Playing Foosball: Best Guide for Picking A Foosball Table

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What do you look for in the best foosball table?

It is hard to pick a single table as everyone's situation is different.

In shopping for one, if you an expert it is relatively easy since you know what makes a good table. However, if you are new to the sport, it can get quite tricky. The chances are that you might be seduced by the design of the table and overlook the functionality of the table itself. The following guide will help you pick the best table for your budget and situation.

We will start with a summary for those of you that are in a hurry, followed by more detail for people who want to know why one table is better than another

Below is a table summarizing the best tables for many situations, Best Outdoor Foosball Tables, Best Foosball Tables for kids, etc. This should help you narrow down the tables that you are interested in.

I spent a long time selecting the best tables for each circumstance, and this was based on the following :

•  Workmanship
•  Affordability
•  Positive Reviews
•  Table Price
•  Table Size
•  Player Skill
•  Type Of Foosball Table
•  Coin Mechanism
•  Features Of The Foosball Table
•  The Levelling Mechanism

These factors were considered giving the best Foosball Table for you.

The article gives much more depth later on, regarding what things you should look for, what picking the best foosball table

Best Foosball Tables Categories

We will recommend The best foosball tables in the following categories:

•  Budget, Mid-range, High-end
•  Coffee, Mini, Folding, Retro, Tabletop, Multigame
•  Kids, Teens, Adults
•  Commercial, Outside, Apartment, House
•  Tornado, Warrior, Garlando, Hathaway, Shelti, Kick

Best Foosball Table By Category

Below is a table summarizing the best tables for several situations, Best Outdoor Foosball Tables, Best Foosball Tables for kids, etc. Later in the article, I explain why each of the choices was made.

What To Look For In The Best Foosball Table? Picking A Foosball Table!

Expert Workmanship

When you play on the foosball table, the quality says it all. The last things you want are lumps or an uneven table when you are playing a game of foosball. These are characteristic of shoddy quality. The feel of the table should be such that you can enjoy watching the ball as it caroms across the table.

In line with the quality, also ensure that the material covering the foosball is of high quality. A good foosball table is covered in velvet. You should also ensure that the cloth covering the table doesn’t stain easily. It is characteristic of people to have a drink or two while they are playing. Accidents happen.

You should ensure that material lining the surface can be cleaned easily without damaging it. Sometimes shoddy foosball tables are covered with a material that blotches easily. This means that when you attempt to clean it, a nasty stain appears on it, giving it an unpleasant appearance. Good foosball tables are lined with materials that are easy to clean with interfering with the texture and feel of the table.

Affordability

Cheap is expensive and sometimes expensive might mean a waste of money. How you approach cost when shopping for a foosball table is very important. Glittering ads might hide the fact that it is nothing more than a regular foosball table, which most people realize after buying it.

A good foosball table will cost the right price. The right price is determined by the quality and the quality of the wood used to make the table. The rarity of the wood has a tremendous effect on the amount in that the rarer the wood, the higher the price. This deters people from buying high-quality foosball tables.

The finishing off the table also plays a part in pricing. The best foosball tables have the best finishing in the market. Sometimes shopping for a foosball in a sporting goods store can be drudge work considering that prices are the same across the board. Garage sales are good places to pick up bargains. However, ensure that the amount he or she is charging you is in line with the quality of the table.

Level of Expertise

The level of expertise should play a huge role in shopping for the best one. There are different tables for different levels of expertise.

When shopping for the top one, look at where you are skill-wise. If you are a beginner, look for a table that provides you room to develop your ability as a player. For advanced guys, look for a table that is more challenging still.

In this day and age, where everyone is engrossed in their day-to-day activities, there is little time to relax. However, if you can’t unwind, then your overall performance is affected. One way you can relax is to play foosball; however, if you want an excellent experience to ensure that you buy the best foosball table in the market. You can apply the above qualities when shopping for one.

However, if you are new to the sport, it can get quite tricky. The chances are that you might be seduced by the design of the table and overlook the functionality of the table itself. The following is a beginner’s guide to shopping for a foosball table.

Positive Reviews

If you look on sites that have reviews for Foosball Tables, for example, Amazon, you will see what other people who bought the table think. This is a great way to find out what a table is really like. If a table has 100 5-star reviews, then it is likely an excellent table. If it has 100 1-2 star reviews, it probably isn’t much good.

If a table only as a couple of reviews, I would not give them too much credit, they could be fake, trying to improve the sellers' own sales, or be from a competitor trying to make them look bad.

If a product has a lot of reviews, there will always be a few bad ones, and some people are never happy! For example, 100 positive review and four critical reviews, this is probably still a good table. People are always more likely to leave a bad review for something they didn’t like than to post a good one for something they thought was great.

Foosball Table Prices

Obviously, for most people, one of the main deciding factors will be the price. Tables can cost from under $100 to a few thousand. The size, quality, and features of these tables will be very different. Professional tables will be more expensive and be a lot better than the cheaper tables. We cannot decide your budget but would advise that you look at the other factors before you decide.

