John Henderson darts: 24g SE model, setup and career
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When John Henderson steps up to the oche, the whole room rocks with him
When John Henderson throws, it is not just the arm doing the work. The whole Highlander rocks with it. The first time you see him, it looks as though the stage might give way underneath him. Then the dart lands in the treble and Hendo carries on as if nothing happened.
“Hendo” was never the polished poster boy with big speeches and ten major trophies sitting on the shelf. He was the Scottish crowd favourite who kept turning up, kept grafting and eventually won the titles hardly anyone expected him to win.
This is not the story of an 18-year-old wonderkid who had everything handed to him. It is the story of a player who lost, came back, travelled again and kept standing in front of that board.
Contents
Want to jump straight to the World Cup, the famous rocking throw or Henderson’s darts? Here you go.
- From Huntly to the BDO and then the PDC
- The 2017 World Grand Prix run
- Aberdeen 2019: all of Scotland rocks with Hendo
- World Cup 2021: Henderson becomes a champion
- The late-career takeover on the seniors circuit
- John Henderson’s famous rocking throw
- John Henderson darts and setup
- Amazon UK check
- The truth at the oche
- Why darts fans love Hendo
- John Henderson FAQ
- More DartWorldHub players
- John Henderson sources
From Huntly to the BDO and then the PDC
Henderson reached the professional game through the BDO system. His strongest results came across many seasons rather than through an early breakthrough.
His first serious steps came through the BDO system. At the 2005 Lakeside World Championship, he beat Stephen Bunting in the opening round. Henderson then took Martin Adams all the way to a fifth set before going out.
Over the next few years, he won tournaments including the 2008 British Open and the 2009 Belgium Open. Even then, the big breakthrough still refused to arrive.
In 2011 Henderson moved across to the PDC and earned his Tour Card at Q-School. He was already 37. While some players are starting to look towards the exit at that age, Hendo had only just entered the biggest tour in darts.
That tells you plenty about Henderson: he never appeared from nowhere and started smashing everyone overnight. He earned his place year by year and match by match.
2017 World Grand Prix: wins over Van Gerwen and Van Barneveld
Hardly anyone expected a deep run from John Henderson at the 2017 World Grand Prix. His opening opponent was Michael van Gerwen: world number one, defending champion and pretty much a green wrecking ball at the time.
Henderson had not travelled there to play the friendly extra. He beat Van Gerwen 2–1 in sets and dumped the tournament favourite straight out.
He then got past Alan Norris. Raymond van Barneveld was waiting in the quarter-final, but Hendo did not shrink against Barney either. Henderson won 3–1 in sets and marched into the semi-final.
His run finally ended against eventual champion Daryl Gurney. But after beating Van Gerwen and Van Barneveld in the same week, nobody could dismiss Henderson as the likeable Scot with the funny throw anymore.
The big point: Henderson beat Michael van Gerwen and Raymond van Barneveld in the same tournament. That was more than one lucky night.
Aberdeen 2019: bagpipes, 4,000 Scots and a 6–6 draw with Van Gerwen
The Premier League arrived in Aberdeen in 2019. With Gary Anderson ruled out, the PDC invited local Contenders to appear on individual nights. For the Scottish stop, only one name felt right: John Henderson.
The walk-on used bagpipes and “Flower of Scotland”, followed by “Rockin’ All Over the World”. The 4,000 spectators gave Henderson clear home support.
Michael van Gerwen was standing on the other side of the stage again. Henderson fell 6–3 behind and the match looked finished. Instead, he won the final three legs and dragged it back to 6–6.
There was no trophy waiting at the end of it. Even so, that night remains one of the defining moments of Henderson’s career. Some draws feel much bigger than plenty of wins.
The decisive passage: against the best player in the world, with the whole room on his shoulders and the match nearly gone, he refused to disappear.
Peter Wright, John Henderson and Scotland’s second World Cup title
Peter Wright and John Henderson formed the Scottish team at the 2021 World Cup of Darts. On paper, Wright was the world champion and Henderson was the supporting act. On the stage, Hendo was far more important than that.
Scotland needed a deciding pairs match to get past the Netherlands in the quarter-final. In the semi-final against Wales, Henderson then beat Gerwyn Price 4–2 in his singles match.
The pairs match against Price and Jonny Clayton also went to a deciding leg. Scotland survived again and booked a place in the final against Austria.
Scotland won the final 3–1. One of Henderson’s biggest moments came in the pairs match. Austria led 3–0 and missed chances to win it before Henderson pinned double 10 to complete a 4–3 turnaround.
Peter Wright delivered the final point soon afterwards. John Henderson was now a PDC title winner and World Cup champion.
This was not a present from Peter Wright: Henderson beat Gerwyn Price and held his nerve in a vital pairs match. His fingerprints were all over that trophy.
