This part of our web guide focuses on the equipment, accessories, and products used in Quoits.
This traditional game involves throwing metal, rope, or rubber rings over a set distance, usually to land over or near a spike or pin.
Quoits dates back to Ancient Greece. Legends hold that the ancient Greek deity Apollo was playing Quoits with his love Hyacinth, ultimately resulting in his death.
However, rules for the game weren't documented meaningfully until the late 19th century. The April 1881 edition of "The Field," a British monthly, published official rules for the game.
Today, variations of the game are played in backyards, gardens, pubs, and parks.
Traditional Quoits, also known as Outdoor Quoits, employs a large, flat, circular throwing target, typically 18 yards long, with 3-foot square clay quoiting beds enclosed in a wooden frame. The clay beds are crucial because a well-thrown quoit should embed itself in the clay at an angle, illustrating the importance of precise orientation and tactical angle.
Players stand on running boards, often made of concrete, and throw from behind a line level with the pin marked on the boards. The centrally placed pin is 1 inch in diameter and 18 inches long, serving as a target rather than a ring to be rung.
Steel Quoits, a variation, uses heavier quoits and a longer throwing distance. The equipment and rules may vary depending on the region, with local rules taking precedence.
Deck Quoits, also known as Rope Deck Quoits, originated on ships during the Victorian era and is played on a flat surface, such as a deck or floor. This version uses a smaller, circular throwing target and lighter quoits.
Indoor or Step Quoits is a miniaturized version of the outdoor game, often played in pubs. Played on a brightly colored, 18-inch square board, usually placed on a table 2 feet 6 inches high, it features a central spike (peg) surrounded by two concentric circles. The quoits, made of rubber with black and white sides, are thrown from a player's hand, and scores are based on the number of quoits that land on the board.
Other variations include Long Quoits, Northern England Quoits, East Anglian Quoits, and American Quoits.
Many of the variations of the game use different equipment, different sizes or dimensions, or are made for various materials.
Several companies specialize in producing Quoits equipment, accessories, and other products used in the game. These include handmade, luxury versions, as well as mass-produced, affordable options, and everything in between.
Manufacturers who also sell directly to consumers include Quoit Factory, Quoits USA, Jaques of London, and Riversdale Sports & Leisure Equipment, while Quoit Outlet, Woodside Garden, Shappy's Quoit Outlet, Traditional Garden Games, and Masters Traditional Games are reputable retailers of Quoit equipment and accessories. These and other websites representing manufacturers or retailers offering Quoits kids, equipment, accessories, or products are appropriate for this category.
Recommended Resources
Masters Traditional Games: Quoits Games
Based in Hertfordshire, St. Albans, England, the retailer ships globally, and carries an inventory of game tables, board games, pub games, outdoor games, casino games, tabletop games, and other items, including various types of Quoits games, including single stake quoits, multiple stake quoits, ring toss/cross quoits, garden cross quoits, Uber Giant quoits, indoor pub quoits, and Masters Premium rope deck quoits, which are highlighted here and made available for online purchase.
https://www.mastersofgames.com/cat/outdoor/quoits.htm
The small business manufactures Slate Quoit boards, Tailgate Quoit boards, and Rubber Quoits, utilizing a network of family-run businesses in Pennsylvania, Virginia, and Vermont for the supplies used. The Quoit Factory has a large selection of American-made Quoits and Croquet sets, including Mini Quoits, Steel Quoits, Beach Quoits, and Quoit accessories, and sells other outdoor games direct from manufacturers, including horseshoes and Bocce. Founded in 2004, its product catalog is posted.
https://www.quoitfactory.com/
Seeking to repopularize the lawn game of Quoits, sometimes referred to as Round Radical Horseshoes, the business has been in operation since 1996, offering its products via wholesale and retail. Products may be ordered through the website or over the telephone. The history of Trenton-Style Quoits, P.Q. Wolf's Official Rules of Quoits, and Harry's Original Trenton Quoits Rules are published on the site, and its product catalog includes Quoit sets, accessories, and replacement quoits and stakes.
https://quoitsusa.com/
Riversdale Sports & Leisure Equipment
Family-owned and operated, with more than thirty-five years of experience, the company produces Quoits sets using traditional manufacturing techniques passed down from generation to generation. Each of its sets is handmade in Australia from local and imported products. Riversdale manufactures natural fiber rope quoits and synthetic fiber rope quoits, as well as some other games. Each of its products is highlighted here, with descriptions, prices, and online shopping.
https://riversdalequoits.com.au/
Quoit pitching supplies are available from Shappy's Rubber Quoits, including Quoit boards, beach and league quoits, and accessories. A description of the games and the products are provided on the website, along with the available products, with photographs, illustrations, descriptions, prices, and online shopping capabilities. Game rules are documented on the website, and a product guarantee, the company address, telephone number, and an online contact form are available.
https://www.quoitoutlet.com/
Traditional Garden Games: Garden Quoits
Based in the United Kingdom, the company is a leading manufacturer and distributor of outdoor games to the wholesale, retail, and educational sectors. With approximately sixty outdoor games to choose from, one of them is Quoits. Its Garden Quoits produce features a wooden Quoit base with four screw-in scoring wooden stakes, four rope rings, and a canvas carry bag. Photographs, a description, technical data, prices, and contacts are noted, along with online shopping.
https://www.traditionalgardengames.com/products/garden-quoits
Headquartered in Surrey, England, Uber Games is a retailer of indoor and outdoor games, specializing in garden games. Among its games is a Quoits set, which includes a pine base, measuring 51cm long x 4.4cm wide x 1.9cm deep, five pine pegs (22.5 cm high), four natural fiber rope hoops (20cm diameter), and a canvas transport and storage bag. Photographs, a description, price, and online shopping capabilities are included, along with the company's address and contact data.
https://www.ubergames.co.uk/product/quoits/
In business since 2008, the retailer specializes in games designed to be played at tailgate parties, such as Cornhole, Baggo, and Quoits, offering Quoits games embossed with various sports team logos, including the Montreal Canadiens, Edmonton Oilers, Arizona Coyotes, Vancouver Canucks, Calgary Flames, Toronto Maple Leafs, and others, officially licensed MLB, NFL, NHL, and NCAA Quoit. Included are two 9" targets and six 7" heavy-duty sisal rope rings, and stacking target stands.
https://www.victorytailgate.com/collections/quoit
