Shuffleboard Rules | McClure Tables

Shuffleboard Table Game Rules
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"Shuffleboards Table Game Rules" Information on how to play and keep score in Knock Off, the most common shuffleboard game.

OBJECT OF THE GAME

Briefly, the objective of the game is to slide, by hand, all four of one's Weights alternately against those of an opponent, so that they reach the highest scoring area without falling off the end of the board into the alley. Furthermore, a player's Weight(s) must be farther down the board than his opponent's Weight(s), in order to be in scoring position. This may be achieved either by knocking off the opponent's Weight(s), or by outdistancing them. The most common game is played to 21 and this is called Knock Off but you also can play to 15. For these rules we are only going to talk about the game played to 21. Note: Shuffleboard Weights are often called pucks but the common term is shuffleboard weights.

HOW TO PLAY SHUFFLEBOARD WITH 2 PLAYERS

To start a game, both players stand at the same end of the shuffleboard. Players toss a coin or otherwise choose who shall shoot the first Weight, and what color Weights each shall have. (It is an advantage to shoot last.) The first player slides his first Weight toward the opposite end of the board, which becomes the scoring end. His opponent then shoots his 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 whose 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 (see Method of Scoring.)
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 the first Weight. The game continues for as many rounds as necessary, until one player has scored 21 points to win the game.

HOW TO PLAY SHUFFLEBOARD WITH 4 PLAYERS
When four players compete, they play as teams of two. 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 a coin toss, or by other means, which team shoots first and which will shoot red or blue Weights, the play begins exactly as in a two-player game — the first player slides his Weights toward the opposite end of the board, which becomes the scoring end. The opponent at his side then shoots his first Weight in a similar manner. The two players continue shooting their Weights alternately, until all eight Weights have been shuffled. At this point, one round of play has been completed. The player whose leading Weight is farthest down the board (away from the two players who are playing the round) is the winner of that round. The winner's score is then totaled and registered on the scoreboard (see Method of Scoring).
The players at the opposite end of the board, where the Weights are now resting, clear the board and begin another round of play from their end, in exactly the same manner and with the partner of the previous round's winner shooting the first Weight. The players continue as many rounds as necessary, until one team has scored a total of 21 points.

METHOD OF SCORING SHUFFLEBOARD POINTS
After all Weights in a round have been shuffled, the player whose leading Weight is the farthest away from the playing end is the winner of the round. The winner's score is then determined by adding the values of all his leading Weights which lie ahead of the loser's leading Weight. ONLY ONE PLAYER THE WINNER SCORES IN A ROUND.

Shuffleboard Game Rules EXAMPLE: If a RED Weight is the most distant Weight from the playing end at the completion of a round, RED becomes the winner of the round, and only RED can score. To determine Red’s score, total the value of each RED Weight which lies ahead of the leading BLUE Weight. RED Weights which are either cut off by or which lie behind the leading BLUE Weight are not scored. If there are no BLUE Weights remaining on the board, all remaining RED Weights are scored. See Example to the Left.

VALUES OF WINNER'S PUCKS OR WEIGHTS

Shuffleboard Game Rules The value of a winner's Weights is determined by the zones in which those Weights lie. There are three main zones: The Trey (3 point zone), the Deuce (2 point zone), and One. Plus, there is a bonus for Weights overhanging the far end, making them worth four points. NOTE: Some people play a handicap version of the game in which the lower skilled player is allowed to score 4, 3, 2, or 1 points with a hanger counting as 5 points. Another manufacturer has patented the shuffleboard deck marked both scores, so all McClure shuffleboard tables are marked with the traditional 1, 2, 3 marks, but you can still play the handicap score on a McClure table. Simply count the area between the foul line and first line as 1 point, and add 1 point to all other scores. Give the lower skilled player 5 points for a hanger. Winning weights or pucks that have completely cleared the foul line and are short of or touching the deuce line score 1 point.

Winning weights or pucks that have completely cleared the deuce line and are short of or touching the trey line score 2 points.

Winning weights or pucks that have completely cleared the trey line and are short of the end of the board score 3 points.

A hanger is any puck, which extends over the far edge of the board. This scores 4 points

In the case of a tie, or where no weights are left on the board at the end of a round, there is no winner. No score is counted and the next round will begin in the usual manner, except that the shooting order should still change hands

To be legal, each weight must pass the foul line closest to the shooter. If a puck does not cross the line, then the weight must be removed from play and put in the gutter.

Stand squarely at one end of the shuffleboard, facing the opposite end. Place the Weight gently on the surface of the playing field, with the shiny, flat metal surface facing down. Then grip the Weight lightly but firmly between the thumb and index finger of the hand with which it is to be delivered. You may, meanwhile, rest your non-shooting hand on the outer rail of the shuffleboard frame, to give your body better balance.

Take aim at the target you desire to reach, and then slide the Weight with a forward motion of your arm and wrist. The amount of "push" behind the motion will determine the distance the Weight will travel. DO NOT THROW OR BOUNCE THE WEIGHT, as this can damage the highly polished wood surface of the playing field. The Polymer used on McClure shuffleboards is much harder, but still it is not good shuffleboard etiquette. Weights may be shuffled from either side of the shuffleboard, with either hand, as well as from the center of the board. However, most players prefer side-of-board shooting, in which the 3rd and 4th fingers of the player's shooting hand slide along the side edge of the playing surface. This acts as a guide and balance, lending more accuracy to the shot. When shuffling a Weight, try to be as relaxed as possible. Avoid stiffness, or sharp, jerky motions. Utilize the fingers, wrist, elbow and shoulder, coupled with a moderate follow-through of the body above the waist.