Foosball
Table Buying Tips I
Foosball tables are an excellent addition
to any game room, but there are a lot of choices, and it
can be difficult to decide which table to choose. This guide
is intended to help you sort through the hype and make the
right decision.
Questions? Give us a call, we have experts
standing by!
(877) 350-8324
Three-Man Goalie?
Today, most American tables have a three man goalie system,
where the goalie is mounted on the same rod as the two side
defenders. In the past, a 1-man-goalie system was more common
in the US, and European tables still typically use a one-man
goalie system. Neither style is better than the other; it
really comes down to preference. A three-man-goalie encourages
a faster-paced game, while the one-man-goalie system is
more skill intensive, and requires more precise movements.
For this reason, OC Foosball recommends the 3-man-goalie
system for kids and beginners.
Please Note: All tables on this site
with a 3-man-goalie system can easily be converted to the
traditional 1-man-goalie system. Give us a call if you have
any questions.
Counter
Weighted Men
If you want to play like a real pro, you should consider
counterweighted men. Counterweighted men allow for better
play because when released, they stay in a horizontal position,
keeping them out of your way when you shoot, etc. (See inset.)
They're not totally necessary though, for the casual user,
and many of our less expensive tables don't have them.
See a table with counterweighted
men...
See a table without counterweighted
men...
Check out our best selling Tornado
foosball table…
Table Levelers
Foosball tables need to be level in order to play a fair
game. If the table leans, somebody has an advantage! Every
good foosball table should have some kind of leveler built
in. In many cases it is a threaded screw type that is easy
to use and allows for precise adjustment. (See picture)
Other tables use a "block system", where pieces
of plastic or wood are used to adjust the height. Other
times foosball tables use telescoping devices, but these
are not nearly as easy to operate. All of these methods
provide the same result, a level table. As long as you have
some way to even things out, it doesn't matter what system
you use.
What is a "professional grade"
foosball table?
A "Professional" style foosball table has some
features that more competitive players would appreciate,
like counterbalanced or counter-weighted men. (See below)
While the "professional" label generally indicates
a higher quality table, that doesn't mean that foosball
tables without that label are not high quality too. A good
foosball table is a table that is durable, fun to play on,
and looks good in your home. Every table on this site is
built to last, so don't worry too much about being a "professional."
See our best selling professional foosball
table…
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Tables...
Score Keeping
A good foosball table will have some sort of score keeping
device built right into the table. It may seem like a small
thing, but if you don't have a score keeping device on the
table, you either end up with fistfights, or chalk-marks
on the wall. Avoid these problems, make sure you get a score
keeping device with your foosball table.
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