Unabridged Shuffleboard Dictionary

Pro: A designation on Florida tournament schedules, part of the tournament number, indicating a tournament is a statewide open event, awarding Move-Up Points to Amateurs and Masters Points to Pros. Such a tournament appears both on the FSA Open Tournament Schedule and the tournament schedule of the District where the tournament takes place. (Example: "P01" is the first statewide open event of the season.)

One player of a team of two players. Usually, partners play the same color at opposite ends of the court.

See SWING, PENDULUM.

All four of one's discs counting for score at the end of a single frame of a game, or all eight of one's discs at the end of a single frame of speed shuffle.

The less risky of a choice of shots as it has a higher chance of success (that is, succeeds a higher percentage of the time). Best strategy often dictates taking the percentage shot even if it potentially has lower blocking or scoring value than a riskier choice. However, if the player is in imminent danger of losing the game, they may need to opt for the higher risk shot over the percentage shot.

EMBEDDED BEADS.

1. A disc lying on the 7/10-Off line that is liable to be bumped up into the 10-Off. Often, a portion of the pigeon is lying within the 7, allowing the disc that bumps it up to stick as a scoring disc in the 7. Syn: CRIPPLE, DUCK, SITTING DUCK. 2. DISC.

1. GUARD (def. 1, often the lead shot of a frame). 2. TAMPA.

A points-game format wherein one bowling pin is placed upright on each scoring diagram, centered at the intersection of the centerline and the 10/8 line, the front edge slightly into the scoring area of the 10. Any time a shot causes one of the bowling pins to fall over, immediately the shooter receives a deduction of ten points from their score, the shot cue disc is considered a dead disc and removed from the board, and the fallen bowling pin is placed upright in its original position or as close as possible. Once a player reaches 65 points (or some other amount of points set for the game) or higher at the end of a frame, their score is pegged at 65 for the start of each subsequent frame, except it can go lower in a later frame if they are kitchened or they knock down a bowling pin. To win, in a frame subsequent to a frame in which their score is pegged at 65, a player must have a scoring 10 and a total score of 75 or more. If both players have 65 points at the start of a frame and both have a scoring 10 at the end of the frame, the player with the higher score wins, or the game continues if neither player has a total score of 75 or more or the total scores are tied. Syn: 10-PIN, PINS, SHUFFLE BOWL.

PIN SHUFFLE.

Make shot choices that emphasize developing and taking opportunities to kitchen the opponent's discs in order to reduce their score or lead, as contrasted with a blocking game or a clearing game. This strategy employs kitchen bait, kitchen shots, up-and-down shots, and reversing kitchens, and is especially useful after falling behind in score to gain the lead or prevent the opponent from reaching the final score in a points game.

Shoot the cue disc to score without the cover of a guard, as opposed to clearing, hiding or placing a guard. Usually done either as kitchen bait or to counter the opponent's anticipated strategy of hiding, or done by novice players who are unfamiliar with good strategy basics. Syn: CAT AND MOUSE.

Shoot one's discs in a manner that compensates for the changes in the direction of moving discs due to the drift of the court.

BOARD (def. 1).

Estes' compact decision aid for the Modular System. It organizes play by four conditions: ahead or behind combined with having or not having the hammer, then directs the player to establish the Immediate Goal and choose the corresponding strategy.

1. APEX. 2. The score that wins the game in a points game.

A stick, one end painted yellow and the other black, used by a referee to indicate which color is out, to point at scoring discs, to lay on the court for a pause in play, and to make various signals to players.

A game that finishes at the conclusion of any end wherein the total recorded score of either or both singles players or of either or both teams of doubles players is equal to or greater than a pre-determined number, and the game winner is then determined by the highest score. Play may continue if the total scores are tied, usually for the number of additional ends needed to give every player one additional hammer (i.e., two ends in singles; four ends in doubles).

A court constructed from interlocking plastic tiles that are assembled on a flat surface for play and can be stacked for transport or storage.

A mix of styrene beads and cornmeal used to dress a diamond-finished court before play. The cornmeal aids in keeping the beads in place on the court. This dressing comes in various configurations for various court conditions (e.g., with added silicone for wind resistance). Used in the Western USA. Syn: WAX.

A board relationship in which one shot may move or score two discs. The opportunity can be strategically important, but Estes emphasizes that doubles remain difficult and that routine hammer attempts at them are not percentage play.

A fun-game format, played as singles or doubles, wherein a match consists of just one frame game, with a random draw for a new court and color assignment (and thereby a new partner in the case of doubles) for every participant each match. Sometimes players make a small wager (such as a dime or quarter) with their opponents on the outcome of a match.

See SHOTS, PRACTICE.

The annual official publication of the FSA containing the upcoming schedule of play, official rules, tournament results of the previous season, Masters Points list, list of Hall of Fame inductees, District information and schedules, and other information on the FSA and shuffleboard.

SUICIDE ALLEY.

1. A player who has advanced their player status within their state (such as Florida) from an Amateur status to Pro after accumulating a sufficient number of Move-Up Points by placing in state shuffleboard association tournaments that award such points to Amateur players, or by achieving other prerequisites to advance their player status to Pro. The term Pro in shuffleboard is not related to earning a living or a wage from play, as it is used in other sports. 2. A designation for a tournament that is not restricted to Amateur players only or is restricted to Pro players only.

(in Florida) MASTERS POINTS.

Points: An abbreviation used on tournament schedules. Example: "75 pts/16 Fr." means that the tournament games are played to 75 points or 16 frames, whichever comes first.

DISC.

1. SHOOT. 2. Act as pusher.

Play using the most simplistic strategy of a novice, where the first player shoots their first disc into scoring, the opponent attempts to knock it out and leave their disc on the board, the first player then does the same, and this repeats until all discs are shot for the frame, the players relying mostly on lucky shots rather than skill and strategy to earn the most points.

The person assigned to a court to help two players who are playing a non-walking singles game. The pusher sits at the opposite end of the court from the players and returns the discs to the players at the end of each frame. The pusher may also perform some referee duties when no referee is assigned to the court, such as calling discs, calling scores and removing dead discs; and may act as scorekeeper if the players are shooting from the foot.

Endanger a hidden scoring disc by shooting the cue disc to, or bumping a live disc to, a position where the cue disc or bumped disc can be used by one's opponent to target the hidden scoring disc with a combination or carom shot.