In 2024, the Highlander walked into seniors darts and nicked the lot
When a player loses a Tour Card, the noise often fades away fairly quickly. John Henderson simply turned it into the next chapter of his career.
In 2024, he won the World Seniors Darts Championship on his debut. In the final, Henderson battered Colin McGarry 5–0 in sets.
The year was nowhere near finished. At the World Seniors Matchplay, he beat defending champion Leonard Gates 9–6 in the final.
Henderson then added the World Seniors Masters. In an all-Scottish final, he edged Robert Thornton 6–5.
A 5–0 final win against Colin McGarry. Not a bad way to announce yourself on the seniors stage.
Henderson beat defending champion Leonard Gates 9–6 in the final.
The third major seniors title arrived after a 6–5 win over Robert Thornton.
Hendo was not there for a cosy reunion with old players. He turned up to win the tournaments.
Three titles in one year: Championship, Matchplay and Masters. This was not one decent weekend. It was a full Henderson takeover.
When the whole Highlander gets involved in the throw
You could probably recognise John Henderson’s throw from the silhouette alone. While plenty of professionals try to keep the body almost completely still, Hendo has rather more going on.
The upper body, shoulder and stance all move visibly. Before and during the throw, that famous rocking motion kicks in and makes Henderson one of the easiest players in darts to recognise.
It does not look like something from a coaching manual. That does not automatically make it wrong. The point is not whether a throw looks pretty in a photograph. The point is whether the player can repeat it.
Henderson has spent decades building that movement into his routine. For him, the rocking is not a random technical fault. It is part of his timing and part of how he finds the release point.
The movement belongs to a routine he has repeated through thousands and thousands of throws.
More body movement usually means more spread. It works for Hendo because it is his throw.
Put simply: Henderson’s throw does not prove that more movement is better. It shows how far a player can go with a personal action that has been completely drilled in.
John Henderson darts: the Red Dragon setup checked
The concrete retail option here is the Red Dragon John Henderson SE in 24g.
Retail model and stage setup: The retail John Henderson SE is a 24g, 90% tungsten steel-tip set with a 50.8 × 6.5mm parallel barrel (barril), steel points (puntas), short Nitrotech shafts (cañas) and extra-thick standard flights (plumas). Those boxed parts are not proof of Henderson’s exact setup at every event.
The barrel is made from 90% tungsten, measures 50.8mm in length and has a diameter of 6.5mm. It has a parallel profile, centre weight distribution and a rounded front leading into the point.
The grip is moderate rather than aggressive. The square grooves are rated at grip level 2 out of 5, with the main grip zone sitting towards the front of the barrel.
24g. There is enough weight to feel properly planted in the hand without moving into the really heavy end.
Parallel, centre-balanced and made from 90% tungsten.
Square grooves and grip level 2 out of 5. You can feel it, but it is not trying to take your fingerprints off.
Short Nitrotech shafts and Red Dragon Hardcore extra-thick standard flights.
The funny bit: Henderson’s dart is far more conventional than his throw. No space-age barrel — just 24g, a parallel shape and grip that does not start an argument with your fingers.
Buying John Henderson SE darts: check the weight and version first
Red Dragon John Henderson SE Steel 24g
A currently available 24g steel-tip legacy player model, not a claim about his current tournament setup.
Amazon UK has a matching listing for the Red Dragon John Henderson Special Edition 24g steel tip darts made from 90% tungsten.
Have a proper look before ordering: make sure the 24g steel tip version is selected. Player-dart listings can sometimes mix weights, tip types or similar models on the same page.
The truth at the oche: the dart is much simpler than Henderson’s throw
With the John Henderson SE, I would separate two things straight away: the dart and the throwing action.
The dart itself is not especially strange. It is 24g, parallel, centre-balanced and not overloaded with grip. Far more players could get on with this barrel than you might expect after watching Henderson rock through the throw.
If you grip towards the front or middle, like a dart with some presence in the hand and find aggressive grip catches on your fingers during release, this model could suit you well.
If you prefer very light darts, grip right at the back or need a deep scallop to lock your fingers into position, I would not buy it purely because Hendo’s name is on the box.
you like 24g darts, want a parallel barrel and release better with a moderate grip.
you want a light dart, very strong grip, a clear scallop or strongly rear-weighted balance.
My quick take: test the barrel if the specs suit you. Do not copy the rocking motion. Henderson hits with it because it belongs to his routine.
Why John Henderson sticks in the minds of darts fans
Henderson never needed to put on a fake hard-man act. No screaming in an opponent’s face, no oversized stage character and no strutting around as though he owned the building.
Even after some of his biggest wins, he has often looked as though he still cannot quite believe what has happened. That mixture of joy, nerves and feet firmly on the ground makes him easy to warm to.
