Shuffleboard tables are a fun and distinctive yet modest addition to any home game room. You may be familiar with deck shuffleboard, which is played on a court where players use brooms or paddles to push weighted pucks (similar, in some ways, to Canadian Curling) and is common in senior centers and retirement communities. Shuffleboard tables minimize the game for indoor use, making it fun and accessible year-round. Tables tend to take up less space than pool tables because they are typically placed flush against a wall and are available in a range of length sizes, making these tables the perfect choice for smaller or narrow game spaces.
Shuffleboard Table Dimensions
Unlike pool tables, shuffleboard tables are available in a variety of sizes to fit your needs and space. Shuffleboard tables typically start at 9 feet long, and increase in two to three foot increments. The longest shuffleboard tables are 22 feet. The most common length in home game rooms is 14 feet. Shuffleboard tables require three feet of playing space at each end, so this size table requires a room that can accommodate at least 20 feet in length. Unlike pool tables, which can sit in the center of and dominate a room, shuffleboard tables are commonly set flush against a wall or tucked behind a couch. This makes the shuffleboard table a convenient option for game rooms that are longer than they are wide, or for rooms that serve many different functions. While bigger is (typically) better, your budget and your space will determine what size shuffleboard table you choose. Small increases in size (going from a 12-foot table to a 14-foot table, for example) usually increase the price by only a few hundred dollars. So, if you can fit a larger size, go for it!
Shuffleboard Table Designs
As with size, shuffleboard tables are available in a variety of designs to match not only your budget but also your style. The cabinet — the exterior, decorated wood that you see — can range from plain and minimalist to ornately carved. If you’ve already invested in a pool table, there are many shuffleboard tables that are styled to match with the same legs, carving and wood stains. The most important thing to consider when shopping for a pool table is the playing field. It should be laminated hardwood, which makes it stronger and extends the life of the table. Playing fields can be adjusted to accommodate uneven floors, but laminated wood will prevent the playing field from warping. Most playing fields are made of maple. This American hardwood is solid and durable and can hold up to the Atlanta heat and humidity.
How to Play Shuffleboard
Shuffleboard shares similarities with air hockey and even billiards, and is very easy to play! Players push weighted pucks across the smooth playing field from one end to the other. Each end of the table has a segmented scoring area labeled 1, 2, or 3 — these are the points you’re awarded for landing your puck in that spot. The simple goal of shuffleboard is to shuffle your puck to the other end of the table without sending it over the edge. The player with the most points at the end of the game is the winner. Games can be set up as races to score 11 or 21 points, and rules can be modified to accommodate teams and time. Shuffleboard tables can even support other tabletop games. The most popular is tabletop bowling. Each shuffleboard table comes with the essentials to play: weighted pucks and silicone wax, small beads made of silicone that you sprinkle on the playing field to help the pucks glide. Visit Greater Southern today in Atlanta or Alpharetta to see this family-fun game table!
