What's marbles?

Marbles originated from ancient Rome and Egypt. The name Marble comes from a material called Marble (expensive stone). In the year 1800 the best Marbles were made out of Alabaster (white Marble). People wanted to use a cheeper material. They tried clay but it crumbled when the marbles would hit each other. Finally in 1846 a German glass blower invented special scissors that could cu t glass and make marbles. That way marbles became cheeper and easier to produce. Now marbles are made in factories where hot glass is dropped onto steel rollers that shape the glass into marbles.

How to Shoot a Marble

Players should choose a larger marble to shoot but they do not have to. If you want to play officially your shooter should be no bigger than 3/4'', but any larger will also do. The players can decide if they want to play with 'steelies', which will usually damage the target Marbles. There are several ways you can shoot a marble, and certain games will require that you shoot a specific way. The easiest way is called fulking.

To use the fulking technique place your shooter on your 2nd knuckle of your forefinger. Your hand does not have to touch the ground.

Then place your thumb behind the marble and flick making it go forward.

Another way is to shoot knuckle down, this is a technique that most tournaments and competitions use. If you are a beginner you will find it a lot easier not to use knuckle down but if you want to play serious marbles you need to learn this one. Put at least one knuckle on the ground (sometimes all four). Place your shooter so that it rests between your first and second fingers. Curl your forefinger around the shooter and curl your other fingers behind it. Then place your thumb behind the marble just like when you use the fulking technique. Then just flick it out!

Interesting Facts about Marbles

• Annually every June children gather at the National Marbles Tournament in Wildwood, New Jersey to find out who is the mightiest mibster (a marble player) in the country. They play Ringer.
• Abraham Lincoln's favorite marble game was the Old Bowler.
• The knuckle box originated from Brooklyn, New York.
• There are over 100 glass makers in the US who make marbles by hand each with its own design.