Air hockey table recommendations anyone?

[Lisa L from MI]

We are probably going to buy an air hockey table for a "family" gift. We were going to get a trampoline, but may wait and do it in the spring (and have it as DD's both birthday gifts).....

Anyway, anyone have one?? I think we picked out one by Harvard. There is one that has a white top (you know, the "normal" looking table) and then there is one that has a black top. In the store, the display with the black top looked pretty scuffed up etc.

Just wondering if the white top would hide the scuff marks better.

The black one looks really cool though...with the gray granite sides and all..........

Any opinions would be great.....BTW, they are both the same price too.

 

[RUDisney]

I wanna know this, too. The thing that I know about the tables is to get a full-size adult one so you don't kill you're back when you play it. The kids will grow, but you won't shrink. Dick's had a nice looking one in the paper on Sunday and I heard that Sam's Club had a nice one, but it is sold out. I know that I want electronic scoring, too.

 

[Lisa L from MI]

I saw that one at Dicks too....that's what got us looking....I went to 3 stores today. Did it have the black light?? I thought that was really cool....but notice that the goals are away from the edge of the table......the sales guy pointed out that...most of them are flush.

In person, compared to the Harvard "Hurricane".....that one in the paper looks alot cheaper in person. The Harvard brand looks alot better made. The one with the black light (and it's battery operated light)...is something like a "jensport" brand or something sport.

 

[Jeafl]

We've had both, and actually the white one was more scuffed up. It had a lot of red marks from the paddles.

We recently bought the one from Sam's Club. It is really nice for the money. Look for a table that lets the puck go behind the net, and also one that has true rounded corners. Our old one didn't have those features, and now that the new one does, everyone likes it better.

 

[snoopy]

We bought the same one as Jeafl, at Sam's Club. Its for the kids for Christmas, so we haven't actually used it yet. (or set it up, have to wait for Christmas Eve for that, and I'm hoping it doesn't prove to be a nightmare to assemble!)

I did a post on this, you may try doing a search. I didn't get a lot of replies, but the ones I got were informative.

 

[Lisa L from MI]

Jill, so you think the one that would let the puck go behind the goal would be better?? I thought the opposite.....most of the professional ones in places, the goal is flush on the edge (that's what DH said)....and I think it would be harder for the little ones to play too with the goal higher up???

So, you think the black top would be ok??.....Is there some kind of cleaner/polish stuff you use on it??

Thanks
Lisa

 

[Lisa L from MI]

BUMP

 

[Jeafl]

Lisa, on our old one the net was about 2 inches from the end and the puck would get caught because it didn't fit behind it, Also, the paddles were too big to fit behind it and it made it awkward. In a real hockey rink there is always room for players and pucks to go behind the net so it's more authentic (this is probably why DH and DS like the new one much better--they both play hockey and DH coaches!). In any case, the new one (from Sam's) also has the electronic scoring, which is nice, but not a huge deal.

Whichever one you choose, here's a great tip I got from a guy at a sporting goods store. When you first set it up, spray some furniture polish (like Pledge) on a soft cloth and wipe gently in circles over the entire playing surface. DO NOT spray the polish directly on the surface or you will clog the air holes thereby negating the whole "air" hockey thing! You can do this occasionally to keep the surface smooth. You really shouldn't have too many scratches if you keep the felt pads on the paddles in good condition. If they start to come off, just hot glue new felt on them. We did that with our old ones and it was fine.

LOL! I can't believe I wrote a post this long about air hockey tables!!