Are you a fan of sports that involve speed, strategy and lots of thinking? Then you probably know that air hockey is your thing. This is a sport that can be enjoyed by the young and old alike. A very important component of this game is the table.
So what is the best air hockey table to buy? Well, just like it is the case with virtually everything we buy, you can’t just buy any product you come across and expect it to serve you better. You have to go for the best air hockey tables so as to enjoy the game to the maximum.
This is the guide that you are going to need as you shop for the most ideal table for your recreational room. Here is the best air hockey table reviews 2019 and all of us need to go through it to be able to get the products out there.
How Does an Air Hockey Table Work?
The table is the playing surface for a game of skill, wits, and speed between you and an opponent. During the game, a pusher is used to make forth and back puck strikes until one reaches the agreed score. It is more or less similar to regular hockey.
If you are a hockey fanatic but you don’t have time for the game, then air hockey should be a good alternative for you at home. Just hit the puck past your opponent’s goal and earn points. It is a highly entertaining game.
The table comes with tiny holes through which air is blown to create an air pocket thus making the puck to hover above the playing surface. The puck is then given a great opportunity to move in fast, fluid motions across the table.
Things to Look For When Purchasing the Best Air Hockey Table
Air hockey table is one of the greatest investments one can make for a recreational room. It provides excitement and fun to almost everybody. But this is only possible if the right choice for the table is made. Everybody has his/her table tastes which must be taken into consideration before any purchase is done.
In this section, therefore, we are going to look at some of the key factors that you should consider before you buy an air hockey table. Take a look.
- Table Size
Air hockey tables are available in different sizes, something that you need to keenly look into before you fork out your cash. Regulation size air hockey tables are often 8 feet by 4 feet in length and width respectively. This is usually the recommended size for professional gaming. This is the right size for hosting tournaments.
However, not everybody has the space to accommodate the regulation size tables which explains why they are also available in smaller versions. The tables can also be found in smaller sizes of between 4 and 7.5 feet long. This makes it possible for you to choose on a table that will perfectly fit into your gaming space.
Regardless of the size you choose, make sure that there is at least 36’’ of clearance on the table’s both ends for sufficient movement during gaming. Bear in mind that even the smaller tables take up considerable amounts of space as well.
- Table’s construction
Air hockey is a game that sometimes involves a lot of intensity. For such kind of a game, lightweight tables can affect the flow of the game when leaned on. It is, therefore, advisable that you go for a table with solid wood construction.
The cheaply constructed tables are so common in the markets. Most are made of plywood. These tables aren’t sturdy and in most cases, their legs tend to break during gaming which is a serious safety issue to the players. You wouldn’t want to get a serious injury when enjoying your favorite indoor game.
A well-built air hockey table should have strong and thick legs to support its playing field. Additionally, it should come with leg levelers for purposes of having level playing surfaces as some of the room floors might not be level.
Still on the construction, the rink walls are known to face a lot of impact during gaming and this can make them wear out easily. Tables with rink walls made from high-density nylon or aluminum are the best. Additionally, the playing field should be coated with a laminate that is wear resistant for durability.
Besides, UL-approved motors are safely done. Check if the motor has a seal of approval from UL. All these might make the cost of the table shoot up but it is worth the money.
- Appearance
These tables are available in different designs and colors. Some have flashy graphics designs making them great for arcades. Others are also perfectly polished for more sophisticated gaming environments.
With the tables available in different styles, you’ll definitely find one that matches with your already existing décor either at home or in a game room. There is also the lighting aspect that is lately common in the tables. Most tables come with overhead LEDs to allow you to play even in dimly lit places. These often give the tables some very nice appearances.
- Large or small pucks
The size of the puck is another thing you’ll need to keenly look into. Tables built for smaller pucks of 2.75 inches come with fans that can create pressure for lifting just the smaller pucks alone. On the other hand, 3-inch puck tables come with more powerful fans.
