Air Hockey > 101 > Tips
Air Hockey Tips and Techniques
Believe it or not, there are professional air hockey players that take take the game extremely serious. We aren't recommending that all of our readers should consider going pro, but we do suggest that you incorporate tips from the experts to help you win games. Even if the games you play on your home table are just for fun, we encourage you to advance your game by incorporating techniques that will help you win.
Striking the Puck
It is important to know how to effectively strike the puck to cause the maximum amount of speed in your air hockey shots. You actually want to be aggressive when making contact and drive the mallet straight into the puck in the direction you want it to go. Some beginner players think that proper bank shots are caused by hitting the puck by swiping it from a sideways movement. Real players actually attack the puck from behind it and actively strike it forward toward the position they want it to go. This will ensure the most power transfers from the mallet to the puck for the ultimate shot.
It is important to know how to effectively strike the puck to cause the maximum amount of speed in your air hockey shots. You actually want to be aggressive when making contact and drive the mallet straight into the puck in the direction you want it to go. Some beginner players think that proper bank shots are caused by hitting the puck by swiping it from a sideways movement. Real players actually attack the puck from behind it and actively strike it forward toward the position they want it to go. This will ensure the most power transfers from the mallet to the puck for the ultimate shot.
Watch Out For Rebounds
If you are properly striking the puck, chances are you are going to get some ricochets off the back wall from your own shots. There is nothing more frustrating in air hockey than scoring on yourself. Know that these can happen and make sure you make a habit to always get back in your original defensive position as quickly as possible after a shot. Besides, this is a great technique you should follow anyways because your opponent might block your shot and fire one back towards your goal.
If you are properly striking the puck, chances are you are going to get some ricochets off the back wall from your own shots. There is nothing more frustrating in air hockey than scoring on yourself. Know that these can happen and make sure you make a habit to always get back in your original defensive position as quickly as possible after a shot. Besides, this is a great technique you should follow anyways because your opponent might block your shot and fire one back towards your goal.
Don't Use the Double Bank
If you are shooting properly on offense, the puck should never need to bank off more than one wall before it goes in your opponent's goal. Double banking it isn't a strategy we recommend on offense because each time the puck hits the wall it slows down due to friction, takes more time and gives your challenger another second to react and defend against it. Your bank shots should be crisp off a single wall and into the goal if done properly.
If you are shooting properly on offense, the puck should never need to bank off more than one wall before it goes in your opponent's goal. Double banking it isn't a strategy we recommend on offense because each time the puck hits the wall it slows down due to friction, takes more time and gives your challenger another second to react and defend against it. Your bank shots should be crisp off a single wall and into the goal if done properly.
