If you've ever thought about enjoying a game of air hockey, you first need to know a little bit about the game. Let's take a look at some basics. First, the game pits two players against each other. Each player wants to make a goal using a puck that glides across the smooth surface of the air hockey table. This seemingly simple but fun game is popular all over the world.
The average air hockey table has a smooth surface that does not cause friction which could prevent the puck from gliding to one side or the other. The sides of the table are raised so the puck won't fly off, although it does happen occasionally. At opposite ends of the surface are two slots. If the puck goes into the slot, the player who hit it in gets the point. The puck falls down into a small shelf where it can be collected by the other player.
Depending on your budget, you can purchase air hockey tables that literally produce a cushion of air on which the puck can move across. In these cases, the puck is floating and not moving on the table. With these types of air-producing machines, the pucks can be passed back and forth at high speeds which make for a more exciting experiencing.
When you don't have a big budget, you can purchase tables that forgo the air machine. In these cases, a slick plastic surface is used instead. While you won't get quite the same experience, most casual players don't notice much of a difference between the air hockey tables. Now if you're playing professionally the difference would be more noticeable.
Now that you know a bit about the table, you should know about the other necessary equipment. For example, you need the puck. The puck is usually black, about 1/2 inch thick, and about 2 inches wide. Pucks are almost always made of plastic because they need to be lightweight. Additionally, each player needs a striker. The striker has a flat surface attached to a handle. As the name suggests, the striker is used to hit the puck across the table.
During the game, players stand on opposite sides of the table. Each player has their own goal to protect. One player serves the puck at a time. During the serve, the puck must cross the center line and then is returned by the other player. Both players move the puck back and forth until one of them earns seven points. Goals are actually recorded by a built-in scoring mechanism within the table. This prevents cheating and means you can focus on the game instead of on keeping track of the score.
In some cases, a time limit is imposed on the air hockey game, particularly in professional or tournament matches. Casual players rarely use time limits. Normally, the player who reaches seven points first wins. However, if the score is tied when the time limit is reached, no one wins and both players have a good excuse for a rematch on the air hockey table.
Throughout the game, players must abide by certain rules. For example, their striker can never be placed on top of the puck nor can they use their hands to touch or move the puck. The only exception is when the player needs to move the puck from the goal back onto the playing surface for serving. No player is permitted to leave their area when they are in the middle of a game.
To keep the game moving, players only have seven seconds to strike the puck back across the center line once it enters their half of the air hockey table. Of course, if the puck ends up straddling the center line of the table, either player can take the shot.
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