Raymond van Barneveld Darts: “Barney” and the old-school magic that never fully dies
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Raymond van Barneveld is not just a darts player. He is a whole era with a throwing arm.
“Barney” brought Dutch darts into living rooms, pubs and proper sporting history. Five world titles, the monster final against Phil Taylor, retirement, comeback, heavy doubts, big love from the crowd and a Target setup that has gone through more generations than some players have had good seasons. This is Barney: not perfect, not clean, but impossible to ignore.
Contents
Want to jump straight in? Here are the main stops in the Barney story.
- The Barney legacy: why Dutch darts changed forever
- Taylor vs Barney 2007: the final that still gives people goosebumps
- The Target era: why the RVB setup keeps evolving
- RVB Gen 6: premium, technical and not cheap
- The heavy side of Barney: pressure, doubts and comeback
- Why Barney’s darts suit feel players
- Tech check: 95% tungsten, Swiss Point and K-Flex
- Patty’s gear tip
- Check Raymond van Barneveld darts on Amazon UK
- Quick check & availability
- FAQ – Raymond van Barneveld Edition
- More on Barney, Phil Taylor, Adrian Lewis and Target
- Raymond van Barneveld: profiles, gear and career data
- Official darts bodies & sources
The Barney legacy: why Dutch darts changed forever
Before Michael van Gerwen became the green machine and before Dutch darts looked normal on the biggest PDC stages, there was Raymond van Barneveld. Barney was the man who made a whole country look at darts differently.
He was not just winning matches. He was turning darts into television moments. The walk-on, the calm face, the heavy scoring, the Dutch crowd behind him — that whole package made him bigger than a normal player.
Five world titles do not happen by accident. Four in the BDO, one in the PDC, and enough drama around them to fill half a pub table until closing time.
Patty’s take: Barney is one of those players you cannot judge only by current form. His real weight sits in what he changed. Without Barney, Dutch darts does not feel the same.
Taylor vs Barney 2007: the final that still gives people goosebumps
Ask old-school darts fans about Raymond van Barneveld, and sooner or later one match comes up: the 2007 PDC World Championship final against Phil Taylor.
That match had everything. Taylor, the machine. Barney, the challenger from the other side of darts history. A fight that went all the way to a sudden-death leg. And then Barney did it. He beat Taylor 7-6 and took his fifth world title.
For a lot of fans, that final is still one of the best darts matches ever played. Not because every dart was perfect. Because the story was massive. Two worlds. Two legends. One final. Proper theatre without needing fake drama.
This is the Barney thing: when he was on, he could pull you into a match like hardly anyone else. You were not just watching legs. You were watching weight, history and nerves.
The Target era: why the RVB setup keeps evolving
Raymond van Barneveld joined Target in 2017, and since then the RVB range has turned into a proper product world. G4, Chrono, Barney25, Echo, G6, K-Flex, Swiss Point — it is not just one dart anymore. It is a whole Barney shelf.
That sounds nice until you want to buy the right one. Then it gets messy fast. Some versions are steel tip, some are soft tip. Some are premium and expensive. Some are more accessible. Some are special editions. Some look close enough at first glance but feel totally different in the hand.
That is why you should never just click the first product with “Raymond van Barneveld” in the title. With Barney products, the exact model matters.
Patty’s warning: RVB darts are a minefield if you rush. Gen 6 is not Gen 4. Chrono is not Echo. Steel tip is not soft tip. Sounds obvious, but Amazon search pages love making obvious things stupid.
RVB Gen 6: premium, technical and not cheap
The Target Raymond van Barneveld Gen 6 SP is the kind of dart where you can see straight away: this is not the budget corner. 95% tungsten, advanced grip milling, Swiss Chrono Points, K-Flex and a very premium Target finish.
The barrel works with diamond grip patterns, radial grooves and rear control zones. That gives several different grip references without turning the dart into some ugly grip weapon. It feels more like a precision tool than a pub spare set.
But that also means: do not buy it just because you like Barney. These darts are serious money and they suit players who actually want that level of feedback, control and premium setup detail.
Short version: RVB Gen 6 is a premium Barney dart. Beautiful, technical, expensive. If you only want a cheap set to start, this is probably overkill.
The heavy side of Barney: pressure, doubts and comeback
Barney is not one of those fake superhero stories where everything just goes up forever. His career had heavy parts. Form dips, pressure, retirement talk, comeback, doubts, the public watching every bad average like vultures around a snack table.
