Why Your Gaming Room Needs An Air Hockey Table
If you are planning to add fun to your game room, consider investing in a hockey table. Nowadays, table games like bubble, foosball, and air hockey tables offer exclusive home entertainment. They have been commonly used to organize parties, host get-togethers with friends, and for the family to take some time off smartphones and laptops and spend quality time.
A table hockey game is great for people who do not enjoy outdoor games but love having a good time in their homes. Hockey table games can be played by all ages and come in different sizes. Games like foosball challenge your ability to strategize and plan to defend and score against your opponent. Below are some famous hockey table games you should consider equipping your room.
Types of Hockey Tables
Bubble Hockey Table
It is also called rod or dome hockey. It has a giant bubble on top of the playing table made of plastic materials. The primary function of the dome is to prevent pucks from getting lost or misplaced. The crown can be removed if you wish to clean or maintain your table. Most gamers prefer the bubble hockey table because it has a unique arcade construction. The bubble hockey game is played the same way as foosball which has rods on the sides that control players.
Air Hockey Table
Air hockey tables are made up of slick plastic surfaces. The play surface is surrounded by raised edges that prevent the playing puck from slipping off the table. The table’s surface is drilled with small holes that create a friction-free and even playing surface. The tiny holes receive air from a fan that is underneath the table. If you feel the surface of the air hockey table, you will feel the air oozing out. The table also has to be electrically powered to regulate the air, play music, and display scores for players. The air from the holes creates air pressure that enables the puck to keep floating, a principle used in hovercraft devices. While playing the game, players can continuously hit the puck from end to end of the table without getting stuck because of the evenly blown air on the surface.
Air hockey tables are prone to fan failure. This is because the inbuilt blower unit or fan could break. Fan failures can be avoided by regularly cleaning the fan blades since dirt and dust accumulates over time. In addition, a dusty fan may affect the speed of the puck, which causes poor playing conditions.
Foosball Hockey Table
A foosball hockey table is built with an attractive arcade feel. Most foosball tables come with kickballs, 26 players (13 for each player with separate colors), and rods with soft grips that enable players to control the players in the game. The rods are made of solid steel alloy. Foosball is a complex and strategic game involving players consistently scoring against opponents. It requires intensity and tactical logic from people who are challenging their brains.
3 in 1 Hockey Table
Some hockey tables are designed so that you can switch the surface to play other games. Typical combinations of 3 in 1 table setups include:
- Billiards, air hockey, and table tennis
- Air hockey, ping pong, and billiards
Factors To Consider Before Buying Your Hockey Table
Size
Most hockey tables are small and can fit in small spaces in your room. Standard hockey tables have 8 feet and a length of 4 inches. Sizes vary, so you have to measure your available space to fit the hockey table you intend to buy. If you are a professional, there are designated sizes that are easy to store or move. Hockey tables for kids might be 2 feet tall and 8 feet wide, but it all depends on the space you have in your room.
Durability
Durability is a significant factor that you’ll want to consider. You should examine the material and construction of the hockey table to ensure that it is long-lasting and won’t bring inconveniences when you have quality time with your friends or family.
Playing Surface
All hockey tables must have a smooth surface, although some air tables have different playing surfaces that are textured. Other surfaces come as 2 in 1, allowing you to change from smooth to textured, which can be very cool.
Price
Your budget speaks it all here. Hockey tables that use electricity tend to be relatively more expensive than counterparts that do not use electricity. However, if you like hockey games and the price is not a problem, you can opt for hockey tables that come with more fun.
Accessories and Add-ons
Hockey tables with accessories are always a good investment. Some come with music and scoring systems on the side bumpers so that you can easily track your tournament scores.
Benefits Of Hockey Table Games
Other than fun, below are some other benefits of hockey table games.
Lose Weight
People overlook table sports as being sports because they require less when it comes to physical effort than other activities. The truth is, hockey table games like hockey can be an incredible workout. Playing hockey for an hour could help burn that heavy lunch that adds calories to your system.
Improves Adrenaline
If you win in these games, your body generates “feel good” hormones. Additionally, they bring out some rush or adrenaline depending on tight your opponent plays. Adrenaline helps with your reflexes, vision, strength, improved immune system, and good decision making if you play constantly.
Improves Body Coordination
In air hockey, pucks move fast and require fast reflexes. Therefore, air hockey games can be great to help improve hand and eye coordination and sharpness in predicting the next position of pucks.
Competition
Engaging in competitive hockey table games like foosball adds some fun to your room and inspires creativity among players. Multi-game hockey tables also help take the competition to another level.
How Much Room Do You Need For An Air Hockey Table?
Earlier in this article, you found out that your space goes hand in hand with the size of the hockey table you are considering purchasing. The considerable room around your hockey table allows for a good playing experience. Every hockey table has its dimensions, and hence the room you require around your air hockey table also varies. Standard air tables measure 7ft x 3.67 ft. Such tables need at least 3.5 ft extra space for the players to play comfortably. Therefore, you’ll require at least 10.5 ft x 7.07 ft space for a standard hockey table. Smaller air hockey tables of 5 ft x 6 ft also need at least 3.5 ft space around the table.
The shorter side of an air hockey table is essential since players use it when playing. There should be at least 3-4 inches of space for easy locomotion of players during gameplay. The longer side of the hockey table need not have too much room since players don’t stand here. However, the recommended space is 2 inches to enhance the comfort of the setup. Enough space around your hockey table helps your game room look decent and not cramped. However, an air hockey table can be placed against a wall if your area is limited since players do not often use its longer side.
Are Air Hockey Tables Heavy?
The weight of air hockey tables varies depending on the quality, type of material, accessories, and size. However, average air hockey tables can weigh from 25 to 390 pounds. Larger professional hockey tables are heavier because they are manufactured with quality components. If you want to buy a hockey table, you need to know if your room floor can handle the table’s weight.
Are Air Hockey Tables Loud?
Air hockey tables have a blower that ensures the pucks move well on the table’s surface. However, some blowers can produce a blowing sound that can get loud, especially after prolonged usage. In addition, dust particles block the fan blades, making the fan heavy and slow. As a result, it produces noise which can be very unpleasant.
Bottomline
Hockey table games offer excellent entertainment and exercise for family and friends or even for commercial purposes and competition. They come with many games that you can switch to and engage your mind. If you decide to have a hockey table, consider an air hockey table with the correct dimensions for different sets of users. Kids prefer small tables, while you might fancy a customized table that gives you a quality gaming experience as a professional. Additionally, you could enhance the game experience by creating enough space around the hockey table for players to move efficiently when playing. Playing hockey games is fun and benefits your health like reflexes and body coordination. It is recommended that you invest in a new hockey table to ensure material quality and functionality for the ultimate gaming experience.