Choosing the right foosball table
A foosball table is a wonderful addition to any gameroom. This highly popular and entertaining table game is both fun and competitive, and can be played with as few as two people. There are a wide variety of foosball tables on the market, so it can be very overwhelming trying to choose the right one for your needs. This guide to buying a foosball table will make it much easier to determine what type of foosball table is right for you.
There are two grades of foosball table: professional and home models. The professional foosball tables generally include the more advanced features sought after by more competitive foosball enthusiasts, such as counterweighted men, and high quality table levelers and scoring systems. The majority of professional grade foosball tables are built to a higher standard than your average home model. This typically means higher quality materials and craftmanship – however that is not always the case.
Once you decide what type of foosball table you want, it would be smart to search online for foosball table reviews to find the best value. Another feature available on some professional models is a coin mechanism, making the table a profit generating coin-op table.
One of the biggest differences you will notice between different foosball tables, is the number of men on the goalie rod. Some tables have a single goalie, where other tables have a side defender mounted on either side of the goalie. That is what is known as a 3 man goalie system. Most American foosball tables use this system, though the 1 man goalie system used to be more prevalent in the United States. The 1 man goalie system is still most popular in Europe and many other areas of the world. A good number of tables can be converted back and forth between a 1 man and 3 man goalie system – an option that adds a lot of versatility to the table.
Foosball is a game of precision, and having a foosball table that is even slightly uneven will completely alter the game play and give someone an advantage. That is why it is important to make sure the table is level in every direction. Most quality foosball tables have a built in leveling system that you can use to keep the table perfectly flat. Legs with a threaded screw section that can be raised or lowered by twisting are the most common table leveling system on the market. However, there are other options, such as telescoping legs and even stacking shims and blocks of wood under the legs. The threaded system seems to be the easiest to use and most sturdy option available.
If your foosball men go back to a vertical position when you release them, it’s possible that you may block your own shots. That is where counterweighted or counterbalanced foosball men come in handy. They are perfectly balanced, so they stay in place when you release them, allowing you to “clear the field” for those big long power shots. Many believe this is really only needed for the most experienced players, but it truly does allow for a better gaming experience, regardless of skill level.
In addition to the different quality grades and options available, you must also consider what material you want your foosball table to be constructed from. The most common type is a wood laminate foosball table. They are very sturdy and stable, without being as heavy or expensive as solid wood furniture type foosball tables. Despite the reduced weight and cost, many still have that furniture look to them that blends well into most homes.
Plastic foosball tables have become more popular due to their low pricing, but many of them lack the stability and durability needed in a good foosball table. Metal tables solve those issues, but for an increased price and a lot more weight. The best reason to get a non wood-laminate foosball table, is if you need a weather proof table, in which case a solid weatherproof foosball table made from a high quality resin will suit your needs perfectly, as they can stand up to years of harsh weather.
Of course, if none of those options are quite big enough for you, there’s always the human foosball table:
More information on foosball (or table soccer): http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Table_football
Foosball Table Guide 