Outdoor Shuffleboard

Outdoor shuffleboard, though 100 years old, is the youngest form of traditional shuffleboard. Table shuffleboard, known in the 16th century as shove-board, was the original version. In the late 19th century, deck shuffleboard became a popular game on ocean cruises. This outdoor variation soon came aground, and is now known as outdoor shuffleboard.

Playing outdoor shuffleboard

Perhaps because of its oceanic origins, outdoor shuffleboard has come to be associated with retired persons and leisure sites such as campgrounds or ocean liners. Outdoor shuffleboard is also an event at the Senior Olympics.

There are many differences between outdoor shuffleboard and indoor shuffleboard, aside from the whole indoor/outdoor thing. Outdoor shuffleboard is played on the ground on a shuffleboard court that is 52 feet long - 30 feet longer than tournament-sized shuffleboard tables. This increased distance adds a great many strategic challenges to outdoor shuffleboard.

Outdoor shuffleboard equipment is also larger. Outdoor shuffleboard discs are 6 inches in diameter and weigh about 15 ounces. Because of their size and the lower playing surface, outdoor shuffleboard discs are introduced to the playing surface using pronged cues up to 6 1/2 feet long.

Outdoor shuffleboard scoring

Points are tallied much differently in outdoor shuffleboard. The scoring area on a shuffleboard court is shaped like a triangle. The scoring triangle is divided into five areas. The tip is a 10-point zone, and behind the tip are four squares. The two closest squares are 8-point zones and the two farthest are 7-point zones.

In addition to these higher point zones, there is also a "10-off area" located behind the 7-point squares. This area is unique to outdoor shuffleboard. Any discs in this zone are a penalty of 10 points. An outdoor shuffleboard player/team needs 75 points to win. Outdoor shuffleboard can be played one-on-one or in teams of two.

Shuffleboard Rules

For shuffleboard, as with many indoor table games, there are general rules and official tournament rules. But since most people playing shuffleboard at home would find tournament shuffleboard rules such as "no drinks in hands or mouth while shooting" too restrictive, we've provided simple shuffleboard rules for a competitive, reasonably organized home game.

Basic shuffleboard play

Each player/team in shuffleboard has four colored pucks. Play alternates puck by puck until all eight have been played. Each instance of this is called an end. Having last puck in an end is referred to as holding the hammer and is a strategic advantage.

Flip a coin to determine who has hammer for the first end. Whoever scores points in an end plays first in the next end. If no points are scored in an end, the player who went first in that end gets next hammer.

Shuffleboard scoring rules

To score in basic shuffleboard, the object is to get your pucks as close to the end of the playing surface as possible without them falling off. To be in play, pucks must also pass a foul line typically positioned six feet from the table's end. A common practice in shuffleboard is to use your pucks/weights to knock your opponent's pucks off the playing field.

Scoring areas on a shuffleboard table are divided into one, two, and three point zones. Any puck hanging over the table's end counts as four points. If a weight is mostly in one zone but touching the line of a lower-scoring zone, the lower count is used.

Only the player with the weight nearest the end of the playing field scores in an end. Each puck closer to the table's end than any opponent's puck is counted so long as it's in a scoring zone.

Shuffleboard games are played to 11 points, though 15 points is considered a tournament game. In doubles play, the first team to score 21 points wins.

Shuffleboard Courts

Shuffleboard courts are a common sight in parks and leisure areas, but you can also find them in backyards or even indoors. Outdoor shuffleboard courts are commonly built from concrete. Shuffleboard courts made from poly-reinforced vinyl or plastic are available that can be rolled up when play is finished. Or with enough space and flat concrete, stencil or chalk could be all you need to create your own shuffleboard court.

A material advantage

The material you choose for your shuffleboard court should be determined not just by cost, but also by weather and the space you have available. A concrete shuffleboard court will obviously be the most durable option (provided you don't live in a wintry region), but it would also be expensive. A concrete shuffleboard court would also permanently occupy as much as 300 square feet of space.

Plastic and vinyl roll out shuffleboard courts are increasingly popular options. Such courts are often smaller than the standard 52-foot shuffleboard court, but still large enough to provide enjoyable and challenging play. Roll out shuffleboard courts are also great for those on a budget, as they can easily be found for well under $1,000. Of course the biggest convenience of roll out shuffleboard courts is that they can be stored out of poor weather.

Building your own shuffleboard court

There are a few intrepid do-it-yourselfers out there who enjoy the challenge of building their own shuffleboard court. If that's you, we recommend looking at a few shuffleboard court layouts and scale diagrams to get a sense of the space you'll need. A full-size shuffleboard court needs a minimum area of 312 square feet.

If you have a long driveway or basketball court next to your home, another way of enjoying shuffleboard is to create your own temporary court. Outdoor shuffleboard sets with all the necessary equipment are fairly inexpensive. A little diagram work with some dark-colored chalk should be all you need for a fun weekend of outdoor shuffleboard.

Shuffleboard Equipment

Aside from the basic shuffleboard accessories such as wax and cleaner and weights, additional shuffleboard equipment is available to protect your shuffleboard table or even convert it into a miniature bowling lane. And if you're setting up an outdoor shuffleboard court, you'll need shuffleboard equipment such as cues and discs.

Shuffleboard table equipment

A shuffleboard table is a valued investment. Protect your investment with a vinyl shuffleboard table cover. It's not an obvious piece of shuffleboard table equipment, but a table cover will virtually eliminate the long-term damage that dust can cause to a playing surface. It's also a great way to protect your shuffleboard table during parties where drinks and snacks will be present.

Some shuffleboard table equipment can be fun too. Bowling pins are fun to have around, especially for families with younger children. You could even have family bowling night at home in your rec room.

Another useful piece of shuffleboard equipment is a board wipe. Board wipes clean and buff your table quickly and without scratching, meaning you'll spend more time playing on your shuffleboard table and less time cleaning it.

Outdoor shuffleboard equipment

Outdoor shuffleboard requires equipment that is larger and sometimes completely unlike shuffleboard table equipment. Cues, for example, are a basic part of outdoor shuffleboard. Shuffleboard cues are usually made from fiberglass or aluminum.

Some shuffleboard equipment is necessary for both indoor and outdoor shuffleboard. The playing surfaces of shuffleboard courts require waxing for faster and more reliable play. Because outdoor shuffleboard courts are much larger than shuffleboard tables, the shuffleboard wax, or court dressing as it's known, comes in greater quantities. For frequent outdoor shuffleboard players, a 25-pound bag of court dressing is an essential bit of shuffleboard equipment.

One thing that holds true about shuffleboard equipment either indoors or out is that you get what you pay for. A shuffleboard table or shuffleboard court is a major investment. Be sure to take proper care of your investment by buying the best shuffleboard equipment you can.