Air Hockey Equipment: Everything You Need to Take Your Game to The Next
Playing air hockey doesn’t require special skills, but you need to invest in good-quality air hockey equipment. It’s one of the games you can enjoy playing without basic knowledge of the rules. But good equipment will undoubtedly bring more fun indoors as you enjoy playing with your friends and family.
Before you start playing, you want to know that a good air hockey table and other equipment come in different types and are designed for various skill levels. If you want to be a pro and compete with your friends, you’ve got to understand the air hockey accessories and how they work.
If that’s your wish, this article will help you understand everything about air hockey equipment to take you to the next level.
How Many Pucks Are Used in Air Hockey?
Pucks are one of the essential air hockey accessories you will need. These are slim discs comprising of Lexan polycarbonate resin. The USAA-approved pucks are yellow lexan, dynamo green, and red lexan. They come in different shapes, allowing you to choose your favorite. You can go for hexagon, square, or triangle-shaped pucks and enjoy using them for the game.
Note that you need to be careful with the puck’s weight as a heavy one will make the game extremely slow. On the other hand, a very light puck will keep flying off the table.
That aside, you need to have one puck to serve you and the opponent. However, if you want to have uninterrupted fun moments indoors, it’s best to have extra air hockey pucks on the side as backup as they’re prone to disappear, taking much time to locate them.
Do Air Hockey Pucks Float?
One of the crucial air hockey equipment you need to be careful about is the pucks. It’s the center of the game as the right shots make you a winner. A crucial part of the air hockey game is the table which has fans that blow air through the holes. The air pressure from the fan keeps the air hockey pucks floating and suspended in the air.
The table surface must be smooth for the pucks to float, and the air should blow equally from both directions. When the fans supply the table with steady air, you will easily hit the puck to your opponent without it getting stuck. But you need to know how to charge the puck to enable you to win.
Factors That Determine How Your Air Hockey Pucks Floats
Despite the fans being responsible for keeping the pucks floating, other factors also affect this.
The Pucks Weight
Choosing the right puck for the game is necessary to keep it lively and fun. To achieve this, you need to consider the weight of the pucks. Having a heavy puck for the game will give the fans a hard time as it will struggle to manage the friction, making it fly at a slower rate. This will make the game slower, and at times, the pucks might fail to slide totally.
On the other hand, a light puck will keep floating on the table, especially if the blowers are more powerful. This will make the blower’s air go beyond the pucks, making them fall off the table and the game boring. Remember, the blowers are designed to slide certain pucks’ weight. So, if you go for the wrong weight that it can’t support, it will give you challenges trying to have the pucks float.
Size
You also need to be cautious when picking the air hockey equipment to avoid choosing the wrong size. If you have a bigger puck, it will frustrate your efforts to win. A smaller puck will make the game a ride in the pack as it will be easy to score.
It’s advisable to pick the right puck’s size depending on the other air hockey accessories. For example, if you’ve got a small table and mallets, ensure the size of the puck is proportional to them.
Air hockey pucks come in 4 sizes. The smallest is 2.5 inch which is ideal for kids. Then the 3-inch and 3.25 inches are for the medium size table and professional air hockey table. The 3.5-inch table is the official USAA recommended size.
What To Do Right To Have Your Pucks Floating
There are instances when your pucks may fail to float, leaving you frustrated. But don’t worry, as this is something you can rectify. You can do that by;
Sanding The Pucks
If your puck is not floating as it should, then the chances of it being worn out are high. To work perfectly, consider sanding the surfaces that slide on the table to even out the uneven sides. Doing this will reduce friction and improve how it glides.
Clean The Table
The table needs to be in perfect shape for the pucks to float effortlessly. If the table surface is full of dust, your puck won’t float well, giving you challenges during the game. To stop that, clean the table at least every week. Clean the table when the fan is on to help evaporate the liquid you’ll be using. Also, ensure you use the right cleaner while cleaning these surfaces.
Unclog The Holes
You also need to unclog the holes on your air hockey table to remove the dirt and dust particles. Carefully do this to avoid spoiling the internal parts or the blower. Remember, the air from the fan reaches the air hockey pucks through the holes. When the hole is clogged, your plucks won’t float, affecting the game’s flow.
What Are the Pushers Called in Air Hockey?
The pusher for pushing the pucks is another air hockey equipment you’ll require to keep the game lively. The pushers in air hockey are called mallets. You need high-quality mallets to have the best gaming experience. If you buy the wrong type of mallet with inappropriate weight, you’ll not have a smooth gaming experience reducing the fun.
What To Consider When Buying Mallets for Your Air Hockey Gaming Experience
If you want to have a memorable game, it’s best to invest in high-quality air hockey equipment. To achieve this when buying a mallet, look at;
The Kind of The Air Hockey Table
As you do your air hockey equipment shopping, you must know that each table works best with a certain mallet. If your table is professional-grade, you should buy commercial-style mallets. Such mallets are heavier, making them unsuitable for smaller tables.
Also, if you’re looking for a kid’s or beginners’ mallet, you need to use them on the right type of table. A mini hockey table is an ideal choice for such a mallet. Your selection of pucks also matters in this case, as the table fan determines how they will keep floating.
Diameter And Weight of The Mallet
You also need to look at the diameter of the mallet, which should be in line with the kind of air hockey table you’ve got. According to air hockey rules, the diameter size of a mallet shouldn’t be more than 4 1/16 inches. This will give you an easy time pushing the pucks and targeting a goal. If you have a bigger mallet than the table, it will cover the better part of the table, making it hard for you to score.
If you’ve got a 4-inch foot tabletop table, the ideal mallet size for it should be 2 ¾ inches in diameter. Such are lightweight mallets that your children will hold easily without challenge. The medium-sized air hockey equipment should contain a 4-inch diameter mallet.
The weight of the mallet should also not exceed 6 oz. If you have a heavy mallet, it may scratch your table, giving you additional expenses. A heavy mallet will also make the pucks not move to frustrate your gaming efforts. The pucks will also fly everywhere when you’re not using the right weight mallet.
Taking Care of Air Hockey Mallets
As you play, your air hockey equipment is prone to get spoiled, especially the mallet. If your pusher gets destroyed after it drops hard on the floor, chipping the edges, you can repair them. Alternatively, you can clean the dirty ends after every use to have them serve you for long. If you let dirt clog your mallet, it will damage your table during the game.
Also, consider sanding the scratches on the mallet’s surfaces to have them in good shape. If not so, consider using mallets with felt pads to reduce the amount of wear on them. But if your mallet is beyond repair because of chipped ends, consider replacing it with a new one.
Bottom Line
Air hockey is a sweet game anyone can play regardless of age and size. However, before buying any air hockey accessories like mallets or pucks, ensure you know the kind of table you’ve got, especially when doing a replacement. With the right air hockey equipment, you’ll enjoy this game any time of the day as it’s played indoors.
