Shuffleboards Rules – Information about playing and keeping score in shuffleboard, including the rules. The origins of Shuffleboard are debated, but it is believed to have originated in Europe between 500 and 600 years ago.

It involves using paddles to “shove” pucks towards a target area, and there are many variants within the game and alternative names, including deck shuffleboard and shovel-board. Henry VIII was a big fan of the game and he loved to gamble on it! It has similarities to many sports, most notably bowls, curling, and air hockey in its table form.

The object of the Game 

The game’s object is to use the paddle to propel the weighted pucks into the scoring zone to win points.

Players & Equipment

In Shuffleboard, two players play against one another (single play) or four players play against two each (double play). It is played on an outdoor court measuring 52 feet long by 10 feet wide, although different dimensions are available on new portable and indoor courts.

At each end of the court there are scoring triangles, beyond which there is a further six feet for players to stand as they play towards the other end. Ten is located at the point nearest the players, followed by eight and then seven, with a central division dividing the left and right sides of the triangle. There is a penalty zone called the “10 OFF” at the bottom of the triangle.

In hockey, players use a paddle-like stick called a tang to propel pucks (called biscuits) towards the scoring triangle. Tangs are not allowed to exceed 6ft 3in in length. The player who goes first (usually decided by coin toss) uses the yellow biscuits, with the player going second using black, and the biscuits are six inches in diameter and are no more than 1in thick.

Scoring

The players alternate sending biscuits in order to get as many into the scoring zones as possible. A score is recorded only after all eight pucks (four each) have been shot, and the puck must be fully inside the scoring zone in order to register – those touching the line do not count.

It is legal to aim your shots at the puck of a player in order to remove them from the scoring zone or even into the 10 OFF zone, for which a player receives a 10 point penalty. If a player’s puck is on the 10 OFF line, the player gets a five-point penalty. In addition, players lose 10 points if they shoot the biscuit off the court, including touching the sideline.

Winning the Game

If ten complete rounds have been completed, the winner is the person who has reached a predetermined target, usually 75 points, or the person with the highest score at the end. If both players and sides reach 75 on the same turn, the player with the highest score shall be the winner.

Common Shuffleboard Game Rules

Have you ever wondered how to play shuffleboard? Shuffleboard is played using a variety of rules that are generally applicable to most games. In most cases, you alternately slide, by hand, all four of your weights against those of your opponent. Despite falling off the end of the board into the alley, try to reach the highest scoring area on the shuffleboard. Points are earned when your weights are the farthest down the board. There is some strategy and fun involved in knocking off your opponent’s weights, outdistance them, or use your weights to protect your other high-scoring weights.

The most common games are usually played to 15 or 21 points. Throughout the following sections, we cover shuffleboard game rules for the most famous (and fun) shuffleboard games. We hope you find these game rules helpful for the enjoyment of your McClure Shuffleboard table.

Table Shuffleboard Game Rules Scoring

If a Red Weight is the most distant Weight from the playing end after 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 lies ahead of the leading Blue Weight. Red Weights, either blocked or behind the leading Blue Weight, are not scored. If no Blue Weights remain on the board, all remaining Red Weights are scored.

Knock Off Shuffleboard Rules

Among the simplest and most common ways to play the game, Knock Off Shuffleboard is the most popular. Nevertheless, just because the rules are simple to remember does not mean the game is simple to play. Shuffleboard can be improved with patience and strategy, and this game is no different.

Horse Collar Table Shuffleboard Rules

Need a high-scoring affair? Shuffleboard is played one-on-one or with a team, and the winner is the one with 51 points. Horse Collar is a game that everyone will want to play with a fun betting element for those who can’t score and huge shots worth 26 points.

Tap & Draw Shuffleboard Rules

Participants in Tap & Draw who get to shuffle the first puck have the best advantage over Knock-Off participants. Tap & Draw is played and scored similarly to other versions of the game, but there is one significant difference. By tapping your puck with another one of yours, you are able to send it further up the board in Tap & Draw.

How to Play Shuffleboard Crazy Eight Rules

As far as physically throwing and keeping score is concerned, Crazy Eight’s version of shuffleboard is quite similar to many popular classic games. However, Crazy Eight is a fun and challenging version of shuffleboard due to how points are scored.

Target Table Shuffleboard Rules

In this table shuffleboard game, you can aim and shoot at a target, just like you do in darts, archery, and rifles. With hopes of scoring one, two, three, or four points, use your skills to shoot for a target and bring home the winning game. Remember that only the winner scores, so make wise decisions when you play.