And maybe that is part of why people still care. Barney never felt like a cold machine. He felt human. Sometimes brilliant. Sometimes tired. Sometimes lost. Sometimes still dangerous enough to remind everyone why the name means something.
When he came back after retirement, not everyone believed it would work. Fair enough. Darts had moved on, the field had got nastier, younger players were sharper and the tour had become a meat grinder. But Barney still came back and added another PDC title in 2024. That matters.
Patty’s view: Barney’s story is not clean. That is why it works. It has trophies, greatness, collapse, comeback and the kind of honesty you only get when a career has been dragged through real pressure.
Why Barney’s darts suit feel players
Raymond van Barneveld has never been just a brute-force scorer. His best darts had rhythm, weight and feel. That is why the RVB setups often make sense for players who care about how the dart sits in the hand, not only how aggressive the grip looks in product photos.
The Gen 6 setup has several grip zones, but it is still built around control. It gives feedback, but it does not feel like it is trying to rip your fingertips off. That is important if your throw relies on timing and a clean release.
If you are a player who likes a premium barrel, uses a calm grip and wants clear reference points on the dart, the RVB range is worth a proper look. If you need brutal grip and maximum bite, this might feel too refined.
For your own throw: Barney-style darts are less about violent grip and more about trust, reference points and a smooth release. That can be gold if your throw is already fairly stable.
95% tungsten, Swiss Point and K-Flex: what matters here?
The RVB Gen 6 SP is built from 95% tungsten. That gives a slim, dense barrel with enough room in the treble. On a premium dart like this, the idea is not just weight. It is precision and grouping space.
The Swiss Point system gives you flexibility. The Gen 6 box includes 30mm Swiss Chrono Points and also 35mm points, so you can test a slightly different board entry and feel without buying a whole new dart set.
The K-Flex rear setup keeps flight and shaft together as one unit. Less faffing about, less flight movement, and a cleaner rear end. For a player who wants consistency, that makes sense.
95% tungsten for a slim, dense and premium barrel with room in the treble.
Diamond grip patterns, radial grooves and rear axial milling for several hand positions.
Swiss Chrono Points in 30mm plus extra 35mm points in the box for setup testing.
RVB Player-Edition K-Flex No.2 in short length for a stable integrated flight and shaft system.
Who do Raymond van Barneveld darts suit?
RVB darts suit players who like a premium feel and want clear control in the hand. They are not the first set I would throw at a complete beginner who still changes grip every other day.
If you already have a stable throw and you want a refined barrel with several grip references, the RVB Gen 6 can be properly interesting. It gives feedback without being a rough, angry grip monster.
But if you just want cheap darts for the garage, do not overthink it. Barney premium darts are beautiful, but they are not magic. They will not fix a throw that is all over the shop.
Patty’s quick verdict: RVB Gen 6 is for players who want premium control, not for people buying purely because Barney is a legend. Buy the dart for your throw, not only for the name on the box.
Check Raymond van Barneveld darts on Amazon UK
Target Raymond van Barneveld Gen 4 Swiss Point 21g
A 95% tungsten steel-tip Swiss Point model. Gen 4 is kept separate from Gen 6, Echo and Chrono.
If you want to check RVB darts on Amazon UK, pay proper attention to the exact version. Barney products can show up as G6, G4, Chrono, Barney25, Echo, brass sets, soft tip versions, steel tip versions and accessories. That is a lot of ways to click the wrong thing.
Important: for a normal steel dartboard, you want steel tip / Swiss Point, not soft tip. Also check the weight. RVB darts often show up in 21g, 23g and 25g, and those can feel very different in the hand.
Target Raymond van Barneveld Generation 6 Steel Tip Swiss Point Darts →
Direct Amazon UK product page for the RVB Gen 6 steel tip darts. Check exact weight, stock, seller and whether Amazon shows the correct steel tip version before ordering.
Target Raymond van Barneveld RVB 95 Gen 4 Steel Tip Swiss Point Darts →
Older RVB 95 Gen 4 steel tip option. Still interesting if the Gen 6 is too expensive or not available in your preferred weight.
Quick check & availability
Amazon UK stock changes all the time. With Raymond van Barneveld darts, it can get especially messy because several generations, weights and versions exist. Some are steel tip, some are soft tip, and some are only accessories.
My tip: if a link shows out of stock, check another weight or come back later. Sometimes the product is not gone — only one weight or one exact version has disappeared for a bit.
If you spot an outdated link, send us a quick message and I will clean it up.
