What is Shuffleboard Powder?

Shuffleboard powder is a finely granulated substance that people sprinkle or spray over shuffleboard courts and sometimes tables in order to lower the friction of players’ pucks. The powder acts as a lubricant that helps the pucks glide faster and more efficiently, and can make the game more fun. It’s usually made out of tiny bead-like particles of slippery plastic or other synthetic materials, often combined with something like cornstarch. Manufacturers sometimes create products with different proportions of specific ingredients in order to achieve certain desired outcomes, and powders are frequently sold by the speeds they’re promised to achieve. Powders tend to be really helpful in some respects but they can also be troublesome to clean, and they’re most common on larger courts for this reason. Sprinkling powder over a table can get messy, and wax is often chosen instead in these circumstances.

Shuffleboard is a game played with pucks that opponents glide or “shuffle” across a scored game board in order to win points. The most traditional form of this game takes place on large courts, and players push the pucks with spade-shaped sticks called tangs. Table versions are also popular; in these instances, players stand on opposite ends of a long, narrow shuffleboard table and push the pucks with their hands to get them into goals on the other side.

The game works best when the surface is slick and doesn’t cause a lot of friction with the puck. This is where shuffleboard powder comes in. It helps the pucks glide, which allows them to go farther and gives players more control. Of course, powder doesn’t replace the need for regular maintenance like cleaning and oiling the surface. It can help improve the game, though, and can contribute to a more enjoyable playing experience.

In most cases the powder is a composite of silicone and cornstarch. The silicone is typically formed into very small beads or rounds, and the starch basically keeps those beads more or less together and prevents them from bouncing and spilling all over the court or table. Some products are made with other synthetic plastics, but the sphere shape is more or less ubiquitous. The idea is usually to elevate the puck just slightly, almost giving it the feeling of floating as it glides.

There are usually a number of different products available, and much of the choice depends on users’ specific needs. There are typically different formulations for tables versus floors, for instance, and there are often a number of different speed rankings, too. In general, the more silicone a product contains, the faster the puck will glide.

This loose powder often resembles talcum, cornstarch, or confectioner's sugar, and it’s usually sold in a cylindrical container that reminds some people of a can of powdered bleach cleanser. The array of holes on the top of the can allows users to shake the contents for more even distribution. Powders that are intended more for use on courts or large floorboards might also come in spray varieties. The product is usually the same, but wide-nozzle sprayers can make application more efficient.

Shuffleboard powder is just one option for people looking to improve glide while reducing friction. Many board owners use waxes or varnishes for this purpose; determining which product is best is usually a matter of circumstance and use. There are pros and cons to almost any option. One of the biggest downsides to powder is that the distribution can be uneven, which can lead to choppiness of puck movement. Users sometimes also complain that the residue is difficult to remove once the game is over. With floor versions, the board usually just needs to be swept; tables, though, can prove more challenging in this regard.