Home
  BUYING GUIDES
    ..since 1995

GALT HOME:  
Internet Guides
- Finance
- Audio/Video
- Travel
- Household/DIY
- Health
- Cars
- Fashion
- Sports
- Entertainment
- Cell Phones

   MENU:   Technology and Internet Guides | Travel | Health | Household | Sports          ...independent online guides since 1995

Air Hockey Table Reviews and Buying Guide:

For some great fun in your household, consider buying an air hockey table. My family grew up with an air hockey table that must have produced hours of fun over the years. Air hockey is a table top game in which you try to hit the air hockey puck into your opponents goal. The table itself is plugged into an electrical outlet to product air that is released from the top of the table so that the puck can skim across the board. Air hockey tables come in a variety of sizes, so be sure to measure the room you want the table in so that you know it fits. Tables are generally 3 feet to 8 feet in length. You can get standard air hockey tables, table top styles, and multi-game tables (often air hockey and pool table combo). You can get a nice basic air hockey table for kids or occasional use, a mid-level air hockey table which provides high performance arcade style playing with harder, more resilient surfaces which resist denting. Arcade style air hockey tables are full size tables built for speed with the best air output which allows for the smoothest puck glide. There's nothing like smashing the puck 60 MPH right into your opponents goal for a victory.



Harvard air hockey tables are considered some of the best with playing surfaces that have a glossy silver laminate that plays fast and looks great. A 3-inch black top rail and silver apron have rounded corners for smooth puck movement. Electronic scoring systems keep the point tally automatically and the standard 110 volt motor creates a cushion of air for consistent puck glide. Take a look at some of the best-selling Harvard tables here (a good 6 foot table will set you back about $300-$500). Most air hockey tables come with 2 pucks and 2 paddles. Sportscraft makes more of variety of air hockey tables and some are made of dark wood with industrial strength laminate cabinet and powerful cushion of air for the authentic arcade style action. The Brunswick V-Force air hockey table is a true classic with translucent plastic mallets and pucks, aluminum rails, and manual slide scoring. Other top brands of air hockey tables are Carrom, Great American, Valley Dynamo, DMI Sports, GLD, CHH, Murrey, and Excalibur. For more details on buying an air hockey table see our buying guide below which online stores and pricing details. A lot of people are nervous about buying large products online - we always recommend working with Amazon.com to avoid any problems, and yes, they carry air hockey tables. You can browse their entire list of air hockey tables here.

Best Air Hockey Table:

Looking to buy an air hockey table? If you don't find what you are looking for at Amazon, we also recommend another site. JustAirhockeytables.com carries all the big name brands - Harvard, Sportscraft, Excalibur, Valley Dynamo, Great American Carrom, CorrTable and more. Prices range from $89.99 for a table top version that plays almost anywhere to the Valley-Dynamo Hot Flash 2 8 Foot Air Hockey Table which retails for $3549.99 and offers authentic arcade style action right in your home. The best sellers are the Sportcraft Flow Aire Hockey Table ($799.98), Excalibur 5' Charger Air Hockey ($239.99), Sportcraft TurboAire Hockey Table ($699.98), Sportcraft Jet Blaster Hockey Table ($799.98), Harvard XH 6000 Air Hockey Table ($499.98), Valley Dynamo Pro Style Hockey Table ($2999.99), and the Table Top Air Slide Hockey ($89.99). One of favorites is the Carrom Premium Hydralumina Hockey - Birch ($519.99) with natural wood paneling and a more compact feel. We feel your best value is in the $350-$500 price range and suggest the Harvard XH7000 7-Foot Hockey Table for $470. The high end arcade tables do hold up well in homes, but who has $3000+ to spend on something like that. Stick with the mid range tables and just assume that the table will not last forever, but you will get years of fun out of it.

Cheap Air Hockey Table:

Air hockey is a fast paced table game that adds excitement to any family, but they can be expensive. The used air hockey market is a great place to find cheap air hockey tables at discounted prices. Often, people buy air hockey tables only to have them sit in their garages or spare rooms and never get any use. Therefore, if you look long enough, you should be able to find a good used air hockey table for 50% off the store price. Make sure to plug in any table you buy and see if the air flow is good, the top of the board is smooth and not dented or warped, and that the goals are not damaged. Expect to pay around $100-$200 and perhaps less at garage sales or on Ebay.

Air Hockey Tips and Strategies:

Air hockey can be a fun game at all levels, but the most exciting games to watch are those between 2 players that understand the game and use for good offense and defensive techniques. First, hold the air hockey mallet, or paddle, behind the knob instead of at the top. This is a common mistake made by most beginners and will give you less control if not done properly. By holding the paddle behind the knob you will be more accurate and cover your half of the board much better. When you are playing defense, keep your mallet about a foot from your goal for the best protection. On offense, shoot for the corners, keep the puck away from the walls except for powerful one wall hits that come in at sharp angles and can confuse your opponent which sudden change of directions. For your own safety, keep your off hand (the one not on the paddle) away from the edge/lip of the table. I have seen countless beginners place their fingers over the edge of the table and get balance that way only to have a puck come smash into their fingers at 30 MPH and cause damage. The faster you hit the puck the less time your opponent has to react which should create plenty of scoring opportunities for you.

Do you have a quality site or product that belongs in this guide? We are always happy to evaluate or review new products and websites. Feel free to contact us at the email address below and let us know about you. If you have a demo product you'd like us to look at, please contact us before sending anything. Thank you.


Review and Internet Guide Index:
Cell Phones:
- Apple iPhone Review
- iPhone Wallpaper
- Bluetooth Headsets

Computers and Internet:
- Amazon Kindle Review
- Apple MacBook Air Review
- Best Selling Wireless Routers

Household/DIY:
- Replacing a Furnace
- Most Popular Bread Makers
- Kitchenaid Mixers

Cars and Automobiles

Audio/Video Electronics
- Best 50" LCD TVs
- What is Tivo and how does it work?
- Flip MinoHD Review

Top-Rated Digital Cameras and Photos:
- Canon EOS 350D Digital Rebel XT DSLR
- Top HD Video Cameras
- Buying a Digital SLR Camera

MP3 Music, Players, Speakers:
- Top-Rated Headphones and Popular Earphones Rankings
- iPod Touch
- Free MP3 Music Downloads

Entertainment/Hobbies


Health & Fitness:
- Teeter Inversion Tables
- Recumbent Exercise Bikes
- Adjustable Dumbells Ratings

Finance
- Car Insurance Quotes
- Mortgage Payment Calculator
- Debt Consolidation

Travel
- Disneyland Hotel Guide
- Hotels and Lodging
- Top 10 Things to Do in New York

Fashion/Beauty

Sports and Outdoors

Send email to: galtemail (@) yahoo.com
Copyright (C) 1995-2009 Galt Technology, Inc.   Terms of Use    Privacy Statement