Small puck tables are generally designed for kids. If they are hit too hard, especially by adults, they fly off the table. They are meant for casual gaming and are more affordable.
Adults are recommended to go for tables meant for large pucks as they can be hit with considerably more force without causing any harm. Being that they come with more powerful motors, consider their prices to be slightly higher compared to the small puck tables.
The large puck models can also be used in commercial establishments for quite long durations.
Top 10 Air Hockey Tables Reviews for 2019
Below is a review of the top air hockey table on the market today.
Gold Standard Games Home Pro Elite Air Hockey Table – Best for home use
Designed and built by Air Hockey Champions, this 350-pound table is one of the top quality tables that are even fairly priced that you can come across. This solid and low-profile table has received endorsements from some of the best players like Tim Weissman, Danny Hynes and Mark Robbins. This says a lot about its quality.
Its top rail is made of aluminum to give it a professional-style bankability and superior bounce. Do you want to be a pro-quality action achiever? The 3-3/16-inch diameter puck will help you achieve this goal. Competitive play is also enhanced by the table’s face-off circle and the available centerline.
The table is designed in a way that it serves right every player, right from beginners to professionals. Excitement and fun will never lack with this table. This product is built with a laminate that is wear resistant ensuring that it serves you for long.
This table has dimensions of 87 by 48 by 19 inches. If you aren’t a fan of side graphics, then don’t worry as the table can also be bought minus the side graphics. Actually, the Gold Standard Games table is the best for home.
Pros
- Long-lasting
- Well packaged
- Quick delivery
- Easy and quick assembly
- Reasonably priced
- Excellent gameplay
Cons
- Too bulky
ESPN Air Hockey Arcade Game: Silver Streak Professional Sports Table Set with Equipment – 8 foot
The ESPN Air Hockey Arcade table is a sleek, electric-type and premium quality table that provides fun and excitement to family and friends in a home or game room. It comes with all the game accessories making it a buy and use equipment. Of the accessories included are 4 paddles and 4 pucks meant for multi-player gaming.
This table comes with an electronic LED touch screen for controllable scoring capability. This makes gaming using this table quite unique and simple. You only need a few taps and you’ll be good to challenge an opponent.
This ESPN Silver Streak pro table is built with a 120V motor that has been certified by UL. The motor ensures there is sufficient air flow into the table. It is this motor that also ensures the puck slides smoothly and easily for even quicker gaming as a result of its UV-coated playfield.
The table is known to last longer as a result of its oversized levelers and leg supports that are full-panel. Its top rails have also been reinforced with additional playfield aprons providing additional support. Its large size gives it the ability to accommodate up to 4 players at a time. This 153-pound table has dimensions of 96 by 48 by 32 inches.
Pros
- Good quality
- Easy and quick assembly
- Well-priced
- Well designed, built and sturdy
- Large-sized for multi-player gaming
- Nice looking
Cons
- Safety issues reported
MD Sports Air Powered Hockey Table
The MD Sports Air Powered Hockey Table is a 2-player set and electronic gaming platform that is smooth with precise and flawless execution. It comes with high-voltage fans, sound effects as well as LED lights. The fans are powered by powerful 120C UL-certified motors for consistent and even air flow.
The scratch-resistant, UV-coated and high gloss playfield are some of the features that make this table stand out. This table’s pucks don’t stick which is another great plus. The table is built with LED lighting and sound effects for improved excitement.
With ½-inch thick legs and 5-inch leg levelers which are adjustable, the table offers a sturdy and level playing ground that every player looks forward to. You are actually at a position to choose a height that best suits your gaming. What’s more, the table has measurements of 84 by 42 by 32 inches and weighs 92.4 pounds.
Pros
- Easy to assemble
- Well-packaged
- Smooth and adjustable playing surface
- Well-built and sturdy
- Nice looking
- Not too heavy
Cons
- Too loud sounds
Atomic Blazer 7’ Air Hockey Table with Electronic Score Keeping with Rail-integrated Display, Heavy-duty 120V Blower for Fast Play – Best Air Hockey Table under $500
The Atomic Blazer is another air-powered hockey table that you can consider as well. It is an 84 by 48 by 32 inches in length, width and height respectively. It is solidly built to ensure there is sufficient excitement as you play along.
