Like table croquet, shuffleboard played on a dining or ping-pong table not only requires a smooth playing surface, but some sort of backstop to prevent long shots from zooming onto the floor. If a removable hardboard game top is in use, the target outlined in A, Figure 5.12, can be permanently painted at one end.

The croquet fence illustrated in Figure 5.11 can be easily modified for shuffleboard, by installing a removable pin hinge at X, and by cutting end Y in half. The two severed ends can be rejoined by means of a pair of f-in. dowels when the fence is used for croquet. To assemble the fence for shuffleboard, remove the pin from hinge X and discard the free fence end. Separate side Y and place one end section inside the other, as in B, Figure 5.12. Drill two holes through both half-sections, countersink one pair of holes on the inside fence face, and fasten the sections together firmly with bolts and wing nuts.

It will be noted that the target shown in A is based on a 16-in. width, whereas the halved ends of the fence measure 191/2 in. wide. This will permit a 1 5/8-in. alley on either side of parallel lines 16 in. apart. Disks which are halfway across either line are counted out, as if they had fallen off.

In lieu of a hardboard alley a piece of hemmed oilcloth equipped with corner cords can be stretched down the center of the table and tied under the comers. The target is painted at one end where a backstop can be improvised from books.

The eight or twelve disks are standard checkers or slices cut from a broom handle, half of them red and half black. Each of two players snaps one disk of his chosen or allotted color in turn from the base line. If partners are played, the latter retrieve the disks after the score is recorded, then alternate snapping black and red, in turn.

Fig. 5.12. Shuffleboard and fence.

Rules

1. A disk scores in the area in which it rests, after all eight (or six) disks have been shot.

2. Disks resting on a division line are dead, and are removed at once.

3. Players may hit any disk already played, with the twofold object of driving the opponent's disk off the playing area, or into the 10 OFF space, and landing his own disk in a scoring compartment.

4. The game is 50 points, and in case of a tie, each player shoots one disk and the highest score wins. During this play-off, each disk must be removed and scored before the next disk is played.

When a standard tennis table is available, the shuffleboard may be lengthened to 9 ft. by 2 ft. wide, and the targets painted on both ends to speed up partner play. The 6- and 4-in. spacings are increased to 9 and 6 in. respectively. On a board of this size disks of 21/2-in. diameter can be cut and sanded from f-in. hardwood. Four cues can be made from 4-in. sections of the same wood attached to 1/3-in. dowels about 2 ft. long. For a permanent game, nail furring strips underneath along the edges and crosswise at 1-ft. intervals. Then sprinkle floor wax on the board and go to it.