How to Play
1. Find an opponent.
2. Start with eight pucks (the wooden discs) each side of the board.
3. Shout “GO” and then use the elastic to fire pucks through the gate until there are no more pucks on your side.
To clarify
~ Don’t take it in turns – just reload and fire as fast as you possibly can.
~ If a puck flies off the board, the player who sent it must retrieve it.
~ You’re not allowed to push pucks forwards with your hand, but you can move pucks to the side of the board to clear space if required.
~ Jeering and shouting at your opponent are allowed.
Events during the game
Roll over the boards on the right to view the events in action >>
Cardinal's Revenge
When a too well-aimed puck bounces off the opposite elastic and comes back through the gate.
Gatekeeper's Dinner
When a poorly aimed puck becomes lodged in the gate. Feed your opponent dinner by knocking it through with another puck.
Neptune's kiss
Players fire at the same time, causing the pucks to “kiss” at the gate and rebound.
Flying Sailor
When a puck flies over the gate. The sender must take it back.
Perfecting your technique
It helps to start with the elastic adjusted to your favourite tension (using the pegs provided) and the pucks lined up ready to fire.
There are three main techniques for firing pucks, each with their devotees. Take your pick, stick to one, then you'll perfect it:
The Feeder - one hand remains centrally positioned to pull back pucks and let go, whilst the other hand feeds it from a supply of pucks on the side of the board. Once in a while you'll find all the pucks are on the wrong side, and so you'll need to sweep them over with a broad movement of your arm (this move is known as the "type writer").
The Harpist - like the Feeder except that the firing hand pulls back the elastic whilst the feeder hand places a puck in front of it. Let go of the elastic to fire. This method is accurate but slow to reload.
The Garner - alternate firing pucks between your left and right hands. This produces the highest firing rate but only Mr Garner himself can combine it with good accuracy.
