Target Rob Cross Gen 2 Review – Voltage-Inspired Precision

Rob Cross won the 2018 PDC World Championship as a genuine outsider, beating Phil Taylor 7-2 in the final. He throws a clean straight barrel with a modest ring grip, and the Gen 2 is built to that exact spec. Target refined the original with aqua painted rings and gold Swiss Diamond points, keeping the whole thing purposeful rather than flashy.

This is not a dart for players who need heavy texture to feel in control. The grip is light, the profile is uniform, and the design is built around a consistent and repeatable release. If that sounds like your game, it is worth a close look.

Design and Build

The Gen 2 barrel is straight from tip to tail with no taper, machined from 90% tungsten. Three weights are available:

The silver sections are machined and the grip zones are hand sandblasted, giving the barrel a dry, matte feel where your fingers sit. Build quality is tight and the weight matching across a set of three gets consistently good marks from buyers.

The Grip

The ring grooves run along most of the barrel, broken up by the aqua painted bands. It is a medium grip at best, which works well for players who throw with a relaxed hold and want a clean, predictable release. If you tend to grip hard or need a lot of purchase to feel confident, you will likely find it too smooth.

The sandblasted sections take the slipperiness off the metal without adding aggressive texture. Front and mid grippers tend to get on well with it. Rear grippers can find the smooth mid-section harder to work with, as there is less to anchor on further back.

Colourways

The standard Gen 2 is silver with aqua rings and gold Swiss Diamond points. Target also produce a Black Edition with a PVD-coated black barrel, the same ring grip geometry, and Swiss Point compatibility. Worth knowing about if the silver is not your thing.

Swiss Point Tips

Each dart ships with a 26mm Swiss DS Gold Point and a tool for changing them. You can swap to a different point length or style in seconds without tools or thread damage, which is a genuinely useful feature if you go through tips regularly. It is included as standard here rather than sold as an add-on, which adds real value to the package.

What’s in the Box

• 3 × Rob Cross G2 barrels
• 3 × Intermediate White Pro Grip Shafts
• 3 × Rob Cross G2 Edition No.6 Pro.Ultra Flights
• 3 × 26mm Swiss DS Points (Gold)
• 1 × Swiss Point Tool

The Pro Grip shafts and Pro.Ultra No.6 flights are both solid inclusions. Nothing in the box feels like a filler item.

What People Are Saying

The feedback on the Gen 2 is largely positive. The things that come up most consistently are the build quality, the weight matching across the three darts, and how natural the throw feels once you settle into a grip position. The sandblasted texture gets particular praise from people who have previously thrown polished barrels and found them too slippery.

The main criticism is price. A number of buyers feel the cost is high relative to the grip complexity, and that the signature association is carrying some of the ticket price. The price range between retailers is fairly wide, and at the lower end of that range the value is much easier to justify.

A few people mention the grip is not for them, but that is a personal fit issue rather than a fault with the dart.

Which Players Do They Suit?

This dart suits front and mid grippers who prefer a light, controlled hold and a clean release. It also makes sense if you want the convenience of Swiss Point tips included in the box, or if you are a fan of Rob Cross and want to throw the same barrel he plays with.

It is probably not what you want if you have an aggressive grip style, throw from the back of the barrel, or are after multiple colourway options in a single purchase.

The Verdict

The Gen 2 is a well-made dart that does its job without fuss. The straight profile, light ring grip, and precise machining add up to something that is easy to throw consistently once you find your position. The Swiss Point tips are a practical bonus on top.

Whether it is worth the money depends on where you buy it. At the top of the price range it is a stretch for a ring grip dart. At the lower end, with Swiss Points and quality accessories included, it stacks up well against the competition.