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The rules of air hockey and tips and advice for playing the popular table-top game

Air hockey is a very exciting and challenging game which is played in many countries around the world. It is played at a very fast pace and requires good eye-hand coordination and great wrist action by the players.

Air hockey tables are found in a wide range of locations and are often seen in bars, club, amusement arcades and holiday hotels.

Air Hockey has become more and more popular since it was originally invented in America in 1969 and eventually unveiled to the public by the Brunswick Billiards Company.

Air hockey leagues and associations are commonplace in many countries including the USA, Spain and Russia, and world air hockey championships are held annually.

It can be a fun and thrilling game and involves two players facing each other at the end of the hockey table who must try to score points by hitting a circular flat puck into their opponent’s goal.

Air hockey tables range in price from very cheap to expensive depending on their size and quality - a small desktop air hockey table will only cost around £20 but the top of the range tables - similar to those found in bars and amusement arcades - can cost up to £1,000.

An air hockey table is rectangular in shape and requires the use of a puck and two mallets, also known as paddles or pushers - each player holds a mallet in their hand for striking the puck.

A mallet is basically a round handle which is connected to a disc shaped circular base. Pucks are thin round discs made from resin or toughened plastic and are available in various colours.

The surface of the air hockey table features a multitude of tiny holes through which air is expelled from below to reduce friction and allow the puck to move faster. The surface of the table is surrounded by rails which prevent the puck from leaving the table when hit with the mallets.

It’s important to keep your fingers away from the base part of the mallet to avoid the unpleasant experience of being struck by the fast-moving puck.

The table also features a thin slot at each end which acts as the goal - each player must try to hit the puck into their opponents’s goal, deflecting it off the side rails if they wish.

Playing a game of air hockey

A game of air hockey is started with the tossing of a coin to decide who gets first control of the puck.

The winner of the toss must hit the puck from their end of the table within seven seconds - their opponent has the same amount of time to hit the puck back.

If the mallet is placed on top of the puck it is considered a foul - if a foul is committed by a player their opponent will take possession of the puck.

It is also a foul if a player touches the puck with any part of their body. A key skill in the game is a player’s ability to protect his or her goal.

Hitting the puck when it is on the opposite side of the table or crossing the centre line with your mallet constitutes a foul, and control of the puck goes to your opponent.

If a player hits the puck and it leaves the table’s playing surface, it must be handed over to their opponent.

The first player to score seven goals is the winner of the game.

The tiny jets of air which are emitted from the surface of the table reduce friction on the puck substantially, enabling it to move very quickly - so players who can react very quickly to the fast-moving puck are likely to fare best in a game of air hockey.

Useful tips for playing air hockey

If you want to play air hockey like a pro there are a few tips which will enable you to gain an edge over your opponent.

Many people make the mistake of holding the mallet at the top part of the handle - but the proper and more effective way is to grasp the handle from behind, enclosing your hand around it. This gives you greater control and enables you to hit the puck with better wrist action, direction and speed. This method definitely allows you to move around the air hockey table with improved agility and control.

Another bit of advice is to keep your mallet about a foot away from your goal when your opponent has control of the puck - this tactic is a great defence strategy and will enable you to react very quickly whether your opponent hits the puck straight at you or rebounds it off the side of the air hockey table.

When you have control of the puck you should take time to consider how you intend to strike it - many people get carried away with the speed of the game and just hit the puck randomly.

You should always shoot hard, striking the puck firmly - rebounding off the side rails can be a great way to score a goal but hitting them multiple times in one strike is not advisable as it is likely to slow down the speed of the puck considerably, allowing your opponent to deflect the shot.