Target Josh Rock Gen 1 Review – Rock's First Signature Barrel

Josh Rock announced himself to the darts world by winning the PDC World Youth Championship in 2022, posting a record average of 104.13 in the final against Nathan Girvan. From Antrim in Northern Ireland, he won the 2024 Dutch Darts Championship, then in 2025 partnered Daryl Gurney to claim the PDC World Cup for Northern Ireland, coming from behind to beat Wales 10-9. Signing with Target brought expectations of a dart that would match the ambition of his game.

The Gen 1 is built around a long straight barrel with a tapered nose, a hybrid grip, and the Swiss Storm Nano point system as standard. Its price sits towards the top of the market for a first-generation signature, which invites scrutiny. The dart has real strengths, but whether it justifies the outlay depends largely on how well the grip design suits your hand.

Design and Build

The barrel is machined from 90% tungsten and runs 52.8mm in length across all four weight options. That consistency means the feel and contact point stay the same regardless of which weight you choose, with only the diameter increasing as the mass goes up. The profile stays straight for the majority of its length before tapering towards the nose, keeping the centre of gravity relatively forward.

The finish quality is good throughout. The blue and gold version carries Target’s anodised coating with gold fill in the geometric cell section at the rear, and this is the version you will find across all four weights at most retailers. A silver option exists for 22g and 25g on Target’s own site but is less widely stocked. The machining lines are precise and consistent across sets.

The Grip

The grip is where the Gen 1 makes its most distinctive design choice. The front and middle of the barrel use a traditional ring pattern with square-cut grooves, giving a firm, familiar feel for players who hold towards the point. Moving towards the rear, the machining transitions to a geometric cell design with gold inlay, providing a different tactile surface for those who grip further back or use the rear of the barrel to control their release.

The overall intensity is moderate. It sits in the middle of the scale: grippy enough for most players to get consistent purchase, but not aggressive enough to cause any drag on release. Players who rely on a very sticky surface to feel in control may find it falls slightly short. The transition between the two zones is functional rather than seamless, and it is a noticeable shift under the fingers rather than a natural progression.

Swiss Point Tips

The 26mm gold Swiss Storm Nano points are a genuine strength of this package. They sit flush with the barrel using Target’s patented locking mechanism, leaving no gap at the barrel-to-tip join. The nano rings on the point shaft improve grip into the board and aid deflection resistance. Swapping tips takes seconds with the included Swiss Point tool, and the thread keeps the point locked firmly without wobble during play.

For players new to Swiss Points, the clean barrel-to-tip transition is noticeable. There is nothing to catch on the front of a dart already in the board, which reduces deflections and can help tighten groupings at the treble.

Colourways

The Gen 1 is predominantly available in the blue and gold colourway, which covers all four weights at most retailers. A silver finish exists for 22g and 25g through Target’s own site, but the blue version is what you will find at most UK stockists across the full weight range.

Both finishes use the same barrel geometry and grip pattern. The blue and gold is the more visually distinctive option, with the geometric cell section standing out more against the anodised blue body. The silver is cleaner and more understated, and worth tracking down if the neutral finish appeals to you.

What’s in the Box

• 3x dart barrels
• 3x 26mm gold Swiss Storm Nano Points
• 3x Pro Grip Tag shafts (Short, 34mm)
• 3x No.2 Pro Ultra dart flights (100 micron, spot UV)
• 1x Swiss Point tool
• 1 month DartCounter app subscription

The Pro Grip Tag shafts are a reliable inclusion and the No.2 Pro Ultra flights are among Target’s better standard options. The 100-micron material holds up well to regular play. The DartCounter subscription is a useful bonus for anyone who wants to track their progress on the board.

What People Are Saying

The Swiss Storm Nano points draw the most consistent praise, with buyers commenting on how flush the barrel-to-tip transition feels and how well the points grip the board. The long barrel also gets positive feedback, particularly from players who have felt cramped on shorter barrels and appreciate the extra surface area to find and repeat a consistent hold. Weight matching across sets of three is noted as good.

The price and the hybrid grip are the two areas that generate the most debate. Some buyers feel that for a first-generation signature, the asking price is hard to fully justify against alternatives at this level. The grip divides opinion in a predictable way: players who grip towards the front engage almost entirely with the ring section and respond well to it, while those who grip further back find the geometric cells noticeably different in feel and not always an improvement. Community reception is broadly positive but not without reservation.

Which Players Do They Suit?

The Gen 1 works well for front and mid grippers who want a long barrel with a moderate, reliable texture and the practicality of Swiss Points built in. The 52.8mm length is a genuine advantage: it gives players the room to settle their fingers naturally rather than being forced into a specific position, and the ring grip section at the front delivers a clean, repeatable hold for that style.

Players with a preference for shorter barrels, or those who need maximum grip intensity to feel confident, are likely to find better-suited options elsewhere. Rear grippers who find the geometric cell section less comfortable than expected may also want to explore alternatives. These darts reward front and mid grippers far more than rear grippers.

The Verdict

The Target Josh Rock Gen 1 is a well-made dart with some genuine selling points. The Swiss Storm Nano points are excellent, the barrel length gives real flexibility for different hand positions, and the finish quality is consistent with what Target produces at this level. The Gen 1 represents what Josh Rock wanted from his match setup, and that intent comes through in the build.

The price is the honest sticking point. At full RRP you are paying signature rates for a first-generation dart, and some buyers will feel there is better value to be found elsewhere at this tier. If you can try them before committing, it is worth doing. If the grip suits your throw and the barrel length matches how you like to hold a dart, this is a solid choice backed by one of the most exciting young talents in the sport.