Frequently Asked Questions

Equipment

1) What is the difference between the Recreational, Professional and Continental cues? 

Our Recreational Cue is great for a variety of settings: personal use, schools, community centers, churches, resorts and other non-professional settings. It is the most budget-friendly, while still being durable and long-lasting.  

The Professional and Continental Cues both have the same cue heads, and grips and are official length. The difference between them is the shaft material – the Professional Cue is made of fiberglass while the Continental Cue is made from anodized ed aluminum. As a result, the Professional Cue is slightly heavier (320 g), compared to the Continental Cue (300g) but is more durable and offers greater flex. The Professional Cue is considered by many to be an excellent cue for club environments, where many cues are needed for a larger group. It is also sometimes preferred for outdoor play as some feel it has more control in windier conditions.  

Much of the cue choice is personal preference, as many shufflers also enjoy the lighter, stiffer Continental Cue.   

2) I am purchasing cues for a recreational setting. Which cue is the strongest/ will last the longest? 

Shuffleboard cues by definition are not strong items. They are designed to be very lightweight. Couple that with a thin profile at a 6' length and they are susceptible to breakage, especially if not treated with care. 
 
In recreational or institutional settings such as camps, resorts, hotels, bars, restaurants and community centres, where there is little to no supervision at the courts, cues earn themselves a “well-loved” designation pretty quickly.  

Both our Recreational and Professional Cues work well in these settings as the fiberglass shafts are more flexible and less susceptible to breakage and kinks, in comparison to a cue with an aluminum shaft (I.e., the Continental Cue). The heads on the Recreational Cue can wear more quickly on a concrete court but being one piece, they are quick and easy to replace. The heads on the Professional Cue are full size and offer better grip and control of the disc during play. The yellow runners hold up well over time and can be replaced as necessary. Check out our Accessories page here for replacements parts available. 
 
For those who prefer the feel and look of an aluminum shaft, our Continental model plays great. Take care to ensure no one leans heavily on the shaft as the aluminum is more susceptible to bending and kinks. 
 

Courts 

1) How can I best care for a wooden shuffleboard court? 

Wooden courts are becoming more common and this information should help you to get the best game results out of your court. 

2) Do you have instructions for using Nella Seal #2 Wax? 
How many coats will 1 gallon do? Yes, for applying the Nella Seal and to find out how to strip or clean old wax off our court, click here. 1 Gallon of wax will typically do 1 court 2 times if used as specified.,   

3) How do I mark the lines on my concrete court? 

If you are doing multiple courts, we have a court stencil that will do the trick and save you countless hours. See item CS-96. If you are doing only a single court or 2 courts, then you may want to just mark out the lines with masking tape (1 1/2" or 2" width tape). Then using a small roller or paint brush, you can paint the marked out areas. For additional information, download this 2 page pdf on court lining and painting.,   

4) What is the best paint to use on my concrete court? 

When determining the proper paint or other materials for your concrete court fabrication it is always best to consult your local hardware professional. The answer to this question is greatly dependent on your particular conditions, kind of court and climate of your area. There is not a single correct answer.,   

5) Can I use "tape" to mark out a shuffleboard court? 

We are not aware of any tape that works for a shuffleboard court. It either stops the discs, or leaves a residue when you pull it up. Painting permanent lines may take longer, but is the best route to go. By using the court stencil (CODE: CS-96), it will make painting a lot easier.,   

6) Can I repair my concrete court? 

If there are cracks, especially when the court has shifted and the cracks act as a "bumps" for the discs, then the courts will not work well for shuffleboard. Quite simply, the crack will affect every shot. There is no effective way to repair cracks that have shifted. 
 
If the concrete is flaking it is advisable to speak to someone local who works with concrete to see if it can be buffed/polished.

 

Accessories and Play Enhancement   

1) How often should glass beads be used on the court? 

Glass beads should be used sparingly. Typically, beads are sprinkled on the court before each match. Depending on the length of a game, so long as both teams agree, it would be acceptable to add additional beads to the court. It is really a matter of preferance in determining the desired amount of speed of discs.,   

2) What can I use to make my discs go farther and faster? 

There are different things that can be done to improve the speed and distance of your shots. This also depends on the court that you are using, but the single most important accessory you will require are beads. Beads come in different forms and the ideal choice depends on your court. The best bead to use is a glass bead (SBR-3) but these are NOT to be used on any vinyl, plastic or wooden floor as they are highly abrasive. For vinyl, plastic courts (such as the Roll-a-Court line), we recommend only the plastic beads SPB-5 and SPB-5WR (wind resistant for outdoors). For gymnasium or tiled floors SPB-5 may be a little hazardous especially if floor is used for multipurpose. In this case, we recommend the TSW wax which is much easier to sweep up and less slipperly for pedestrian traffic.Secondly, you can apply Disc Wax (See DW) to the bottom of the discs. This will enhance the travel and control of the discs.Lastly, always remember that a clean court is critical. Keep the broom nearby and sweep up any loose dirt and dust.,   

3) Can I use Glass Beads (SBR-3) on my gym floor (or church hall floor)? 

NOT RECOMMENDED. The SBR-3 glass beads are very slipperly and are dangerous if left on floors where there is walking traffic. Glass beads are also quite abrasive and will scratch any vinyl or wooden flooring. The recommended product for these situations are the Plastic Beads, SPB-5 or the TSW powdered wax.,   

4) Can I use Silicone spray (SIL-08) on discs for use on full size roll out 
courts?

Putting silicone spray on the discs for a full size rollout court is better than not using anything but it does not perform as well as using the proper plastic beads (SPB-5 or SPB-5WR). If you choose to use only the silicone on the discs without using plastic beads you will find it is much harder to push the discs the entire distance. It will be better than nothing at all but not as good as using only plastic beads without any silicone.,   

5) When is it best to use the Disc Wax stick? 

DW does two things....it helps the discs slide and also helps protects the bottom of the discs. Regardless if you are using beads or not, if it is a hard surface (concrete usually, but could be wood or tile) hard wax sticks will help. Also, in multi use facilities, where beads are not allowed or could prove dangerous, then DW is a reasonable compromise to help discs slide easier. DW is not needed on a plastic Grid Court or the Roll Out Courts.