FAQ – Raymond van Barneveld Edition
What darts does Raymond van Barneveld play?
Raymond van Barneveld is a Target player. His current Target range includes several premium RVB models such as Gen 6, Chrono, Barney25 and Echo. Always check the exact model, steel tip or soft tip, and weight before buying.
Why is Raymond van Barneveld called “Barney”?
“Barney” comes naturally from van Barneveld’s surname. It became one of the most recognisable nicknames in darts and is still used by fans all over the world.
How many world titles has Raymond van Barneveld won?
Raymond van Barneveld is a five-time world champion: four BDO world titles and one PDC world title. His 2007 PDC World Championship win over Phil Taylor is one of the biggest matches in darts history.
Are Raymond van Barneveld Gen 6 darts good for beginners?
They can be played by anyone, but they are not a cheap beginner set. The Gen 6 is a premium 95% tungsten dart with advanced grip, Swiss Point and K-Flex. For a complete beginner, it may be overkill.
What is special about RVB Gen 6?
The Gen 6 uses 95% tungsten, Swiss Chrono Points, extra 35mm points, Player-Edition K-Flex and several grip zones. It is a premium setup built around control, consistency and feel.
What weight should I choose for RVB darts?
RVB darts often appear in 21g, 23g and 25g. Lighter versions feel quicker, heavier versions feel more planted. If you are not sure, 23g is usually the safer middle ground for many steel-tip players.
Did Barney really retire and come back?
Yes. Raymond van Barneveld retired, then returned to professional darts. That comeback is part of why his later career feels so human: not clean, not perfect, but still full of fight.
More on Barney, Phil Taylor, Adrian Lewis and Target
If you want to dig deeper, these are the next useful reads: the Taylor final, Target player setups and more big names around the oche.
- The great rival Phil Taylor: “The Power”, Target darts and the Barney rivalry → You cannot really tell the Barney story without Taylor. That 2007 final still sits in darts history like a heavyweight fight.
- Target legend Adrian Lewis: “Jackpot”, natural talent and Target setup → Another huge Target name with a totally different style: loose genius, Stoke madness and ridiculous natural touch.
- Brand check Target Darts Pro Check: all star setups at a glance → Raymond van Barneveld, Phil Taylor, Luke Littler, Rob Cross, Josh Rock and more Target players in one direct setup comparison.
- Stars & legends Darts Stars & Legends on DartWorldHub → Back to the big names, old heroes and new faces around the oche.
Raymond van Barneveld: profiles, gear and career data
Here are the places I would use first for Barney’s player profile, Target gear and career data. Not random shop noise — proper reference points.
- Official profile PDC: Raymond van Barneveld player profile → Official PDC profile with player information, ranking, tournament data and career overview.
- Target profile Target Darts: Raymond “Barney” van Barneveld → Official Target player page with Barney’s range, career notes and Target product world.
- Target gear Target Raymond van Barneveld G6 SP → Official Target product page with 95% tungsten, Swiss Chrono Points, K-Flex and box contents.
- Target gear Target RVB 95 x Echo SP → Official Target page for the RVB 95 x Echo steel tip darts, another Barney option in the Target range.
- Career data Darts Database: Raymond van Barneveld profile → Career results, tournament history, titles and player data for Raymond van Barneveld.
- Titles & records Mastercaller: Raymond van Barneveld career profile → Player profile with titles, records, match data and career overview.
- More stats Darts Orakel: profile and extra statistics → Additional data, match details and statistics around Raymond van Barneveld.
Official darts bodies & sources
If you want to look beyond one player and into the official darts world, these are useful organisations for pro darts, national darts and the wider game.
- Professional darts Professional Darts Corporation (PDC) → Official PDC site with news, tournaments, players, rankings and the modern pro tour around players like Raymond van Barneveld.
- World federation World Darts Federation (WDF) → International darts body with events, member nations, competitions and worldwide darts information.
- England England Darts → Official governing body for darts in England, covering national teams, events and grassroots darts.
- Netherlands Nederlandse Darts Bond (NDB) → Dutch darts organisation and a useful reference point around organised darts in the Netherlands.
- Scotland Scottish Darts Association → National darts organisation for Scotland with event, team and competition information.
- Wales Welsh Darts Organisation → Welsh darts body with national darts information, competitions and official updates.
- Ireland Irish National Darts Organisation → Irish darts organisation with information around national competitions and organised darts in Ireland.
- North America Championship Darts Corporation (CDC) → North American pro darts organisation and a useful source for the wider English-speaking darts scene.