Ours get lots of play,kids love it. They are lots of fun with a few players. If you have the space go for it.

I have one and have had one in our gameroom for several years. Definitely the hit at any party we have ever had. They get more play than the pins. We have a Williams Gold Mine (system 11) shuffle bowler.

Not really any wider than a pinball machine. However they are about 3 ft longer

Any thoughts on a shuffle bowler vs a commercial skee ball machine? I was trying to decide which would get more play.

Seems like the shuffle bowler would be a better game to stand around chatting while playing.

I have one and it gets played as often as any of my pins, except for Star Trek. It's a smaller one with six inch pins.
Shuffle Bowler 004.JPG

Funny that you bring this up. I've had a shuffle alley in our game room for years. That and a Sega Outrunners twin driving vid got the most use by non pin players. About a year ago I bought a Model S skeeball game and it's replaced the shuffle alley in popularity. In fact, yesterday I decided to sell the shuffle alley because no one touches it and I could use the room. The downside in choosing one or the other is that shuffle alleys are $300-$600 while a nice skeeball is 4 times that.

Shuffle bowlers are great fun with multiplayers.
Let's just say , lots of shit talking.

Plus with most shuffle bowlers they typically have 5 different games you can play. Typically two games that are unique to that machine; plus they all have Flash, Strike 90 and regulation.

Love it.

A shuffle alley never gets played unless you have friends over. The simplicity of the game is such that EVERYONE can play.....as everyone knows how to bowl. I like the shuffle alleys of the 50's/60's. They possess a certain charm.

They are bulky, difficult to move, and can be problematic to get dialed in 100%. Usually, you can buy a fully working EM version for $500 or a solid state version for $600. And yes, many are outrageously high priced. non-working units can be purchased for $300 or less. Replacement back glasses are nearly impossible to find, especially for the older shuffle alleys.

Shuffle alleys are regarded as the red headed step child of bowlers. They get no respect. Ball bowlers, which are almost identical on mechanical basis, get full respect. What this means is don't bother sticking much money in a shuffle alley, as you'll never get it back. If you want to do a full blown restoration on a bowler, get a ball bowler.

Agree 100%. Once you get one running well, like any EM game, you need to play it. Unfortunately, mine hasn't been played much lately so I'll have to do some maintenance before putting it on the market.015.JPG

That's true. Shuffle alleys are fun and a great game for guests, but ball bowlers are even more fun. The one advantage a shuffle alley has over a ball bowler is that it takes up less space.