Guide to Shuffleboard Equipment Pricing and Costs

Price out shuffleboard equipment to make an informed purchase

By Emily Lugg

If you are thinking of adding shuffleboard to your list of recreation options for customers, it is beneficial to research shuffleboard equipment pricing and costs to get the best deal. Shuffleboard supplies can be a great addition to any recreation facility. It is a game the whole family can play and is a relatively inexpensive addition to a game room or recreation center. There are many factors to consider when setting your shuffleboard budget. You need to be clear on the costs associated with the court as well as the equipment that is required to play on the court. It is also important to think long term and anticipate additional costs, such as maintenance fees, that may come up down the road.

Consider the following when looking to install shuffleboard tables or outdoor shuffleboard equipment:

1. Do you have the room for an outdoor court or should you look into shuffleboard tables?

2. What type of shuffleboard supplies will you need to purchase in order for the game to get up and running?

3. Include maintenance and repair estimates when researching shuffleboard equipment pricing and costs.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Decide whether indoor shuffleboard tables or outdoor shuffleboard courts are best for you

An outdoor shuffleboard court requires quite a financial and spatial investment. For the price of a can of outdoor paint, around $20, you can build your own shuffleboard court on any concrete or asphalt surface. For a more professional look, you can hire a contractor to build your court; however, keep in mind the additional cost for the labor. It is important to remember that if you don't already have a large enough outdoor surface, paying to lay concrete will greatly increase your cost. If you decide that an indoor shuffleboard table is better for your facility, be prepared to spend anywhere between $2,500 to $10,000. The price is dependant on several things including the length of the table, -- between 9 and 22 feet -- the thickness of the table, and the type of material.

I recommend: Construction Work gives you plans for building your own outdoor shuffleboard court. Gold Star Games explains the main differences between the different styles of shuffleboard tables.

Choose the appropriate shuffleboard equipment

It is important to consider that, although the outdoor set might initially cost less, there may be more maintenance required. To play outdoor shuffleboard you will need eight shuffleboard discs, four of two different colors for between $60 and $100. You will also need at least two shuffleboard poles, one for each player. Each one of the shuffleboard sticks costs between $20 and $40 depending on its quality. And the last basic item you will need for outdoor shuffleboard is wax. The wax only costs around $5 per pound but can be used up quickly depending on how often the court is in use. For an indoor table you also need a set of eight shuffleboard discs, obviously much smaller. They cost around $50 to $60 per set as well as a supply of wax.

I recommend: Shuffle Board Club provides a glossary of shuffleboard terms so you are clear on all aspects of playing shuffleboard. Shuffle Board Table outlines the main differences between indoor and outdoor shuffleboard.

Factor in replacement shuffleboard supply and maintenance

Consider that an outdoor court will experience more wear and tear due to its exposure to the elements so it's important to factor in re-surfacing fees that can run up to a few hundred dollars every couple years. If you are careful about making sure the equipment is stored inside, you may not have to replace the discs and shuffleboard cues as often, but eventually the parts on each cue will need to be replaced. Each of these parts are relatively inexpensive, less then $10, but should be factored into your overall budget. An indoor shuffleboard set will also need to be maintained with wax, but the table itself should not need much maintenance. A set of replacement indoor shuffleboard discs costs between $25 and $30.

I recommend: Poly Glide details equipment and court maintenance. M & S Sporting Goods answers some shuffleboard re-surfacing questions.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• Seriously determine the benefits and advantages of the different shuffleboard options before you make the investment. You'll want to create a return on investment model to be sure that your efforts are worth the time and money you put forth.

Guide to Shuffleboard Equipment

Generate some excitement with high quality and high-performance shuffleboard equipment

By Margaret Haerens

Shuffleboard is a popular game played at hotels, motels, cruise ships, retirement communities, gyms, game rooms, resorts and clubs, but it requires having the right shuffleboard equipment. If you are the owner, operator, or recreation manager of a business looking to generate some excitement in your recreation area and want to provide hours of enjoyment for players of all ages, shuffleboard is a great option for you.

There are two kinds of shuffleboard: table shuffleboard is played indoors on tables with contestants pushing weights to spots across the table; the second kind, deck (or floor) shuffleboard is played on outdoor or indoor courts, where players use shuffleboard poles with cues on the end to push discs across the court. There is a wide range of equipment for both types of shuffleboard games available to meet the needs of your business while providing a great source of enjoyment for your clientele.

To get started, however, you’ll first need to make some important decisions:

Will you need a table or court?
What kind of surface is best for your players?
What kind of shuffleboard equipment do you need to provide a high-performance game and still maintain the surface of your table or outdoor court over time?

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Consult with suppliers of shuffleboard equipment to pick the right deck surface

Deck courts can be made of plastic mats, which are easily installed inside or outside; wood, such as on the deck of a ship; concrete, which is durable but hard on the knees and joints; or customized plastic or rubber surfaces, which are common in multi-sport courts that often include courts for tennis, basketball, shuffleboard, and other outdoor sports.

I recommend: Planet Shuffleboard.com manufactures several models of easy-to-install, plastic shuffleboard courts. For a multi-sport surface, VersaCourt manufactures and installs custom-designed courts that are reported to provide orthopedic benefits for older players. Recreation Enterprises Inc. is the oldest established manufacturer of tournament quality shuffleboard equipment designed for use on public courts and for hotels, motels, cruise ships and resorts. They install courts and provide a variety of outdoor shuffleboard equipment, like glide cues, shuffleboard sticks, discs (also called pucks) and surfacing equipment.

If shuffleboard tables are right for you, choose from different styles

Pick from traditional boards, nonconventional tables, bumper tables and custom tables that will brighten up the game room at any resort, hotel, motel, or family game room.

I recommend: Willams Shuffleboard manufactures both traditional and nontraditional shuffleboard tables as well custom and bumper tables. They also offer shuffleboard scoreboards, maintenance equipment and a variety of high-quality weights for your table. One of the top providers of shuffleboard equipment, Venture Shuffleboards, creates high-performance shuffleboard tables as well as weights, scoreboards, T-squares, and maintenance equipment.

Complete your game with the right shuffleboard supplies and accessories

Once you've decided on a surface and have your court laid out and ready to go, you will need shuffleboard cues (which are affixed to the end of a shuffleboard pole, which is also known as a shuffleboard stick), scoreboards, and shuffleboard discs. If you have shuffleboard tables, you'll need weights and speed powders to maintain the speed and high performance of your table.

I recommend: Sun-Glo makes a wide range of speed powders, weights, maintenance products, scoreboards and other shuffleboard supplies. Danny Vegh's offers shuffleboard sticks and cues, shuffleboard discs, outdoor stencil, scoreboards, discs and weights and maintenance equipment. Mansion Athletics sells a variety of shuffleboard equipment and accessories, such as DOM and Allen shuffleboard cues, disc sets and maintenance equipment.