Warmer weather is spreading across the country spring and summer sports will soon be in full swing.  Amongst them is perhaps one of the oldest sports on record.  A sport that beckons to athletes young and old.  A sport that was played by royalty in the 16th century.  A sport with a hall of fame so hard to get into only the names of 12 people grace it's halls.  That sport is, drum roll, shuffleboard.  Ok so shuffleboard may not require its athletes to be at the peak of their physical condition but I believe it is that very fact that makes it popular.  Cruise ships depend on it to keep people from jumping ship, retirement homes promote it to keep the senior citizens from revolting against the staff, Henry VIII gambled with other nobles over the "shovillaborde" court in 1532 and historians have argued about its true origin for decades.

Shuffleboard is perhaps most popular for the more experience crowd.  It requires very little physical exertion which is great for player of all ages who are out for a leisurely game.  While you may not break a sweat the competition can still be fierce.  The game has been around for over 500 years and since then very little has changed.  In fact I'm sure you can still buy solid wood shuffleboard sticks somewhere although they tend to be damaged by moisture easily and thus do not offer the best bang for your buck.

So now that we're all versed a little more in the history and popularity of the sport let's take a look  at some of your equipment options.  While the majority of us would be happy with the Morley M13753 Deluxe Shuffleboard Set people using the equipment in commercial applications such as cruise ships, resorts or retirement homes should probably buy something a little beefier.

Since I mentioned the deluxe set I just want to elaborate on it a bit more for one reason.  Everything comes in the box.  I mean everything, even the court.  These deluxe aluminum shuffleboard sets come with the cues, discs and even a 15 foot long roll out court.  Roll the court out on you patio, deck or paved driveway and shabam instant shuffleboard.  A great value for around a hundred bucks if you ask me.  Plus you simply break down the cues, roll up the court and put it away when you're done.  Simple and fun... isn't that the way we all wish life was!

Commercial situations require a bit more oomph though and for that I would recommend a Dom shuffleboard set.  There's no court in these boxes but the design and quality of the cues and pucks is top notch.  In fact Dom makes a professional shuffleboard set that is approved by the NSA.  Not the National Security Agency, although I'm sure they would like it, the NSA is the... you guessed it.... National Shuffleboard Association.  So not matter who hits your courts for some fun you can be sure there will be no complaints about the quality of the cues they will be using.  The set includes deluxe cues with swivel runners for smooth action and Arco discs that are chip resistant and water proof.  A great investment at around $200.

Believe it or not the professional set is actually not the most durable though.  If you're main concern is durability then the Dom Institutional Shuffleboard set is the way to go.  The Dom Institutional Shuffleboard Set is a high quality; durable shuffleboard set that is perfect for schools, resorts, recreation centers and camps.  This set features high quality cues with blue fiberglass shafts that are wrapped in smooth polyester for added strength and a handsome finish.  One piece molded heads are made of fiberglass and reinforced with nylon and feature ball shaped tips for crisp action.  While this set doesn't feature the approval of the NSA for tournament play it will delight cruise takers, retirees, campers and vacationers anyway.

So if you're not a shuffleboard enthusiast yet give it a try.  It can be a lot of fun for the  whole family.  If you run a business that includes shuffleboard courts give a Dom shuffleboard set a try.  You won't be disappointed.  You will find a complete selection of recreational games and sports products along with all the shuffleboard sets mentioned here at www.morleyathletic.com.  No matter what the sport, be a competitor.