The inner edge is where a surround earns its money. It takes the most strikes, and a dense material holds its shape there rather than compressing over a season — which is what keeps the aperture sitting tight against the sisal.

That fit is the whole thing. Any gap between the surround and the board is precisely where a stray dart would otherwise find the wall behind it.

One-piece moulded surrounds are worth looking at over sectional versions, since there are no joins to work loose or separate. Polyurethane is denser again than standard foam and holds up longest where the darts land most often. Sizing is matched to standard bristle boards throughout, with colour choices from plain black through to bright finishes that make the board read clearly from the oche.