If you spend enough time at the air hockey table, you might feel like you have a firm grip on the basics of the sport. There are some easy steps you can take to elevate your strategy and ensure greater success against your opponent. To help you master this game, here are some tips to keep in mind the next time you pick up your mallet.

How to Win an Air Hockey Game

1. Establish Your Defense

You need to safeguard your goal so your opponent doesn’t have a chance to score. The best way to do this is to establish an effective “triangle defense.” This will block the most common shots, which come straight at your goal, approach at an angle, or smack into the rails to get behind your hands. To make use of this strategy, place the mallet just above your goal, where the tip of your triangle defense will be.

2. Recover Quickly

At the air hockey table, there’s no time to grieve a missed strike. The most common mistake people make is failing to defend a shot when they’re distracted by something else. Prevent this by always staying alert and getting back to a defensive position immediately after the puck switches hands.

3. Strike With Authority

Use your mallet as if you were a professional at the air hockey table. This means striking the puck in the precise direction you want to send it. Don’t try fancy tricks like attempting to “spin” the puck into a certain direction, which can backfire. The most effective shots come from behind, which means simply applying as much force as needed in a specific direction and let the table do the work.

Find a wide selection of air hockey tables at Dayton Billiards. Proudly serving amusement game enthusiasts throughout the Tri-State Area of Ohio, this store carries entertainment products for basements, bars, and game rooms, including tables for pool and foosball, trampolines, playground equipment, and dart boards. Visit them online to browse their offerings, or call (937) 436-2777 to discuss their inventory.