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HOW
TO PLAY 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 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 out distance 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 totalled 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 first Weight. The game continues
for as many rounds as are necessary, until one player has scored 15 points
to win the game.
HOW
TO PLAY WITH 4 PLAYERS
When
four players compete, they play as doubles teams of two players each.
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 toss of a coin, 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 totalled 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
After all Weights in a round have been shuffled, the player whose
leading Weight is 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 THE WINNER SCORES IN A ROUND.
 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.
VALUES
OF WINNER'S SCORABLE WEIGHTS
The value of a winner's scorable Weights is determined by the zones in
which those Weights lie. There are three main zones: Trey, Deuce, and
One, plus a bonus Four for Weights overhanging the far end.
 1.
Winner's Weights that touch or are in front of the Deuce line (see diagram)
and are completely clear of the first foul line nearest the shooter, lie
in the One zone and score 1 point.
2. Winner's Weights that touch or are in front of the Trey line
and are completely clear of the Deuce line, lie in the Deuce
zone and score 2 points.
3. Winner's Weights between the Trey line and the end of the board,
but completely clear of the Trey line and not extending over the
far edge of the board, lie in the Trey zone and score 3 points.
4. A winner's Weight, any part of which extends over the far edge of
the board, is called a Hanger or Shipper and scores 4 points.
5. 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. Thus no score is counted. The
next round is begun in the usual manner, except that the privilege of
shooting last changes hands.
6. To be legal, each Weight must pass the foul line closest to shooter.
Whether or not a Weight is resting on a line is determined by looking
down directly over the top of the Weight, from the scoring end of the
board.
Stand squarely at one end of the board, 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, 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 will damage the highly polished
wood surface of the playing field.
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.
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