Foosball Table: The Ultimate Buying Guide
Foosball table buying guide: To choose the right table for your needs, you need to know more about what types and makes of foosball tables are on the market, as well as how to assess the level of a particular player.
Buying a foosball table can be a great investment if you’re really looking to add one of your favorite past-times to your home. It allows you and your family or friends to enjoy playing games on it and gives you something fun to do in between attending the latest movie out at the theater.
We hope you end up picking this exciting game to enjoy with family or friends. To help you decide which should be your next table, we’ve prepared some tips on what makes the best of all tables.
What is It?
If you’re new to being a fooser, you’ve either seen one of the tables or watched a few people at play.
The object of this game is to score the most goals against your opponent. You do this by maneuvering a small ball across the table’s surface with help of little men that are attached to the playing rods.
There are 8 rods in total, and each team can control 4 of them. It’s easy to know which ones are yours to control as they have handles or grips on them.
You only need to flick your wrists as you learn how to control the rods and make your way over to the ball, which can really put your skills on display. A lot of people will try and give you a brief overview of the game when teaching you so that things get less overwhelming, but it’s up to you whether or not that works for you.
Types of Foosball Tables
Sometimes, shopping for tables can feel a bit overwhelming with all of the variety on the market. This guide was designed to help you make your decision more quickly.
Knowing what type of table you’ll be looking for will save you time & money by ensuring you get a quality product that does not depreciate in value over the years.
Standard Foosball Table
A full-size gaming table! This is the type that most people are familiar with right now. It only takes an hour to put together as well, making it easy to use/set up anywhere you want.
Some models of these tables are made from solid wood and others use a blend of real wood and MDF particle board. They weigh less than the ones that are all real wood, but they can still take up quite a bit of space.
Many game tables are made of quality parts that can last for years. Some of the heavy-duty models can sit outside, too, and are great for the price. That said, one thing to consider when buying is your budget.
There are definitely cheaper tablets out there but you should always make sure that they’re actually small enough for your space. In addition to that, you should consider how durable they are when you’re trying to decide which one to buy.
Tabletop Foosball Tables
This Tabletop Foosball Tables s often referred to as a mini table because of its shape. The small size allows it to fit in almost any room of your house, but also makes it perfect for kids and people who don’t have much space.
Tabletop models are incredibly practical and can be used in many places. It’s best to use a sturdy material for its surfaces, such as wood, tile or a marble top surface.
These small tabletop versions are a popular choice for kids because they can learn the game before upgrading to a larger one. Some people even choose these because of their size in the workplace for intense board games or other activities.
It’s important to keep this in mind when purchasing these tables. While they’re cheap, don’t expect high quality or durability.
Combination Game Tables
No matter what type of table you’re shopping for – there’s a lot to love about these game tables. Their versatility makes them perfect for both children and adults. If you want the set that gives the most bang for your buck, a combination model might be just what you’re looking for!
This tabletop features a full-size or close-to-it foosball, air hockey, and billiards table. It allows you to have an all-in-one game that is fun for both kids & adults. It’s available in various colors and styles depending on the manufacturer of your choice.
These game tables are a good choice for kids and people who live spaces without much space. They’re also good if you only have enough money to buy one table and don’t want to choose between several options.
Coin-Operated Foosball Tables
To find out more about the coin tables that you might like to order, it is important to ask specific questions such as: Will this work with our mechanism? Can we customize our design on the tabletop?
Know that this is one of the most expensive types of tables there are because it has more components for taking money that you typically don’t find in other types. These tables are designed for use in any sort of location to withstand years worth of wear and tear.
What To Look Before Buying New Foosball Table ?
A new foosball table is a great choice however it’s important to know what you are looking for before buying one. What type of game do you usually play and what other features will most benefit your needs?
Here are some features of the table in question. Different features will cost different amounts and it is up to you which ones are worth spending on. We suggest you determine what is most important to you and use this guide to help decide which table will suit your needs best.
Size
If you want a table that is the standard size, then it should be 56-inches in length and 30-inches wide. Remember, this width does not include fully extended rods, so make sure to check that part out before you buy.
Make sure to get the width with the rods extended when buying your foosball table for a narrow space. On average, experts recommend having a playing space of seven feet by eight feet within your home.
Goalie Configuration
You’ll immediately notice that a few tables have one goalie while the others have three.
There is no right or wrong answer when it comes to the best way to set up your table. Most tables in the UK are single-man goalies while most in the USA have a three-man goal.
If you want a fast-paced game, go with a three-man goalie setup. If you’re into skill and precision in your play, then try one player in the net!
If you’re trying to improve your skills, then playing with the three-man goalie setup will definitely help develop your skills.
Remember many high-end tables use three-man goalie setups. These setups are easily converted to one-man goalie setups.
Counter Weighted Men
If you want better gameplay then choose the table which has counter-weighted men.
Table Levelers
If you want to play a fair game, then you really need to get a table that has table levelers. Think of it rationally – if someone is not on the leaning side, they’ll have the advantage when playing every single game.
There are a few different levels of table tops that you’ll encounter, but they all help to keep the games fair. This is something you should consider when shopping for tables as tables with levelers will provide better play for your family.
Playing Rods
One thing that you should not compromise on is quality when it comes to playing rods. You want to make sure that you are buying only steel rods. There’s no need to buy a hollow rod, as they don’t offer any advantage with them being faster, because they lack the strength that solid rods provide.
It’s true that most high-end foosball tables have hollow rods while those in the mid-level range of the market tend to contain solid steel rods.
Steel rods are a go-to option for certain types of gameplay. While they’re undeniably good, having that reduced weight allows you to make faster shots and is great for speed game players.
Construction
When it comes to tables, you’ll find that they can vary greatly depending on what materials they’re made of. Solid wood tables, composite materials, and particle board will be a few examples.
The highest quality tables are made of solid wood and the lowest quality is made of particleboard. Composite Tables fall between these two tables, but the composite table is not affected by humidity but solid wood does.
Table Surface
A few different things to pay attention to when inspecting the table’s surface – product description. In order to make sure the design of your table won’t be ruined during game play, a laminated table is recommended. It will stay in place when it should and not cause any problems.
Consider table surface speed also. American tables have a smooth and hard finish, which means your ball will go faster than other surfaces that are rougher.
Many European tables have a beautiful wood finish that results in a better ball feel and quicker gameplay. If you want to improve your game, then you need powerful performance from your table. Tornado tables offer this type of quality