No matter if you spent a lot of money on steel tip darts by buying a set with a tungsten barrel, or if you went for a cheaper brass barrel, you need to keep your points the right shape. If you don’t, you won’t be able to get your darts to stick into the cork or bristle board that you are playing with, which isn’t all that much fun. To ensure that your darts stay sharp, they should be sharpened as often as you feel they need it. The best way to check to see if your points need to be sharpened is to run your finger along the point. If you feel any burrs on the tip, then the darts should be sharpened. Just remember, you don’t want the darts to be super sharp. You are trying instead to go for a more rounded point, much like a ballpoint pen.