How To: Play shuffleboard

Getting an outdoor itch to start something new? How about the ever-so-fun game of shuffleboard? Begun more than 500 years ago as a game for European royalty, shuffleboard is becoming more popular with Americans who see it as a less expensive alternative to golf.

You Will Need:
• A shuffleboard court

Step 1: Choose the players
Decide if you'll be playing singles or doubles and choose the players. Shuffleboard can be played with two players or two teams of two.

Step 2: Learn the game
Familiarize yourself with the court. An outdoor shuffleboard court is a rectangle with a triangle at either end. The triangles are divided into different scoring zones.

Step 3: Choose your pucks
Choose a puck color for each player or team; each side gets four pucks. Line them up in the "10-off area" at the base of the triangle and flip a coin to see who will go first.

Step 4: Play the first round
Take turns pushing pucks toward the opposite triangle with the cues. Triangles are divided into ten-, eight-, and seven-point areas, plus a "ten-off" zone. Aim for the areas with the most points. Leave all played pucks in place until the end of the round – after each side has played four pucks.

Step 5: Tally scores
Tally the scores based on where the pucks lay at the end of the round. Points count only if pucks are entirely within a scoring zone, not touching the edges. If a puck lands entirely within the ten-off zone, subtract ten points from the score.

Step 6: Continue playing
Continue playing. After each round, switch sides. The first player or team to reach 50 points for a short game – or 100 points for a longer – wins the game.

Trivia: The National Shuffleboard Hall of Fame is located in Clearwater, Florida.