| I remember playing air hockey as a kid, and having a | | | | The top air hockey players are very good on the |
| lot of fun, though I do not remember having any | | | | offense with drifting. Drifting is when you control the |
| specific guidelines that we played by, we just went at | | | | puck on your side of the table by moving the puck in a |
| it in fierce (but fun) competition. Air hockey tables had | | | | set pattern, which allows you to knock the puck down |
| been around for less than eight years when air hockey | | | | the table in a variety of attacks. This can throw off |
| became a competitive sport. Rules and game play are | | | | your opponent since they do not know how you will |
| governed by the USAA (United States | | | | deliver the final blow on the puck. Very slight |
| Air-Table-Hockey Association). For tournament play, | | | | differences in wrist movement can affect which way |
| only the 8 foot air hockey tables manufactured by | | | | the puck will go. Some of the more popular drifts are |
| Dynamo are sanctioned. Approved tables include the | | | | the center, diamond (or circle), "L", and diagonal drifts. |
| Photon, Pro-Style, older Blue Top, Brown Top, Purple | | | | As an example, on the diamond drift the puck is |
| Top or Black Top with unpainted rails. | | | | moved clockwise in a diamond shape, being contacted |
| Besides a table, the only other equipment needed are | | | | by the mallet twice, once at the top and once at the |
| two mallets (one for each player) and a puck. The | | | | bottom. The reverse diamond moves the puck in the |
| most common mallet looks like a sombrero, and as a | | | | same pattern, but counter-clockwise. Both of these |
| kid, I would grip the top part tightly as I chased the puck | | | | drifts encourage shots from several points on the |
| around the table. But this is not how the professionals | | | | table, and with only minor adjustments can utilize time |
| do it. In competitive play, the mallet is gripped behind the | | | | delays, change-ups, and other techniques. |
| knob using just your fingertips. This allows for more | | | | A final strategy used by top players on air hockey |
| wrist action so that the mallet can be moved around | | | | tables are shots that are organized into "combos". This |
| the table faster. | | | | means a group of shots which appear to be hit with |
| I learned that this mallet grip, and a few other things | | | | the same delivery but in opposite directions. This is |
| sets competitive play apart from us recreational users. | | | | caused by hitting the puck at slightly different locations |
| I also discovered a few other helpful tips to improve | | | | on the mallet. Now, I hadn't thought of this before but it |
| my game, things that professional players do on their | | | | makes sense that where the puck is struck on the |
| air hockey tables. | | | | mallet (since it is curved) would affect the direction of |
| For basic defense, competitive players often use the | | | | the puck. |
| triangle defense. The mallet is kept centered about 8 | | | | Though there are probably a lot more tips, these are |
| inches front of the goal. This means only slight | | | | enough to get started to improve my game. The next |
| movements are needed to protect the goal from | | | | time I am around some air hockey tables, I will try the |
| straight shots, and bank shots can be prevented by | | | | looser grip, and some drifting techniques to see if I can |
| quickly pulling the mallet back towards the corners of | | | | confuse my opponent! |
| the goal. | | | | |