Article  Shuffle Board: Find One in Your Budget You've always seen that dusty shuffle board table down at your local pub. In the evenings, you have even been witness to loads of locals surrounding it and cheering on their favorite players. What you might not have realized is what a worldwide phenomenon it is. The game dates as far back as the 1500's A.D. For those without a calendar, that's quite a long time. What has kept this game alive all these centuries? And how is it that something so seemingly simple can have some of the hardest core fanatics following and supporting it? The quick answer is that like other sports where the perception of the game conveys simplicity, it's about being on the inside and understanding the challenges. Bowling is a sport that falls into this same category. Anyone can go to the local alley on a Friday or Saturday night (traditionally the non-league nights where the business makes most of its money on the "amateurs".) They rent a pair of shoes and find a ball that doesn't stick to their fingers. From there it is mostly about camaraderie, poking fun when your friends gutter ball, and maybe having a few beers to boot. Shuffle board, given its simple façade, strikes the uninitiated as being such a simple sport that many wonder if, indeed, it can be considered a sport. The thousands of members of the International Shuffleboard Association would beg to differ. These types of groups are here because of their members' love of the game. While they may have fun playing the game and its competition, it is serious sport to most players. There is even an organization, the Table Shuffleboard Association, that cares for the rules and regulations of the game. Much like the U.S. Golf Association, it fosters games for current and future players. When you have this much support, and groups of this stature looking after your game, it's considered a serious, real sport. One reason the game appears deceivingly simple has to do with the area of play. Most shuffle boards are made from a nice maple with a high quality, heavy polymer finish. This kind of board can last many years. Better quality manufacturers are even offering their customers lifetime warranties on the game tables they produce. If you are interested in getting a shuffle board for your home or business establishment, there are a few things you'll want to consider prior to making the purchase. First, know what your budget is likely to be, as this will help you make some of the initial quality decisions up front. As stated, maple is one of the most popular choices, but also tends to be more expensive. Depending upon your budget, it may be well worth the extra cost. If you need to focus on a table that is slightly more affordable, you could consider a nice birch substitute. This wood, with a lovely stain and the adherence of a high quality, impact resistant polymer finish is also likely to last a number of years and provide excellent game play for all who participate. Another consideration is the cabinet style where your shuffle board table will reside. While game play won't be affected by the cabinet itself, you can substitute a higher quality and more expensive style for something in your budget range. Solid wood cabinets are obviously going to price out higher than laminates with veneered surfaces. With today's technology, though, don't be shy about considering some of those less expensive choices, especially if your shuffle board is going to receive high use and a lot of traffic. When the time comes to replace your table, you'll know that you not only made your money back, but you provided your patrons with a quality pastime that kept them coming back to your place time and again. Category Entertainment Author Anonymous Add To Favorites Print This Article Email Article To A Friend Post Comments   Rate This Article (0) 1 - Poor2345 - Good678910 - Excellent Added On Fri Feb 19th,2010