Document And Entity Information (USD $)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 24, 2012	Apr. 11, 2012	Jul. 09, 2011
Document and Entity Information [Abstract]
Entity Registrant Name	ESCALADE INC
Document Type	10-Q
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--12-29
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		13,172,749
Entity Public Float			$ 53,085,149
Amendment Flag	false
Entity Central Index Key	0000033488
Entity Current Reporting Status	Yes
Entity Voluntary Filers	No
Entity Filer Category	Smaller Reporting Company
Entity Well-known Seasoned Issuer	No
Document Period End Date	Mar. 24, 2012
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2012
Document Fiscal Period Focus	Q1