Fun with an air hockey table
Air hockey is a fast-paced, highly competitive game that looks a bit like ice hockey, but doesn’t need an ice rink. The main equipment needed is an air hockey table. Below is a brief look at this equipment and the sport it is used for.
The game is usually played by two people, although teams of two people each can also play. As with the ice version, the objective is to get the puck into the goal on the opposite side. Each player has a mallet, sometimes called a hat, with which to hit the puck. In the official game of the tournament, the winner is the first person or team to score seven points. Official games have many other rules, friendly games have only the rules that the players agree to.
Most tables have small ventilation holes that cover the playing surface. When air is pumped through the holes, the disc glides on the surface with very little friction. This makes the game very fast and therefore more exciting to play. Some tables rely on a very slippery plastic surface rather than a flow of air. They are still called air hockey tables even though they don’t use air.
There are several active manufacturers of these tables. For competitive play, the United States Air Table Hockey Association (USAA) currently only sanctions the use of the Dynamo brand, manufactured by Valley-Dynamo. Valley-Dynamo manufactures several models, some designed for home use and some for commercial applications. Business models can be configured for coin operation. Those who want to earn a little extra money or avoid overuse can certainly use this option at home.
The Valley-Dynamo Fire Storm is your top-of-the-line home model. It has all the standard features, including a high performance air blower and a ceiling LED scoring display. It also has black light illumination that illuminates the ultraviolet sensitive playing surface, as well as graphics and sound to enhance the excitement of gaming action.
Carrom makes several cheaper models. Countertop and floor-standing models are available. They all run on air. They have a NASCAR-themed tabletop model for fans of stock car racing.
Innovative Concepts (Ice) has a number of high-end boards. Its Double Fast Track model can be used by four players at a time as teams of two competing against each other. It also has overhead scoring and sound effects. It is capable of working with coins for commercial use.
The Voit Products 40 Inch Competitor Rod Table plays quite a different game. Instead of each player having a single deck as in the standard game, each player has five bars, each of which is attached to a rotating plastic player. There is also a doorman.
Finally, for fans of The Simpsons TV show, we have The Simpsons Air Powered 4-Foot Table. It is basically a starter table for children. The appeal of adding the faces of Bart and Homer Simpson will be left to the reader to discover.
Air hockey can be a very challenging game when played with someone who has skill and has practiced. Buying an air hockey table can be quite expensive, but there are models to suit almost any budget. A game like this can provide a setting for a family to have a lot of fun together.