchase from their barrel and want the Swiss Point system included without paying signature dart prices tend to find it a straightforward fit.

Design and Build

The Bolide 02 barrels are machined from 90% tungsten. One barrel geometry is available across all three weights:

The same 53mm length and 6.4mm diameter across all three weights means the balance point shifts subtly with each option rather than changing the feel of the barrel in your hand. Weight matching is consistently praised by buyers, with most reporting that all three darts in the set feel identical. That consistency matters more than it might seem — when the darts behave the same way each throw, you can focus on your technique rather than compensating for variation.

The Grip

The grip is the defining feature of the Bolide 02. Target uses a two-part approach: precise radial grooves cut into the barrel combined with a hand-sandblasted surface coating that covers the full length. The radial grooves give defined texture, and the sandblasting adds a layer of tackiness that affects how the metal feels against the skin.

New out of the box, the grip is aggressive. Some buyers describe it as almost sharp in the first sessions. That edge mellows with use, but the underlying grip pattern remains effective throughout. Players who have previously thrown polished or lightly knurled barrels generally find the transition significant.

The grip runs uniformly from the front of the barrel to the back, which makes it a genuine fit for any holding position. Front grippers, mid grippers, and rear grippers all get consistent purchase wherever their fingers naturally settle. Players who prefer a lighter or smoother grip will find it too much, and the texture is not something that can be softened without affecting the barrel.

Swiss Point Tips

Each set ships with 26mm silver smooth Swiss Points and a tool for swapping them. The interchangeable system works the same as across Target’s range: you can change point length or style in seconds without tools or thread damage. Longer points for a more forward balance, textured points for better board entry, or removing them entirely for travel are all straightforward. At this price point, having Swiss Points included rather than sold separately is a meaningful addition.

What’s in the Box

• 3 × Target Bolide 02 90% tungsten barrels with Swiss Points fitted
• 3 × 26mm silver smooth Swiss Points
• 3 × yellow Pro Grip shafts
• 3 × Bolide No.6 flights
• 1 × Swiss Point tool

The Pro Grip shafts are a decent standard inclusion. The Bolide No.6 flights are functional. Neither are the reason to buy this dart, and players who throw regularly will likely upgrade both at some point. The barrels and Swiss Points are where the value sits.

What People Are Saying

The Bolide 02 gets consistently positive feedback, with the grip and weight consistency drawing the most regular praise. Players who have moved up from lower-percentage tungsten or darts without a textured grip tend to notice the difference immediately and report that the barrel feels more planted in the hand. The weight matching across sets is mentioned frequently as a standout, particularly by players who have experienced variation with cheaper alternatives.

The most common criticism is that the grip is too intense for some players. This comes up most often from people who prefer a smooth or lightly textured barrel and found the Bolide 02 unforgiving rather than grippy in a useful way. The weight range limitation of 21g to 25g is also raised by players on either side of that window.

Which Players Do They Suit?

The Bolide 02 suits players who want a firm, consistent grip across the full barrel and do not need a signature name or complex colourway story to justify the purchase. Intermediate players stepping up from brass or budget tungsten who want to understand what a properly textured barrel feels like will find it an easy benchmark. Anyone who wants Swiss Points at a mid-range price without committing to a premium set will also find it makes sense.

It is less suited to players who prefer a light or smooth grip, those who throw outside the 21g to 25g range, or anyone who wants a more tapered or front-weighted profile rather than the straight barrel the Bolide 02 uses throughout.

The Verdict

The Bolide 02 is a well-focused dart that does exactly what its design suggests. The sandblasted radial grip is genuine rather than decorative, the weight matching is better than you would expect at this price, and the Swiss Points add practical value without inflating the cost excessively.

The grip intensity will be too much for some players, and that is worth being honest about before buying. If you hold with a relaxed, light touch, this is not the right barrel. If you need firm purchase and want it across the whole barrel rather than just one section, it is one of the better options at this price point.