Best Crokinole Board Recommendations and Buying Guide3 min read
If you’ve never heard of crokinole, you’re not alone. The game may have been around for over a century, but it’s fairly underrated. Yet if you love playing games like carom, shuffleboard, or pitchnut, you’ll love this dexterity-based board game. We bring you a buyer’s guide of crokinole boards and provide some reviews of crokinole boards that we think are worth purchasing.
Intro to Crokinole
The crokinole game involves two teams of players taking turns to shoot checker-sized discs across a circular playing surface called the crokinole board. This board is approximately 25 inches or 660 mm in diameter and typically made of polished wood or laminate. There are three concentric rings on this board with point values increasing as you move in closer to the center.
Players will “shoot” the disc by flicking it with a finger, although some people even use small cue sticks for this. If there are any opponent discs on the board, players must aim to make contact. If they fail, they “foul” and have their disc removed from the board. If they moved any of their team’s discs during a “foul” shot, those get removed as well.
If there aren’t any opponent discs on the board, the player needs to shoot for the center of the board. This shot disc should make it to the 15-point guarded ring line either completely or partially, although it’s also acceptable if it only touches the line. After each team plays all 12 of their pieces, you count their score and calculate the difference between the two teams’ scores. This difference is the point that the higher-scoring team gains for that round, and the game continues until they reach a winning score.
Crokinole Buying Guide
When it comes to purchasing a crokinole board, you’re looking for a few things:
- Quality of Craftsmanship
- Size of the Crokinole Board
- Accessories
Quality of Craftsmanship
Quite frankly, most crokinole boards are pretty expensive since it’s a wood-crafted board game that is made by different types of wood. You’re looking for a board that is finely crafted, ideally aesthetically pleasing given the price and has a solid finish so that things don’t move around too slow.
Size of the Crokinole Board
Regulation sized crokinole boards are 26 inches of playing surface, however not all boards are made like this. Some are smaller and some are larger, so it’s important to take that into consideration, especially if you’re looking to play a bit more competitively.
Accessories
Finally, most crokinole boards will come with a variety of accessories, the discs obviously being the most important. Some crokinole boards will offer a bit more, such as additional pieces for checkers or a drawstring bag for the discs. You just need to make sure you buy something that has everything you’re looking for beyond just the board itself, otherwise you might be purchasing more accessories after shelling out a few hundred dollars for the board.
Best Crokinole Boards to Try
Now that you know how the game works, you might want to give it a try. Even those who are already familiar with the game may want to know which boards they should invest in. Let’s take a look at some of the best crokinole boards you should check out.
1. Gameland 26.8″ Crokinole Tournament Checker Board Game Table Top
With a 26-inch playing surface, this board from Gameland may not have the regulation size board dimensions but it’s an excellent choice for casual players. It doesn’t cost as much as high-end crokinole boards, yet it still has a smooth, premium finish.
What We Like
Made of birch plywood, this crokinhole board from Gameland has a high-end finish with a moderate price tag. This makes it an excellent investment even for beginners, especially since it has a backing board that doubles up as a checkerboard. So you get two board games for the price of one.
The playing surface has a polished wax coating that lets your discs move freely across the board, ensuring fluid gameplay. Even in terms of durability, this board meets expectations and will last for years with proper maintenance.
Other Considerations
The main issue with this option is that the board dimensions do not meet regulation size standards, making it unsuitable for professional tournaments.
Pros
- Premium finish
- Durable
- Fluid gameplay
- Moderately-priced
Cons
- Non-regulation size
2. The Gold Standard – Traditional Size Crokinole Board Game Set
This hand made Crokinole board from Crokinole Canada and sold on Etsy has multiple uses. Play Crokinole on one side of the board or chess and checkers on the other side. This is a traditional size Crokinole board with 24 inches of playing surface. The craftsmanship of the board is impeccable. It is made of birch and ash. It comes with all of the accessories you need to play.
What We Like
This is a finely crafted board that should last you for quite some time. In addition, it comes with 26 traditional size discs instead of the normal 24, so you have a few you can spare to lose. There’s a drawstring bag that holds all of your pieces that are all traditionally sized at 2.9 cm wide x 1 cm thick. On the back of this board is a chess and checkers game board that is 8×8 in size. This board also comes with instructions in English and French on how to play in case you don’t know how to play.
Other Considerations
Not the most expensive board but more expensive than some of the others listed here. You get however a real wood, finely crafted crokinole board.
Pros
- Beautifully hand made, real wood crokinole board
- Comes with two alternate games
- Comes with extra playing discs and sliding powder
Cons
- Moderately priced because of the real wood it uses unlike cheaper boards
- Not regulation size but perfect for families just wanting to have fun
Available on Amazon Available on Etsy
3. Crokinole Deluxe 3 in 1
For those who need a pocket-friendly alternative to the first two options, this 3-in-1 crokinole board from Kroeger makes a great pick. With a 22-inch playing surface, it doesn’t meet the requirements of a regulation size crokinole board. However, it only costs half as much as the first option so it’s an excellent choice for beginners and casual players alike.
What We Like
The low price is the biggest highlight of this crokinole board. Yet even with an affordable price tag, you won’t be sacrificing quality . This board is made of solid maple wood and will provide you with decent performance and durability.
