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.
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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.
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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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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.
