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How to Build a Skee-Ball Machine

Skee ball is an arcade game that was invented and patented in 1909. Players earn points by rolling or tossing balls in stacked holes that are each assigned a number of points. The player with the highest amount of points wins the game. In arcades, the winner generally earns tokens or tickets to redeem for prizes. However, to enjoy skee ball, you don't have to travel to an arcade or spend a great deal of money purchasing a skee ball machine. A skee ball "panel" can easily be made for a quick, fun game at home.

Things You'll Need

Large cardboard box
Box cutter
3 plastic cups
Markers
3 small rubber balls

Instructions

- 1
  
  A large moving box is the perfect size for making your skee ball game.
  
  Cut out the longest side of the box, using the box cutter. Lay the cardboard piece on the floor.
- 2
  
  Use sippy cups or tupperware if plastic cups aren't handy.
  
  Place the three plastic cups upside down in a line an equal distance apart in the middle of the carboard piece.
- 3
  
  A box cutter will work better than scissors for cutting through the cardboard.
  
  Trace around the three plastic cups with a pencil, and then remove the plastic cups. Cut out the three traced circles with the box cutter, cutting just inside the pencil lines so that the cups won't fall through the cardboard piece.
- 4
  
  Mark the points using different colors of markers to make your panel more fun.
  
  Slide a plastic cup inside each of the holes in the cardboard piece. Write "10" on either side of the lowest hole, "20" on either side of the middle hole and "30" on either side of the highest hole with a marker. These numbers indicate the number of points associated with successfully getting a ball in each hole.
- 5
  
  Make a rubber ball out of rubber bands if you don't have rubber balls already.
  
  Prop the skee ball panel against a vertical surface such as a wall or the side of a couch. Aim each rubber ball at the hole with the highest points, and then toss each rubber ball. Take turns with a partner to see who can win the most points.

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