Subject: For Non-Shufflers (and Shufflers, too)
Content: Shuffleboard, for "Non-Shufflers" (and "Shufflers",too). “Part One, of Many” — maybe. I am familiar with “Frame Games”, as played in Florida. I am not familiar with the “Frame Game”as played on the extremely “fast” courts of Arizona, California, and Texas, noram I familiar with the “Canadian Frame Game”. I am very familiar with the "75-Point Game", asplayed in Florida, North Carolina, and Ohio — which, when compared to the “Florida Frame Game”, is the “RealShuffleboard”. The reason this is true is the objective of a “75-Point Gameis to accumulate "75 Points”. Therefore, it is necessary to “Score Points”. In contrast, the objective of a “Florida Frame Game” issimply to, “Get ahead, stay “Ahead”, and run out the Frames”. This simple objective reduces the needfor “Strategy”. Successfully “Scoring Points” requires the use of various“Plays” (various “Strategies”, that require psychology), and the ability to“Execute” (shoot accurately). Inaddition, it requires discipline (theability to try to do, only whatyou need to do), geometry,judgment, mathematics — and the ability to accept that you will rarely shoot as accurately as you think you will. “The Percentages” are always against you. Trying to do, only what you NEED to do, eliminates wasteful, unproductive, “FunShots”. Shuffleboard is much like Chess. Thought and planning, is required; and it has the addedchallenge of accurate execution of “Plays”. There are six “Scoring Areas” in the “Scoring Diagram” (the“Triangle”). There is a “Ten” (“10”),two “Eights” (“8”), two “sevens” (“7”) — and a “Ten-Off” (“10-Off, commonlyknown as “The Kitchen”). The Score accumulates when a “Good Disc” (a disc that iswithin a “Scoring Areas”, and NOT TOUCHING A LINE ) is still “Good” after the Last Disc in the “Half Round” comes torest. Its “value” is added to “TheScore” that is already recorded on “The Scoreboard”. If this disc is in the “Ten Area”, “10” Points are added tothe existing “Recorded Score. If it is in the “Eight Area”, “8”Points are added, if it is in the “Seven Area”, "7” Points are added. It is not a Scored Disc”, however, until all discs comes torest, after “The Hammer” is “Shot”. Shuffleboard is unique, in that, “The Score” can be reducedwith a “Kitchen” (which results in “10 Points” being subtracted from the“Recorded Score”). The “Half Round” is completed when all eight discs have beenplayed, from one end of the court. The “Last Disc” in the “Half Round” is called “The Hammer”. “The Hammer” is the one positive opportunity to “Score” (note the word “opportunity”; “onepositive opportunity”, not “positiveassurance”). The proper use of your Hammer is vital to your success. You must use it productively. Thisneed creates a “Laundry List” of “Shots” that you must not attempt (and the “Exceptions): v Do not “Chase” with yourHammer — unless, your opponent’s “Good Disc” is “Game Point. v Do not try to “Double”with your Hammer — ever. v Do not try to “Kitchen”when you are “Ahead”. v Do not try to “Kitchen”an opposing disc that is on a line (a “Liner”) v Do not try to “Combine”a disc that is outside the “Scoring Diagram”, with your opponent’s “Good Disc”— unless, your opponent’s “Good Disc” is “Game Point. Then try the “Combination” with a “Hard Shot” (very fast“Shot”) v Do not simply “Knock Off”your opponent’s “Good Disc”. Tryto “Clear it off” and “Score”. Youare trying to accumulate “75 Points”. v Do not “Shoot a Ten”with your Hammer — ever. T he unique “10-Off” provision distracts many players, andencourages a desire to “Kitchen” — whether a “Kitchen” is necessary , or not (note: the word is “desire”, not“need”). The “Recorded Score” (onthe Scoreboard) determines the “NEED” to “Kitchen”. When you are “Ahead”, you do not need to “Kitchen”. Knowing when you are “Ahead” is not as forthright as itappears. The team with the “MostPoints” is not always “Ahead”. Gofigure! There will be more about this astounding statement insubsequent articles — if there is sufficient interest. This is true. However, many players do not know, or care . They lose games thatthey should win. “Good Strategy” demands that a player “protect” his “Good Disc”. A “Good Disc” is not “protected” when it can be “seen” (if there is over half available asa target) Therefore, the Hammer, and who is “Ahead”, determines “GoodStrategy”. When your opponent hasthe Hammer, you must set a “Block” with your First Disc. There are only two “Blocks” that areused for this purpose — a “Safe St. Pete”, and a "Treacherous Tampa". The “Safe St. Pete” is placed across the court, approximatelyhalfway between the “Point of the Ten”, and “The Lag Line”, and approximatelyhalfway between the “Imaginary Longitudinal Centerline”, and Point of the Ten“. The “Treacherous Tampa” is placed on your side of the “Pointof the Ten”, even with the “Point of the Ten”, and not at all on youropponent’s side of the “Imaginary Longitudinal Centerline”. It is a Precision Shot”, that isfrequently misplaced — it is “Treacherous, and often “costly”. When you are “Ahead” , never use a “Treacherous Tampa”— always use the “Safe St. Pete”. T hese “Blocks” are placed to provide a “Hide” (a “protected”area, in which to hide a “Score”. However, attempting to “Score ” is not mandatory . Youdecide when to try to “Score”. “Good Strategy”, sometimes demands that you attempt to “Score”, and atother times, “Good Strategy” prohibits an attempt. The choice, and the responsibility , is yours. D o you want to learn to play Shuffleboard? Do you want to learn to play well? You will not learn WinningShuffleboard, in a day, a week, a month, or a year. Do you have the desire, and determination, to learn thegame? Do you have the discipline to try to do, only whatyou NEED to do? If so, let us know. We will help.
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