The Earliest Trials and Tribulations of Table Shuffleboard

Shuffleboard is a popular game played in bars and restaurants around the world, enjoyed both competitively and casually by people of all ages. This game has historically brought together individuals from different genders and social classes because it doesn't require extensive skill and isn’t overly physical. However, many competitive players would agree that it can become quite exhausting, especially during intense matches.
The exact origins of shuffleboard are difficult to pinpoint, as the game's basic mechanics are simple and it has many variations one could have been knock off that could date back to ancient times. Nonetheless, table shuffleboard is generally traced back to the vibrant pub scene of 17th-century England. While it gained popularity among the lower classes—including peasants, gamblers, and thieves—it was not exclusively for them. The aristocracy also recognized shuffleboard as a great way to pass the time and engage in discussions, including political matters. Though it’s unclear if any wars were influenced by a game of Horse Collar, shuffleboard likely helped break the ice among rival countrymen after dinner gatherings.
It is believed that the aristocracy was responsible for creating the first dedicated shuffleboard tables. While the lower classes played on whatever length of bar they found, the noblemen established official dimensions for shuffleboard tables, which the skilled craftsmen at McClure Tables now use to create their products. The game was originally known as "shove groat," a term that persisted for some time. Notably, William Shakespeare referenced "shove groat" in his play Henry IV, when the character Falstaff says, "Quoit (throw) him down, like a shove-groat shilling…" The term "quoit" has survived from its Old English roots and refers to the weights used in both table shuffleboard and the court version of the game.
Shuffleboard was extremely popular among the Tudor royal family, who would often play on tables up to 30 feet long. This exceeds today's regulations, although competitions still occur on tables that can be as long as 24 feet. Despite King Henry VIII's reported ban on shuffleboard and other recreational activities for the lower classes—aimed at encouraging them to focus on more productive endeavors—shuffleboard ultimately prevailed and continues to be enjoyed worldwide, not just in England.