Rules of Shuffleboard: Everything You Need to Know
The Rules of Shuffleboard - Shuffleboard rules you need to know!
Shuffleboard is a relatively new game as its European origins suggest the game is 500-600 years old but these are highly disputed 'facts'.
The origins of when it was first played, and where it was invented, remain a mystery. We know little about the game’s evolution, but it is now a popular bar game across the world.
Interestingly enough, the game was highly popularised by King Henry VIII of England, who actually prohibited commoners from playing it in the 16th century.
How is Shuffleboard played?
Shuffleboard is played by two or four players who use cues to push weighted discs, sending them gliding down a narrow court, with the purpose of having them stop within a marked scoring area.
The generic term ‘Shuffleboard’ refers to the entire family of shuffleboard-like variations of games as a whole.
The game in its goals, form and equipment resembles many other sports, notably curling, bowls, bocce, croquet, carom and air hockey in table form.
The Object of the game of Shuffleboard
The object of the game is to propel the weighted discs (or some call them pucks) into the scoring zone using a cue/paddle.
When someone gets the discs into the scoring zone, they win points. The person with the highest number of points wins.
Players and equipment needed for the game
Shuffleboard can be played in singles or doubles:
Singles play: played by two people who play one against one
Doubles play: played by four people who play two against two
The game is played on a full outdoor shuffleboard court, which is traditionally 52 feet (15.8 m) long by 10 feet (3m) wide rectangle with scoring areas at either end.
There are different dimensions for new portable courts, as well as different versions of shuffleboard like the indoor shuffleboard or table shuffleboard.
The baseline is a line that is drawn across the court, which is 6.5 feet from the end. The area from the baseline to the end is called the shooting area.
The area that is from this line to the next line is called the 10-off area. Furthermore, the 10-off area is also split into left and right sides by a small, thin triangle that is centrally placed.
In the shooting area, at either end, there are drawn triangles that are divided into point zones.
The very top of the triangle has 10 points, and the next 2 parts beneath are 8 points, then the lower parts are 7 points centrally divided into left and right parts with an equal number (8 or 7 respectively).
At the very base of the triangle is the -10 or 10-off penalty zone.
Moreover, further 3 feet from the top of the scoring triangle we have another line across the court – the dead line; every disc must cross the dead line to be counted as in play.
Besides the court, the game also requires discs that need to be 6 inches in diameter, between nine-sixteenths and one-inch-thick, and usually they weigh 15 ounces.
The discs come in two sets of four discs that are in two colours, typically yellow and black (contrasting colours); each player has the discs from one colour and uses their own cue.
The cue is a long pole (it needs to be shorter than 6 and a half feet) with two short prongs at the end of it, typically just a little less wide than a disc.
Shuffleboard game-play
Once the equipment and the players are ready, the players flip a coin to decide who plays which colour.
Traditionally, yellow starts at the first end, and the players take turns to play their part.
In singles play, 2 players will each shoot 4 discs; in doubles play, the 4 discs would be divided between the teammates and each will shoot 2 discs.
To begin the game, the yellow discs will be placed in the right half of the 10-off area, and the black ones in the left side.
Discs must be played with the cue and a sliding motion that starts within the 10-off area and finishes within the scoring triangle.
If the disc does not reach the furthest deadline, or tips off the edge of the court, that disc is immediately removed from the play.
So, the main objective and goal are to not only push your own discs into the higher-scoring areas and strategically advantageous positions, but also to knock opponents’ discs out of the play area and have them removed.
The Gameplay Rules of Shuffleboard in detail
Starting the game:
The game is played solely by 2 or 4 players who take turns giving their shot
As we mentioned, the game starts with a coin toss to decide which team play on which side
Typically, the player who scored the highest in the previous round goes first
Each player should take turns and shoot only one disc at a time
Each disc must be played with a cue and with one smooth, continuous forward motion to shoot the disc
No “hook” shots are allowed
The player that goes next must wait until the previous player’s disc has landed and is stationary before giving their shot
The play begins at alternating ends; meaning you begin at the end of the court at which the previous game has finished
Playing the game right and penalties:
Players should only play their own disc
However, it is allowed for a player to aim their own shot at another player’s disc with the goal of removing them from the scoring zone
In case the disc is touching the 10-off area line before it is played, the player gets a penalty: 5 points off
If the disc is touching the side line or side of the triangle while it is being played, the player gets a penalty: 10 points off
If any part of the player’s body is going beyond the baseline or touching it while playing the disc, the player gets a penalty: 10 points off
If the player plays another player’s disc, the player receives a penalty: 10-points off
Any discs that are played illegally or out of their turn are removed immediately from the play
Any discs that are displaced by an offending disc are also immediately removed and returned to the opponent to be replayed
Scoring points and winning:
Scores of the game are counted only after all of the discs (8 discs – 4 for each side) have been shot
For a disc and its points to be counted, the disc must be wholly within the scoring zone and not touching the outside lines of that area
The discs that are only touching the line do not count or bring any points
The discs that lie beyond the 10-off line are simply ignored
If the disc lands on top of another disc, it still scores
The winner is the player or team that first reaches the agreed points (typically 75)
For a winner to be proclaimed, all 8 discs of the final game must be played and scores adequately calculated