The warranty given on the table will usually depend on the price paid, with the more expensive tables having lifetime guarantees, and the budget tables only having a manufacturer's warranty.

Foosball Table Size

When you are buying a table, sometimes you will put it in a room with limited space. You need to consider the dimensions of the table. You will need to walk around the table, and you need a lot of extra space around the width of the table as the player will need to stand here.

In general, you will need an additional 18 inches on each end of the table so you can walk around it. If you want to save space and push one end against a wall, you can do this, but you ensure you buy a table with the ball return on the side!

You may also like to consider the height of the table if young children will be playing.

Player Skill

One of the first factors to be considered when choosing a Foosball table is the skill level of the player that will use the table.
New players and children may be better off getting a budget table while they learn the game, and decided whether they would like to take up the game seriously.

Intermediate and Professional players would be better off with a professional table. This will allow you to hone your skills on a table with much better features than the budget tables. When playing in foosball competitions, you will almost always be using a professional table, and you need to be used to playing on this style of table?

These look great in the space they are placed, have extended warranties and will have counterbalanced men, hollow rods and all the extra features talked about below

Type Of Foosball Table

There are four types of foosball table that can be considered. These are:

Standard Table

The standard tables are the tables mainly talked about above. Beginner, Intermediate, and professional tables can be of this standard type. This type will be a foosball table with legs to stand on the floor.

Tabletop

Tabletop tables are usually aimed at beginner and intermediate players. It is the same design as the standard table, but the bottom part (legs, etc.) are not included. The table has to be placed on top of another table. These are not the same quality as the standard tables but are lighter, cheaper, and do not require their own space. The table can be put away once the play is over.

Multigame Table

These tables are usually aimed at the beginner and children. They are also mostly tabletop games that will need to be placed on top of other things, as they have no legs. The Foosball quality is often the lowest of all the tables. The primary advantage is that you can play other games on this, for example, “Air Hockey.”

Coin Mechanism

These are commercial tables and are the same as standard tables, and the only actual difference is that they are “Pay” tables. To use them, the players have to put coins into the machine. These are more expensive as they are usually high quality and have to be very sturdy as they are put into bars and other public spaces.

Features Of The Foosball Table

You next need to think about the features and type of foosball table you want. These include.

The number of goalies. In America, the back row usually has three men, also known as the “three goalies” system. In Europe, there is just one goalie. You need to decide which you want. Some better tables can be either 1 or 3 goalie games, as the extra men can be removed as required.

Number of Men. On full-sized tables, there are usually 13 or 11 men depending on the number of goalies used. On some lower-priced table, there are fewer players. You can also find tables for four players which have more men. These specialized tables are not covered here.

The Levelling Mechanism

A good table will need a leveling method to keep the table perfectly flat. Any table that is not flat will give an advantage to the player that is playing “Downhill.” Almost all full tables will have some form of leveling. Tabletop tables rarely have leveling systems. Always check as leveling with folded pieces of card can be a pain.

Foosball Table Construction Material

The price and quality of the table will usually determine what it is made of. The construction material will affect the quality of the table and the weight. The most common types are:

Solid Wood Foosball Table

These are heavy, durable, stable, and most of the professional tables are made from solid wood. If taken care of, these will usually last you a lifetime.

Laminate Foosball Table

These are the most common type of table. They are stable, sturdy, and are lighter and less expensive than solid wooden tables. These tables are still of high quality, look great and fit in well in any space they are placed.

Plastic Foosball Table

In general plastic, tables are the more affordable low-end tables. They are popular because of the cheaper price point but are not as heavy, sturdy, or durable as some other tables. There are some excellent quality tables made of plastic, so read the reviews. If you need a weatherproof table, this is by far the best type of table.

Summary

Overall, the best foosball table is a subtle mix of all the above.

So, what to look for when buying a foosball table? In this day and age, where everyone is engrossed in their day-to-day activities, there is little time to relax. However, if you can’t unwind, then your overall performance is affected. One way you can relax is to play foosball; however, if you want an excellent experience to ensure that you buy the best foosball table in the market. You can apply the above qualities when shopping for one.

Best Budget Foosball Table - ZAAP 4 Foot / 48" Foosball Table

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Mid-range Foosball Table - KICK Foosball Table Triumph Black

