Shuffleboard is a simple game that makes for the perfect arcade or bar game. The simplicity of the game mechanics makes it a fun game for all kinds and ages of people. If the game excited you and you’re planning to buy a shuffleboard, we’ve got you covered.
Usually, people do not know much about the table’s construction, hence get drawn to any table with a smooth and shiny surface. But there’s more to it. Wondering what you must gauge to get a durable table that facilitates a smooth playing experience? Allow us to help you!
Table Construction
Shuffleboard tables come in different sizes and are made of different kinds of material. But what must be common is the strength and durability of the table. You need a table that doesn’t break easily and doesn’t easily get damaged or scuffed by players and the mishaps they cause. So ensure your overall table construction is solid.
Table Size
On a professional level, the tables used are about 22 feet in length and about 20 inches in breadth. However, 22 feet is pretty long, so small sizes to about 8 or 9 feet are also built. You must first decide where you’ll be placing the table. If you plan to install it outside, get a size according to that. If you’re placing the table in a room, ensure that there’s a minimum of 3 feet of space around the table on all sides. Once you know the room size, you can get the appropriate shuffleboard table.
Table Surface or Playing Area
The playfield or play area must be smooth that’s not all. Earlier, the play area used to be made with hard maple wood, but nowadays, people use soft maples such as white maple, Russian birch, and more are used. If soft maple is being used, it must be coated with a polymer, and the total thickness of the playfield must be about 3 inches. If the table isn’t 3 inches, there’s a higher chance of the playfield being damaged. Certain manufacturers will reduce the playfield's thickness or width to cut costs, so ensure you check these parameters thoroughly.
Climatic Adjusters
Based on the weather and the humidity, the structure of the table might change as it is made of wood. So, to mitigate such changes, you can use climatic adjusters to ensure the playfield and other parts of the table don’t change. While these are used mainly by professionals, you can use them too if you’d like to give yourself the feel of actual tournament tables.
Overall, these are the few things you must remember before buying a shuffleboard table. So, hope this guide helps you buy the best shuffleboard table for your space.