Air Hockey > 101

Air Hockey 101 - The Basics of Table Hockey

Understanding the sport of table hockey starts with knowing the various parts of the game and their terminology. The construction of the game will serve as a foundation for how the game is played and help you develop ways to improve your skills. 

Anatomy of an Air Hockey Table
An air hockey table consists of a flat surface with small holes evenly dispersed throughout the top. A fan within the center of the table blows air through these holes in order to allow the puck to quickly glide across the table surface. This movement of air is the reason why we call the sport "air" hockey vs. just table hockey.

There are two holes at opposite ends of the table that make up a goal. Each player attempts to defend his or her goal by positioning their mallet in front of it to block the puck from going in. Side walls surround the flat surface to keep the puck in bounds of the playing surface. These walls are used to perform bank shots and are legal to use in order to score a goal.

Blower Fan
The blower fan is perhaps the most important part on your table. Every table uses some type of powered blower fan. This motor inside it pushes air from under the table surface into a caviety under the table, and eventually through the holes that are evenly dispersed throughout the top of the surface. This allows there to be a blanket of air that rises up through the holes to lower the friction on the tabletop and allows the puck to easily glide across the table. These fan parts themselves can cost up to $400, which is why some of the commercial-grade tables on the market are so expensive.

Goal Box
On each end of the table is a goal that is in the center position of the table. Most goals are located at the back of the table on the "end rail". However, some non-tournament tables are designed to have the goal a few inches out from the end rail. Many air hockey tables on the market today offer electronic goals that automatically recognize when a puck drops into the box and keeps track of the score for each team. Others, like the one shown, offer manual scoring counters so you can keep track of your own scores.

Mallet
The mallet, or sometimes referred to as a paddle, goalie or pusher, is a circular plastic accessory that you hold in your hand and is used to strike the puck to perform a shot. The mallet also doubles as a device used to block your goal from opponent goals when playing defense. The mallet is designed as a circular object in order to allow you to control the direction the puck will travel when you strike it. If the mallet were designed as another shape you would have inconsistency in the direction the puck would travel, making the game difficult to master.

Puck
Much like in real hockey, an air hockey puck is the accessory you use to score a goal. It is also circular in shape so you can control its direction when performing a shot off your mallet. Air hockey versions are made with plastic instead of the real ones that are made from rubber. This makes them lighter so they can travel quickly across the air-blown surface of your table.