Best High-end Foosball Table - Tornado Foosball Table

Best Coffee Foosball Table - Chicago Gaming Signature Foosball Coffee Table

Best Mini Foosball Table - Rally and Roar Foosball Tabletop Game

Best Folding Foosball Table - KICK Folding Foosball Table Monarch

Best Retro Foosball Table - Rally and Roar Foosball Table Game

Best Tabletop Foosball Table - Rally and Roar Foosball Tabletop Game

Best Multigame Foosball Table - Best Choice Products 10-in-1 Game Table

Best Kids Foosball Table - ZAAP 4 Foot / 48" Foosball Table

Best Teens Foosball Table - KICK Foosball Table Triumph Black

Best Adults Foosball Table - KICK Foosball Table Royalton

Best Commercial Foosball Table - Tornado Tournament T-3000 Foosball Table

Best Outside Foosball Table - Garlando Master PRO Outdoor Foosball Table

Best Apartment Foosball Table - KICK Foosball Table Conquest, 48 in

Best House Foosball Table - KICK Foosball Table Triumph Black, 55 in

Best Tornado Foosball Table - Tornado Sport Foosball Table

Best Warrior Foosball Table - Warrior Table Soccer Pro Foosball Table

Best Garlando Foosball Table - Garlando Foosball Table – G500

Best Hathaway Foosball Table - Hathaway 56-Inch Primo Foosball Table

Best Shelti Foosball Table - Shelti Foos 200 Foosball Table Black

Best Kick Foosball Table - KICK Foosball Table Triumph Black, 55

Professional Foosball Salesman’s Talk On Buying Tables

Today I am going to be taking you through our buyer's guide to football tables. Playing table football or foosball as its also known as great fun, but there are loads of different models on the market.

So it can be a bit tricky to pick which is the right one for you, so I take you through three essential parts to guide you.

So in the first section, we're going to take you through the different types of table. So whether it's going to be a home table or one that's for commercial, use either in pubs, bars, or maybe schools, or a youth club.

You've also got outdoor tables, that you can choose from, and even tournament tables which are recognized by the ITSF, which is the World Federation for Table Football.

The second section takes you through the various sizes of table available. Not only the size of the actual table itself, but also the amount of space required when you have got a few friends around. How much room will you need when you play in the game?

The final sections take you through the key features. There are several different areas on the table to look at. We have:
• The rods
• The players
• The type of pitch
• What the table is made from
• The all-important balls

So let's look at the first of our three sections then, and this is types of table available. The first one to look at are home tables, and these usually are priced between 100 and 300 dollars, and they are designed for family use. This is really children aged 12 years or under.

These are just for light use. Tables from 350 dollars and upwards, you'll get a more sturdy table. These are designed for teenagers or adults to use. We really wouldn't advise that type of player to be looking at anything under 350 dollars, it just simply won't be strong enough to give you a good game.

If you are prepared to spend 500 dollars or more, you'll get yourself an excellent home use table

The next section to look at are commercial tables, and these are priced at about 1000 dollars. They come with a coin mechanism, and can also be fitted with a glass surface, to cover the playing field to stop the balls from being stolen.

Next, then are outdoor tables, and these are made from plywood. They can be provided either with a coin mechanism or without. Obviously they can be used outdoors and stored there. They'll need to have a cover put over them, and you can't leave them outside and open to the elements, because it will wreck the table. You need to store it away and keep it as dry as possible.

The next type of table then, are the ITSF tables, and these are ones that are certified by the International Table Soccer Federation. These can be used in tournaments or Tour events, and also for practice.

Next, to look at are the luxury tables. These start from about 1200 dollars, and these can be beautiful tables, made out of wood, like solid beech and look great in any room

Our second section is to look at the available sizes. The first ones to consider then are the small or family tables. These are about 80 centimeters in height, and they're actually quite low. The bigger tables are about 120 centimeters long and 60 centimeters wide. If you want to go for a standard full-sized table, the height is 88 centimeters, the length is 145 centimeters, and it is about 76 centimeters wide.

It is worth checking specific models because different models will have slightly different sizes. Check the individual models on the website as they have different heights, lengths, widths, and weights. You need to make sure that the table you're choosing is absolutely the right size.

The other thing, in terms of size, that you need to consider is the amount of space that's going to be required.

You need to allow for the width dimension, in particular. If a table is 5 foot wide, and it’s got solid rods, the players need to fit in, as well as the table. You need to allow for about seven foot of space going across ways. Otherwise, you won't have enough room to fit in the players as well as the table

In our third section then, we're looking at the critical features of football tables. The first one then is the construction of the table. They can come in several different materials.

• First of all, there will be MDF which is coated in a laminate finish.
• Second, then is plywood, and that's predominantly used in commercial tables. These can also be made out of solid wood
• Then, of course, we've got marine ply, or plastic, which are used for the outdoor tables

The next feature to look at then is the type of rod used. Telescopic rods - where you've got two pieces of metal, an outer section and, an inner portion. They just slide along inside each other. It's a great safety feature because you don't end up with a rod poking out the side. Which can potentially cause damage to an opponent, or to a child who may be watching.

Solid rod tables are traditionally preferred by competition players. This is because they're more substantial, but it's worth noting, that the rod does poke out the other side of the table. The rods are either made out of metal or plastic. Metal ones are heavier to play with, which will give you more powerful shots.

Looking at the type of balls available, a textured ball is best, and it will give you medium bounce. You can get speed play balls which are faster and more precise to play with. You can also get high control cork balls, which are easier to control, but slower