Air Hockey is a competitive sport, for the same reason that people play classic indoor games like pool, billiards or table tennis. In this sport, the players benefit not only from competition, but also from the excitement of victory and the social atmosphere.

About Air Hockey

Air Hockey is believed to have originated in 1969 when three employees from Brunswick Billiards Corporation, a manufacturer based in Chicago, created a game that was played entirely on top of a smooth surface. The game was abandoned for several years and was revived by employee Bob Lemieux in 1972.

Requirements

Air hockey requires the following: (a) air-hockey table (b) two player-held mallets (c) a puck.

Today, air hockey is usually played on a smooth table by two people each holding a mallet. By pushing a small plastic puck, the object of the game is to get the puck into the opponent’s goal while defending one’s own goal. The game is designed to be in contact with a special mechanical desktop, which creates a cushion of air. On the ends of the table behind and below the goals, there is a puck return. The player who has the most points after a certain time is acknowledged the winner.

Air Hockey Paddle

A hockey paddle or mallet (also known as a goalie or striker) consists of an easy handle attached to a flat façade. Mallets are what players actually hold on to while playing, and use to hit the puck with. Aside from being used for offense, they are also used to defend the goal. Hence, the reason for also being called “goalies”.

Hockey paddles are of two types: high-tops and flat-tops. They have similar bottom and function. It is only the height of the nub that is different.

Air Hockey pucks are thin discs made of Lexan polycarbonate resin.  In competitive play, a layer of slim white tape is placed on the face-up side.

Four-player tables also exist, but they are not authorized for competitive play.

Most air hockey tournaments are double-elimination, and the larger tournaments have “Spinoff tournaments.” What that means is that if one gets eliminated from the main tournament, he then competes in a tournament category with all of the other players that got eliminated at the same time as he did.

Categories

Beginner (Level 0) -These players are new to the sport without much experience.

Novice (Level 1) – Has a better understanding of the common tactics of offense, but needs to work on defense and puck-handling.

Amateur (Level 2) – Has control of the puck and have upright offense, but defense has to be improved.

Expert (Level 3) – Developed and can execute a couple of offensive shots fairly well.

Professional (Level 4) - With practically steady defense, and have stretched his offense to include both side rails. Mental fortitude is developing, and puck control is perceptible.

Master (Level 5) -  With crisp, precise, and unfailing shots.

(Level 6) – Only a couple of players have achieved this ranking, and they are multiple World Champions. They often beat the Masters.

Pool Table/ Billiards

The origin of billiards remains unsettled at the moment. Three countries are believed to have invented this game—France, England and Persia. The term “billiard” was derived from French words, “billart”, one of the wooden sticks, or “bille”, a ball.

Origin of Pool Table

It is said that in the past, the game of pool was played on lawns and was played similar to that of croquet where balls were shot through a course of loops to knock over a cone-shaped object. Later, the game was transferred indoors and played on the floor where players had to bend, hence causing back troubles.  For this reason, the game of pool was finally moved atop a table.

Other interesting facts

• In the 19^th century, a poolroom meant a betting parlor for horse racing; today, the term “poolroom” refers to a place where pool is played.

• While the term “billiards” refers to all games played on a pool table, with or without pockets, some people understand billiards to mean carom games only (carom: a shot in billiards in which the cue ball successively strikes two other balls) and apply pool for pocket games. In 1930’s, both pool and billiards, particularly three-cushion billiards, shared the limelight.

• The word “pool” means a collective bet. While it is true that there are other non-billiard games, such as poker, which involve a pool, it was to pocket billiards that the name became identified.