There are several
traditional table shuffleboard games that are
played. The most common table shuffleboard game
played in major tournaments is called "Knock Off". "Crazy Eight" and
"Horse Collar"
are also quite common. "Tap
& Draw" and "Target"
and "Baseball" are two of the less commonly
played table shuffleboard games.
Overview
Games are played one-on-one or with two
teams of two people Team members play at opposite ends of
the board and remain there for the duration of the game.
Games are played until one team scores 15-points [some may
still play the 21-point game, but it is not typical] at
which time they are declared the winners. Tournament
Director will designate whether you are playing
"Short Foul Line" (which is most commonly used
in major table shuffleboard tournaments) or "Long
Foul Line" (rarely used).
In "Short Foul Line" (most
commonly used) Knock Off game tournaments, the weights are
considered in-play when they are on the board and
past the foul line closest to the shooter.
In "Long Foul Line" (rarely
used) Knock Off game tournaments, the weights are
considered in-play when they are on the board and
past the foul line on the opposite end of the board as the
shooter.
How To Play
Play may start from either end of the
board which can either be designated by the Tournament
Director and/or the players flip of a coin (e.g., heads,
play starts on one end; tails, play starts on opposite
end). Then the initial startup for shooting and weight
color are decided by the opponent players flipping a coin
(one flips, other calls heads or tails). The winner of the
flip may elect to choose the weight "color" of
choice or the "hammer". The hammer is the last
weight (4th shot) in a round (i.e., the other team shoots
first, if you win the flip and select hammer). It is
considered advantageous to have the hammer. When
color and shooting order are decided, the fun and
play begins!
The team without the hammer shoots first. The other team
shoots second. Players continue to alternate shooting
until all 4 weights of each team's color are used. At this
time, points are counted and play continues from the
opposite end. The team which scored points on the previous
round must shoot first on the next round. If no points are
scored on the preceding round (e.g., all weights are
knocked off) than the hammer changes. In other words, the
team that had the hammer during the round where no points
were scored must shoot first the next round. Play
continues in this manner until one team reaches the
designated points (typically is 15-points).
How
To Count Player/Team Scores
Only one team scores in a round.
The team which has their weight closest to the end of the
board scores. All of their weights which are ahead of
their opponent's deepest weight (closest to the end of the
board) are added together for the score for that round.
A weight scores 1-point if it is located between the
designated foul line (most commonly being the "short
foul line") and the "2" line.
Weights completely across the "2" or
"3" line count 2-points or 3-points,
respectively. To judge if a weight is completely over the
line it should be viewed from above (i.e., look down over
the top of the weight. Again, the entire weight must
be over the line for it to count as the next higher point
value. You should be able to see some wood between the
line and the weight.
If any portion of the weight is hanging over the end of
the board is called a "hanger" and counts
4-points. Close calls can be checked by holding a weight
so the top of a weight is along the back end of the board.
The weight is then slid along the back end of the
board. If it hits the "disputed" hanger
the weight is indeed hanging and is worth 4-points instead
of 3-points.
