Richard Ingram Speaks:  Speaks about Shuffleboard!!  (And you thought I had abandoned Shuffleboard!!  lol)

When the score is approximately even stay off the scoring board. Wait for an opportunity to hide a disc or score with your hammer.

Do not let yourself become afflicted with bad habits like “kitchenettes” i.e. trying to put most all of your opponent’s discs in the kitchen.  If you do not need 10 off your opponents score just clear the board. 

Being seated while players on the opposite end of the court are shooting is a “courtesy of the court” to prevent distraction.  Being seated is also a requirement of the National Shuffleboard Rules.

Always sight down your cue with your eyes directly over the cue shaft to see if it is pointing straight at the point of impact on the target.

Do not push the cue w/a jerk or shove in your arm. 

As your hand comes down with the cue use a pendulum swing of a half circle (180 degrees), at the end of which your hand is chest high with the back of your hand and finger tips facing skyward. When the disc leaves the cue you should be lightly holding the cue as if you were writing with a pen or pencil. Hold that position until your disc crosses the dead zone or lag line.

Most expert shuffleboard players use the two-step approach method.  The percentage of experts who do not use two steps is so small it is best never to think about another way.

The two-step approach combined with a smooth push of the disc and a high follow thru finish puts FINESSE in your game.    If you master finesse, you will achieve greater success.

Every time you shoot your eyes should be focused directly at a target such as a disc, a line or an imaginary object.

Your SILENT CAPTAIN —the scoreboard—dictates every single shot to be made.  For example, near the beginning of a game, yellow has 14, black has 15—the score dictates yellow, who shoots first, to put up a hide disc.  Black either blocks by placing a disc alongside the hide or knocks the hide off the court and clears the board.

Seldom ever should your try to send your opponents St. Pete to the kitchen.  If you have mastered the speed and drift of the court, then try sending his Tampa to the kitchen.  When attempting to kitchen a Tampa, also consider rolling to a St. Pete for yourself.

When you really need 10 points off your opponents score because you are 15 or more points behind, go on the open board with a low 7 and make your opponent come after you.  Hope your opponent sticks when taking you off the board, giving you an opportunity to put his disc in the kitchen.

Shuffleboard is a deep-rooted course in human behavior.  This game has more psychodrama aspects such as struggles, turmoil, and spontaneous creative actions than you can imagine.

Make your opponent come after you.  Don’t chase after his St. Pete’s or Tampa s sometimes called heads. Headhunting is a sure sign of a novice or amateur.

Generally, do not attempt to kitchen your opponent’s discs unless you are 15 or more points behind in score.  Just takeout scoring discs and others discs that may be converted to a score.  When accomplishing these take outs always try to ensure your disc also clears the court. 

Seldom ever should you block your opponent’s disc in the kitchen—– with one exception – if you’re near the end of the game and you are behind in score block it!!!!!  Instead of blocking shoot for a 7 or 8 or set a hide on the opposite side of the board.  If your opponent, when playing the board because he is behind in score, puts himself in the kitchen, you should immediately set up a hide on the other side. When he goes for his disc in the kitchen, you put in a scoring disc behind your hide.

The difference between an amateur and a champ is strategy.  Strive to advance your shuffleboard skills by using strategies. Many beginning players are unaware of the fine points experienced players work into their game.  Some players continue to play for years without discovering the excellent thinking underlining the strategies and techniques used by accomplished players.

Don’t rush the game.  You must always be deliberate before shooting.  Shooting with care and deliberation is one of the main trademarks of an expert. Casual rushed shots are amateurish.

Two main facets of shuffleboard are (1) “kitchens do not win games, numbers do” (2) “a scoring disc that is not hidden is usually useless.”