Shuffleboard

A popular pastime for seniors

Shuffleboard is a game using broom-shaped paddles to push weighted pucks along a board or court to rest within a marked scoring area. Because of its low physical demands, shuffleboard is often popular on cruise ships and in seniors’ centers.

How to Play

In standard shuffleboard, as played on cruise ship decks and such, there is a triangular scoring zone at the farthest end of the court. The point of the triangle is aimed toward the shooter, with the zone divided into four horizontal sub-zones, the numbers representing point values. If the disc lands completely within the small triangular tip zone without touching any part of the borders of the triangle, it is worth 10 points. If it lands within the trapezoidal second tier of the triangle, it is worth 8 points. If it stops within the third tier of the triangle, 7 points are awarded. The danger zone on the shuffleboard court is the 10-off section, where 10 points must be deducted.

Shuffleboard Table Designs

Other common shuffleboard table designs use a small triangle in the center of the 10-off trapezoid, which splits the area and makes it more difficult to push the puck into. Under most shuffleboard rules, the game is played in matches of 10 frames, with players (or teams) alternating turns. The most effective shuffleboard strategy is to bounce your opponent’s pucks out of the high-scoring zones while trying to get your pucks into them.

Shuffleboard Courts

The shuffleboard court is generally 6 feet wide and 39 feet long. Each end of the court has a scoring triangle, so the pucks do not have to be retrieved after each frame. There is 6 feet of space at each end of the shuffleboard court where the players can stand to take their turns pushing the puck.

For temporary set up and play, there are now roll-out plastic shuffleboard courts that can be used and then put away. These work great on any hard concrete surface, such as a patio or deck. You can also find adjustable systems of plastic tiles that can be configured to match the space you have available for the game.

Shuffleboard is popular because it can be played with a partner as well as solo. After all pucks have been played on each end, the winning puck or group of pucks is scored according to the points listed on the shuffleboard court. The players then turn around and push the pucks toward the other end of the court. The winner of the game is the first person or team to reach a set number of points, depending on the shuffleboard rules being used.