How to Keep Score in Table Shuffleboard

Game Play

• 1

  Draw a chalk line across the table, 6 feet from the far end. This is the "foul line." Draw a line 12 inches from the far end of the table. This is the "deuce" or "two-point line." Draw a line 6 inches from the far end of the table. This is the "trey" or "three-point line."

• 2

  Toss a coin to decide the order of play for the first round or "end." Balance a playing weight on the near edge of the table to take a turn. Part of the playing weight should overhang the table's edge so that it protrudes into space.

• 3

  Strike the protruding edge of the playing weight with the palm of the hand to send it sliding up the table. All players take turns doing this until they have played all four of their weights. Players are allowed to strike their opponents' pieces with a sliding weight and may knock them out of play or even off the table completely.

• 4

  Remove any weight that does not completely cross the foul line. This weight remains out of play until the next round or "end" of the game. Similarly, any weight that overshoots the end of the table and falls to the floor is out of play and cannot score.

• 5

  Begin a new round or "end" when all the weights have been played. The winner of the previous "end" starts the next round.

Scoring

• 6

  Determine on the winner of each "end" when the players have played all their weights. The winner is the player whose weight is nearest the far end of the board. The winner is the only player to score in this particular "end" of the game. Any of the winner's weights that lie beyond those of his nearest rival also can earn points. Any of the winner's weights that have been out-distanced by a rival are not eligible to score. This means a winner may have between one and four weights for which points may be awarded.

• 7

  Award four points if an eligible weight is a "hanger" or "shipper," which means that it overhangs the far edge of the table. Where it is not immediately clear if a weight is overhanging, gently press the flat face of another weight on the leading edge of the weight in question. If the opposite edge of the weight in question lifts up, then it is counted as overhanging.

• 8

  Award three points to an eligible weight that has fully crossed the three-point line but is not overhanging the table. If any part of this weight is on, or touching, the three-point line, it scores only two points.

• 9

  Award two points to an eligible weight that has fully crossed the two-point line but has not fully crossed the three-point line. If any part of this weight is on, or touching, the two-point line, it scores just one point.

• 10

  Award one point to an eligible weight that has fully crossed the foul line but has not fully crossed the two-point line.

• 11

  Keep track of each player's scores. In a two-player game, the first to reach 11 points is the overall winner. If playing doubles (teams of two), the first team to reach 21 points is the overall winner.