If table football to you is just a spinning toy or game for very young children then you may not want to buy from us and/or pay more than £200 for a table, BUT, please read on, there are some important things to consider when shopping for any football table. With the popularity of football tables on the rise, and lots of manufacturers trying to get a share of the market, it is increasingly difficult to make a buying decision. With the demand for tables at a high, and supply being somewhat limited you will see the SAME brand/model of table vary in price by hundreds of pounds. Do a little research and make an informed buying decision. To that end, we hope this guide will help.
SPINNING Did you know that spinning of the rods is "illegal" in competitions. If you want to develop the "skill" of the game/sport then you will want to look for a table that has a consistent roll or surface, a table that has a "round" ball that rolls true, a man/ball/surface combination that lets you stop, pin and manoeuvre the ball.
AGE OF PLAYERS For the adults and small children, a table with adjustable height such as our G100 table can be a big plus. The professional tables are set at 35" in height which is a bit high for very short players!
STURDINESS Go for a table with steel or solid wood legs. Avoid hollow wooden legs at all costs. For heavyweight use look for a table which weighs over 65kgs. Lighter tables will tend to move or wobble when you throw your weight against them.
CABINET CONSTRUCTION For heavy weight use you will definitely need to look for a high quality cabinet. There are tables that will stand up very well to high volume/abusive play. Key points to look for are a cabinet with side walls which are at least 25mm thick and made of MDF or plywood. Avoid tables made of chipboard - it simply is not strong enough. Also look for tables where the playing field is recessed into the sides of the cabinet and secured using metal brackets along its length.
RODS If space is at a premium or children will be using (or even playing around) the table you need telescopic rods in order to avoid the risk of a nasty accident. The should be 16mm diameter and made of high resistance chromium plated steel. Good rods should also have bushes / bearing where they pass through the cabinet and into each other. This makes for smoother play and reduced wear. Also look for tables which use metal springs on either end to damp the impact against the cabinet. Poorer quality tables use rubber buffers which do not last as long and put more strain on the cabinet and players wrists.
ROOM LOCATION Physical dimensions of the full size foosball tablle are around Length 145cm, Width 80cm . Do not forget that the handles stick out, and players need room. Minimum suggested playing area - 7 foot by 8 foot is good. That will give you a little over 1 foot at each end of the table and almost 3 feet on the sides for players to stand. For big kids a little more room would be recommended.
PLAYING SURFACE. Thicker is typically better in order to give a consistant and flat surface. Beware of thin surfaces which bow under pressure. Beware of tables with a clear glass pitch - it is too smooth and ball control will be difficult. Also it will look a mess when you spill your beer on it and it gets under the glass ! Go instead for a table with a laminated finish or sand-blasted glass which gives good grip for control.
OTHER USES Put it in the laundry room, you can easily dry 8 items of clothing at a time by neatly hanging them on the rods. Turn it into a kitchen/work/play table - put a tabletop on it and bar stools around it for a nice card table. Take the legs off and use it as a coffee table - or our favorite - remove the rods too and you've got a dice table.