Add the Scottish walk-on, the unmistakable throw and the clenched fist after a big double, and you have a player who needs no long introduction. You see Hendo once and you remember him.
His career also speaks to every player who did not have everything fall into place at 20. Tour Card at 37, first major PDC semi-final at 44, World Cup champion at 48 and three big seniors titles after turning 50.
The Henderson story: you do not need fifteen world titles for people to remember you. Sometimes you need staying power, a bit of heart and a few nights when the whole room is willing every dart into the board.
FAQ – John Henderson
When was John Henderson born?
John Henderson was born on 4 May 1973. He comes from Huntly in Aberdeenshire, Scotland.
Why is John Henderson called “The Highlander”?
The nickname fits his roots in the Scottish Highlands. Henderson has also explained that “Hendo” was not considered strong enough as a television nickname, which helped lead to “The Highlander”.
What darts does John Henderson use?
The main current model linked with Henderson is the Red Dragon John Henderson SE in 24g. The parallel barrel is made from 90% tungsten and has a moderate grip.
Is John Henderson a world champion?
Henderson won the 2021 PDC World Cup of Darts alongside Peter Wright for Scotland. He also won the World Seniors Darts Championship in 2024.
What was Henderson’s best individual PDC run?
One of his strongest individual performances came at the 2017 World Grand Prix, where he reached the semi-final after beating Michael van Gerwen and Raymond van Barneveld.
What happened in Aberdeen in 2019?
Henderson appeared as a Premier League Contender against Michael van Gerwen. After falling 6–3 behind, he won the final three legs and earned a 6–6 draw.
Which seniors titles did Henderson win in 2024?
He won the World Seniors Darts Championship, World Seniors Matchplay and World Seniors Masters.
What is John Henderson’s walk-on song?
Henderson walks on to “Rockin’ All Over the World” by Status Quo. His Scottish appearances have also featured bagpipes and “Flower of Scotland”.
Are John Henderson darts suitable for beginners?
The parallel barrel and moderate grip can work for beginners. You should still make sure 24g suits your throw before buying them.
Should you copy John Henderson’s throwing action?
Probably not. His heavy body movement works because it has been part of his routine for many years. For most players, adding more movement simply creates more spread.
More Scottish players and darts legends
Want to stay in the Scottish darts world after Henderson? These are the natural next stops.
- World Cup partner Peter Wright: Snakebite, world champion and constant tinkerer → The man who won the 2021 World Cup alongside Henderson for Scotland.
- Scottish old school Robert Thornton: “The Thorn” never backs down → Major winner, hard old competitor and one of Henderson’s big rivals on the seniors circuit.
- World Cup battle Gerwyn Price: power, pressure and full volume → The Welsh world champion Henderson beat in the 2021 World Cup semi-final.
- Understand the gear Steel tip barrels guide → Barrel shapes, tungsten, grip and how to find a dart that suits your hand.
- All players DartWorldHub Stars & Legends → Modern stars, old legends and the stories behind their darts.
John Henderson sources and official darts bodies
These are the main sources for Henderson’s career, tournament runs, darts and the wider international darts structure.
- World Cup 2021 PDC Europe: Scotland win the World Cup → Match report covering John Henderson and Peter Wright’s title win for Scotland.
- World Grand Prix 2017 Sky Sports: Henderson stuns Van Barneveld → Coverage of Henderson’s run after beating Van Gerwen and Van Barneveld.
- Aberdeen 2019 Sky Sports: Henderson’s unforgettable Premier League draw → The 6–6 draw with Michael van Gerwen in front of the Aberdeen crowd.
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Darts Corner: Henderson crowned seniors world champion Coverage of his 2024 World Seniors Championship victory.
- Official product source Red Dragon John Henderson SE darts → Official specifications covering weight, dimensions, barrel profile, balance and grip.
- Player profile Red Dragon: John “Hendo” Henderson → Red Dragon’s player profile covering the Highlander, his career and walk-on.
- Scotland Scottish Darts Association → Scottish darts news, competitions, national teams and tournament information.
- Professional darts Professional Darts Corporation → Official PDC website with events, results, rankings and player information.
- World darts World Darts Federation → International darts federation covering events, rankings and member nations.
- United States American Darts Organization → US darts rankings, national events, tournaments and organisational information.
- North America Championship Darts Corporation → North America’s professional steel-tip tour and pathway towards the PDC stage.
- Latin America & Caribbean Championship Darts Latin America and Caribbean → Professional-style tour covering Central America, South America, Mexico and the Caribbean.
- England England Darts Organisation → National teams, competitions and organised darts in England.
- Wales Welsh Darts Organisation → Welsh teams, events and national darts information.
- Ireland Irish National Darts Organisation (INDO) → National darts structure, events and teams in Ireland.