On top of this, you can even use this board to play other games like checkers and backgammon. It comes complete with 30 wooden playing discs along with backgammon dice to play these games.
Other Considerations
As you can expect from something within this price range, the board construction could do with a bit of improvement. The edges are prone to coming off because the glue doesn’t hold them together that well. In addition, the board isn’t regulation size so professionals might want to consider other options.
Pros
- Affordable
- Decently-made
- Comes with two alternate games
Cons
- Non-regulation size
- Edges are prone to coming off.
4. Tournament Size Crokinole Board by Heritage Products
For professional crokinole players, Heritage Woodwork has an exquisite tournament size board that will prepare you for your next tournament. As you can expect from high-end crokinole boards, this will set you back a couple of hundred dollars but it’s well worth the price considering the build quality and performance.
What We Like
With a 26 inches playing surface, this crokinole board meets the NCA board dimension standards and is perfect for tournament use and professional play. It has a smooth finish and a perfectly flat playing surface that allows fluid gameplay. It even comes with 13 black and white crokinole discs, so you have an extra piece in case you lose one.
Other Considerations
Good things come with a price, and this crokinole board is no exception. It’s a bit pricey, which may be a big concern for those who are just getting started with the game.
Pros
- Regulation size board
- Sturdy build
- Fluid gameplay
Cons
- Pricey
5. Tracey Red Tournament Board Crokinole Set
This super fast red tournament crokinole board built by Tracey and from Crokinole Canada is handcrafted to meet the NCA standards. It’s comparable to the Royal Red listed below – whether it’s build quality, performance, or price point. The only difference is this board is the fastest on the market and comes with an eye-catching red finished gutter.
What We Like
Besides the attractive red finished gutter, this crokinole board has a lot to offer. The playing surface is made of premium maple to ensure a sturdy build that will last for years, which makes it a perfect investment piece. The smooth finish provides consistent speed and fluid gameplay – something that every professional crokinole player looks for.
This crokinole board comes with 13 black and 13 natural wood playing discs, so you have an extra piece in case you ever lose one.
Other Considerations
Like with all the other high-end crokinole boards on our list, this one is slightly pricey. It might not be a good choice for beginners and casual players looking for an entry-level board for casual play. The Gold Standard board listed above would fit that bill.
Pros
- Regulation size board
- Sturdy build
- Fluid gameplay
- Attractive red finished gutter
Cons
- Pricey
6. Real Hardwood Tournament Size Crokinole Board by Cape Fear Board Co.
Among the high-end options, this tournament-size board from Cape Fear Board Co. gets our vote. With a 26 inches playing surface made of maple, this is as good as it gets for professional crokinole players. The board is handcrafted in the USA and comes with 12 pieces each of black and white crokinole discs and a drawstring bag to hold all the pieces together.
What We Like
This crokinole board boasts of a buttery smooth playing surface that allows fluid gameplay and sends your crokinole discs flying across the board. With a real hardboard frame and maple playing surface, this is one of the sturdiest and most well-made crokinole boards on our list. Plus, its playing surface is tournament size, which makes it an excellent investment for professional players.
Other Considerations
The price is one of the biggest considerations that might hold you back from getting this board, especially if you’re new to the game. Other than that, there aren’t any major problems with this board.
Pros
- Exceptional craftsmanship
- Regulation size board
- Handmade in the USA
- Real hardwood frame and maple surface
- Sturdy build
- Fluid gameplay
Cons
- Pricey
7. The Royal Red Crokinole Board
The Royal Red crokinole board by Crokinole Canada is an amazing Crokinole Board. Unlike a cheaper octagon board, this one has a roomie playing surface of 26 inches so it meets the NCA standards for board dimensions. This board is an excellent entry-level option for those who are wanting a tournament board for slightly less money than a Tracey Board.
What We Like
Made in Canada, this crokinole board from Crokinole Canada has a very good build quality that exceeds most crokinole boards on the market. This is a tournament board so if cost is your biggest concern and you’re just getting started you may want to look at The Gold Standard or Baltic Bircher from Crokinole Canada.
Pros
- Slightly less pricey than a Tracey Board
- Decently-made
- Looks amazing
Cons
- It may be too pricey for entry level players or begginers
- It is a *very* fast tournament board but is not quite as slick as a Tracey
8. BrownCastle Crokinole Tournament Size Board
The BrownCastle Crokinole Board is an exceptional board with a hardwood laminate overlay and is water resistant. It’s a great set for beginners with a little bit of customization too.
What We Like
What’s really great (and not so great) about this Crokinole manufacturer is that you can buy discs in different colors but of course, by buying the different colored discs, you’ll have to pay slightly more for an already pricey board.
This board has a nice carrying case that’s incredibly durable and easy to transport the board from destination to destination, so you can play the game anywhere.
The board quality is definitely noteworthy and it’s a very beautiful all around board.
Pros
- Beautiful, durable board
- Carrying case
- Discs are nicely crafted
Cons
- Overall pretty pricey board
- Need to purchase discs
Bottom Line
The best crokinole boards come with a higher price tag, which might hold you back from getting one. However, they also boast sturdy builds and premium materials, so they make for good investments that’ll last for years down the line. Even if price is a major concern, you still have a few budget board options that beginners and casual players can enjoy.
How to Choose the Right Size Crokinole Discs for your Board