It comes with a powerful 120V blower that ensures there is fast play. Besides, it has overhang rails for purposes of reduced puck bounce. The table also gives you an opportunity to electronically keep track of your scores. The electronic score element has a rail-integrated display.
This table has the ability to accommodate table tennis conversion top; though not included in this purchase. For purposes of even play area, the table comes with leg levelers. Also included are 4 3-inch black pucks and 4 black strikers. The air hockey table weighs 25 pounds and is perfect for the money.
Pros
- Well-built
- Easy to put together
- Quick delivery
- Great sound effects
- Easy to use scoreboard
- Perfect airflow
Cons
- Digital scoreboard not durable
American Heritage Monarch Air-Hockey Table
This air hockey table is usually accompanied with 4 pucks and 4 goalies making it another great consideration. The table has an overhead arch scoreboard as well as 2 additional scoring systems that are manual. The American Heritage Monarch also features a Starburst design which is screen-printed.
It has dimensions of 86 by 50 by 10 inches with a playfield measuring 76 inches and 40 inches in length and width respectively. The table comes with assembly instructions making it easy to set up. This product is built together with a 115V AC axial fan that is powerful and thermal-protected at the same time.
Its design is so smooth and sleek, and so is the puck that is supposed to be gliding over it. The manual scorers are on either side of the playing surface. What’s more, the process of assembling this air hockey table is also a quite easy one and won’t waste any of your time. The only issue you can be worried about is its bulkiness and the fact that sometimes it tends to be too loud.
Pros
- Nice looking
- Easy assembling
- Sturdy
- Well-performing scoreboard
- Large enough
- Well-priced
Cons
- Bulky
- Too loud
Atomic Top Shelf 7.5’ Air Hockey Table
Here is another air hockey table that is classic arcade-style with dimensions of 90 by 49 by 31.2 inches. Its 82 by 41-inch playfield is, however, made of MDF which has been PVC laminated. This gives about high-speed play; which is very important for action-packed fun.
The table is also fitted with LED Lumen-X light that provides a range of colors from blue, red and green as you enjoy the game. These lights can change colors whenever a player scores making the competition much enjoyable. You can also add high-tempo music into this and enjoy high-intensity gaming at the same time.
The 2 LED pushers (1 red and 1 blue) and 2 round pucks and 1 red-hexagonal spinner LED puck makes this 220-pound air hockey table another good option. This helps create unpredictable and challenging rebounds for more advanced play. Its 4 legs are large enough to create a sturdy and stable playing field.
What’s more, it also comes with other LED accessories for even more exciting play even at night. Maximum airflow into the table is provided by the 120-volt motor. However, most customers tend to complain about the bulkiness of this product.
Pros
- Sturdy
- Well-packaged
- Easy and quick assembly
- Nice play environment with the LEDs on
- Perfect airflow
- Quick delivery
Cons
- Quite bulky
Brunswick 7ft Air Hockey Table – Windchill
Brunswick 7’ is a sleek air hockey table with a contemporary styling which is perfect for indoor gaming. Its gaming surface is properly laminated and is supported by a very sturdy pedestal base for comfortable gaming without a thing to worry about. Nothing is as enjoyable as gaming on level ground.
The table has approximate dimensions of 83.75 by 41.5 by 30 inches in length, width and height respectively. It also weighs about 149 pounds. The Brunswick air hockey table is also made of double abacus scoring units on each of the table’s sides. The scorers are accompanied by complete accessories such as 4 pucks and 2 mallets.
It also comes with a UL blower that provides powerful yet constant airflow. This helps keep games in motion and exciting at the same time. It is also worth noting that the table has a 90-day warranty from workmanship and material defects. It is easy to put together allowing you to have more than sufficient gaming time.
