rules to play shuffleboard

A Shuffleboard can be any distance from 12 22 feet long but is generally an even number of feet in length. The height of the table from the ground should be about 30 inches and the width 20 inches. The surface is polished wood and 6 feet from the end a line is drawn across the width of the table called the foul line. Two more lines are drawn across the table nearer the end at 12 inches and 6 inches called the 2 point and 3 point lines respectively.

The purpose of handicap scoring is to allow players of different expertise play at an even level, similar to a golf handicap. The better team or player simply uses the smaller red numbers and the other team or player uses the black numbers. Example:The more advanced player may receive three points for a particular shot whereas the other player would receive four points for the same shot. Remember: The puck must be completely inside the score zone to count in the higher zone. If you re not sure, look directly down on top of the puck. If its touching the line it counts in the smaller zone.

To start a game, both players stand at the same end of the shuffleboard. Players toss a coin or otherwise choose who shall shoot first Weight, and what color Weights each shall have (it is a n advantage to shoot last).The first player slides his her first Weight toward the opposite end of the board, which becomes the scoring end. His Her opponent then shoots his her first Weight in a similar manner, attempting either to knock off the other player s first Weight, or to outdistance it. The two players continue shooting their Weights alternately, until all eight Weights have been shuffled. When this has been done, one round of play has been completed.

The player who s leading Weight is farthest down the board (away from the players) is the winner of the round. The winner s score is then totaled and registered on the scoreboard.The players then proceed to the opposite end of the shuffleboard, where the Weights are now resting. Another round of play is begun in exactly the same manner as described above, from this end of the board, with the winner of the previous round shooting first Weight. The game continues for as many rounds as are necessary, until one player has scored 15 points (or some still play to 21 points) to win the game.

When four players compete, they play as doubles teams of two players each. One player from each team is stationed at each end of the board, so that two opposing players are at the same end, with their partners at the opposite end.Having decided by toss of a coin, or by other means, which team shoots first and which will shoot Red or Blue Weights, the play begins as in a two player game