Shuffleboard Strategy with Shuffleboard Bob
Segment No. 2
• Our thanks to all of
you who responded
to our first segment
of “Shuffleboard
Strategy.”
• This month I’d like to
focus on the first
frame of a match.
• To review, please go
back to Segment
No. 1.
Shooting First Strategies
• I’m playing yellow.
• My opponent has the first hammer.
• The rule of thumb for going out first
is to stay even with your opponent
for that frame.
Four methods to stay even
1. Putting up a block.
2. Going on a number.
3. Scoring a high 10, 8, or 7.
4. Blocking the board by placing
a block on opponents preferred
hammer path.
We will only look at methods 1
and 2 in this segment.
Putting up a block
• Once the block is
placed, if there is a
miss or stick by
your opponent,
hide behind it.
Blocks in shuffleboard
• The St. Pete
• The Tampa
Practice is key to setting blocks
• A stick or miss on
either of these by
your opponent will
give you an
opportunity for a
hide.
• There is a real art in
setting a block.
• Practice, practice is
the key to performing
a proper block.
Going on a number
• Once on a number,
you can hope for a
miss or non-stick by
your opponent.
• Western Style courts
(because of their
speed) lend
themselves to this
strategy.
Which strategy to use?
It depends on what your four practice shots told
you:
(a) If you were able to read the court properly,
and it looks like you can hide, then put up a
block so that your opponents mind set has to
be to hit and clear. This can be hard to do
early in a match.
(b) There are (many) times that your practice
shots go no where close to where you want
them, or the speed of the court is way off, now
you should go on a number. Possibly trying
different shooting positions into the number.
Conclusion
• I’ll be honest with you,
on very difficult courts, I
am happy not to have
the first hammer.
• This gives me four more
shots to try and find my
route into the house--I
know my hammer is
coming up!
• Segment No. 3 will deal
with the remaining two
methods of staying
even.