PRACTICE — Summer Tournament

“‘Tis the season to be jolly”. No! Not Christmas, but the season of “Florida Summer Shuffleboard”; which is a different game than the “Standard FSA Game”; — and you must treat it so.

When you “Practice” you must get the most information that is available.

Most players get little information from their “Practice Shots”; because they do not try.

Normally, in a “Summer Tournament”, you get “Two for Speed, and Four for Practice”.

Most players simply shoot the “Two for Speed” from the “Inside Front Corner of the Starting Area”, and shoot somewhere into the Scoring Diagram.

They get some information regarding the speed, — and nothing else.

You (being more knowledgeable) will shoot from the “Outside Front Corner of the Starting Area”, and shoot one disc across the board, to the deep outside corner of the 7 area, you will see the drift across the board (the same drift that affects a Hammer-8, or a Hammer-7), and will learn something about the speed.

You will shoot your second disc from the same spot, and shoot parallel to the edge of the court to the deep corner 7. You will learn the drift and speed along that path.

You have gained all the knowledge that the “Two for Speed” permits.

You will also, gather all the available information from your “Four for Practice”.

Having learned the drift and speed to the two corner “7s”, you have no need to practice these shots again.

Therefore, have your partner give you a “Target”, by holding his cue about six inches to the left (or right) of the centerline, in the 7 (where “everyone” practices to). You will shoot from the “Inside Front Corner of the Starting Area”, and learn the drift and speed to that spot..

Then, have him put the disc on the other side (six inches to the left, or right, of the centerline). And shoot from the “Inside Front Corner of the Starting Area”.

Now have him set “Fat-8s”, one on each side of the centerline. Shoot from the “Outside Front Corner of the Starting Area”, and shoot at those “Targets”.

Shoot at “SCORING SPEED” (not “Kitchen Speed”) to learn the drift and speed for scoring. An 8. Shooting these “Practice Shots” at “Kitchen Speed” will not give you the drift and speed for scoring.

You have used your “Practice Shots” to the best advantage, and have gained all the information that the “Rules” permit.

However, I have seen that some players that have adopted this method of “practice”, are shooting at the “Fat-8 Targets” at “KITCHEN SPEED”. “Kitchen Speed” will not let you “see the drift” for “scoring an 8”. Shoot your 8’s at “8 Speed”.

The reason that I developed this “Practice” method is clear to me, but I expect that the underlying reason has eluded most players.

Sure! It is advantageous to improve your chances of “Making Your Hammer”. However, — the underlying reason is:

I want to play the “Florida Frame Game” (and I want you to play) with the same philosophy that I use in a “75-Point Game”.

My reason for that is; the closer you can stay to “The 75-Point Philosophy” the less deleterious the effect of the “Florida Frame Game” is upon your “75-Point Game”.

If you develop the habit of clearing a disc that you cannot “Score On”, because “it is the same as scoring”, you will do so in a “75-Point Game”; where the object is to advance toward “75”.

If you “Play Kitchen” when you do not “Need a Kitchen”, you are getting away from “The 75-Point Philosophy”.

Stay as close to “The 75-Point Philosophy” as possible. This means “Clear”, “Stay off the Board” when you are “Ahead”, and “Play Kitchen” only when you NEED a “Kitchen”. Develop “Good Habits”, it will “pay-off” in a “75-Point Game, — as well as, in the “Florida Frame Game”.

You have now gained all the information that the “Rules” permit.

In addition, it is always “smart” to watch your opponent’s “Practice”, to learn his “drift”. You will then know the safest area to place your discs.

When you play “The Florida Frame Game” with the same philosophy as you play a “75-Point Game”, you will be competitive in a “75-Point Game”.

Wilbur Estes > “The Guy Who Wrote The Book”