Pros
- Easy assembly
- Fast gaming
- Affordable
- Sturdy
- Good airflow
- Well-packaged
Cons
- No replacement parts
Hathaway Face-Off 5’ Air Hockey Table – Best Air Hockey Table for Kids
With dimensions of 60 by 30 by 30.5 inches and a playing surface of 54.75 by 27.25 inches in length and width respectively, the Hathaway Face-Off 5’ is another great air hockey table worth considering. Some of the included accessories are 2 2.5-inch pucks and 2 3-inch strikers. The pucks smoothly glide over the airflow resulting in the fast-paced action.
The table’s cool graphics make it perfect stuff for kids. It also has a compact design that can sustain frequent kids plays. Adults can also enjoy gaming on this glossy and slick table surface. This table is fitted with a 110-volt AC axial fan that provides constant and powerful air through the 1000+ playing surface holes.
Its wood construction features long-lasting leg braces for durability. There are also leg levelers to provide level playing surface. The product has a 180-day warranty on poor workmanship and material defects. It has a weight of 60 pounds.
Pros
- Simple assembly instructions
- Freely flowing pucks
- Sturdy
- Adequate airflow
- Well-priced
- Fast delivery
Cons
- Puck made for smaller hands
Triumph Lumen-X Lazer 6’ Interactive Air Hockey Table Featuring All-Rail LED Lighting and In-Game Music
Triumph Lumen-X Lazer offers great illumination for gaming even in the darkest of conditions. Built with in-rail LEDs, the table provides a cascading effect which when accompanied with in-game music makes play more fun with lots of excitement. It has dimensions of 72 by 40 by 31 inches in length, width and height respectively.
The 75-pound air hockey table also comes with 2 very bright blue strikers as well as 1 blue puck which elevates the gaming experience to a whole new level. The playing surface is made of MDF with the addition of blue and white silkscreen lines.
It also has an electronic scorer that allows you to keep track of gaming with a lot of ease. The 12mm legs are thick enough to give the table some well-deserved support. Additionally, the table has 4 2.5-inch levelers for purposes of providing a level playing field.
Pros
- Large size
- Fun sound effects and lighting
- Sturdy
- Easy and quick assembly
- Affordable
Cons
- Unreliable electronic scorer
- No on/off fan switch
Viper Vancouver 7.5-Foot Air Hockey Game Table
The Viper Vancouver 7.5’ is another great game or living room addition. It comes with a powerful fan that is capable of providing 110 cubic feet of air per minute. Be sure to get one of the steadiest supports for numerous pucks.
The level playing field of this table is smooth, white and contains some of the most colorful graphics. This table comes with a double-end puck for return convenience. The triangular professional-style electronic timer and scorer allows you to choose the length of game time.
Also available with this purchase are 4 pucks and 4 mallets. With leg levelers, it is certain that you’ll have a level playing field. It measures 89.5 by 48 by 32 inches. However, most clients tend to complain that this air hockey table is too heavy.
Pros
- Well-packaged
- Easy assembly
- Perfect airflow
- Perfect size
- Well-built and steady
Cons
- Too heavy
Conclusion
Air hockey is a game that is so enjoyable and stress-relieving. It is a less demanding game that can be enjoyed by both kids and adults even at home. But minus the right equipment, you won’t enjoy it. Which leads us to one of the greatest components of this game which is the table.
You have now known how the table operates, how to choose the most ideal one and at the same time, you have gone through the features of the top 10 air hockey tables in 2019. But what is the best air hockey table to buy? I would go for the Gold Standard Home Pro-Elite Air Hockey Table anytime.
Why this product? Well, it’s solidly constructed with a wear-resistant laminate on its playing field. It is fairly large in size besides receiving endorsements from the top air hockey players of our time. I can confidently recommend it to you.
All the other products are also excellent and will also deliver as per your expectations. You can go ahead and choose any of them as well and get the quality results that you are already anticipating.
