| Air Hockey pucks are slim discs made of a plastic | | | | For example, a transverse motion of the right arm |
| material known as Lexan. | | | | can lead to a "cut shot" to the left corner ofthe |
| Standard USAA-approved pucks are the yellow lexan, | | | | opponent's goal or a "right wall under" (bank off the |
| red lexan and the Dynamo green. | | | | right wall, into the right corner of theopponent's goal). |
| In competitive play, a layer of thin white tape is | | | | Keep your opponent guessing! |
| placed on the face-up side. | | | | In some tables, the technology is eschewed in |
| Four-player tables also exist, but they are not yet | | | | support of aslick table face, usually plastic, in the |
| sanctioned forcompetitive play. | | | | interest of saving money in bothmaintenance costs |
| A classic air hockey table consists of a large silky | | | | and manufacturing. Note that these tables are |
| playing surface,a contiguous rail to avoid the puck | | | | officially notair hockey tables since no air is |
| and mallets from going off the table,and slots in the | | | | concerned, conversely, they are still |
| rail at whichever end of the table that serve as goals. | | | | usuallyunderstood to be as such due to the basic |
| On the ends of the table in the rear and below the | | | | resemblance of game play. |
| goals, there is usually a puck return. | | | | Here are some basic rules as defined by the USAA: |
| Furthermore, tables will characteristically have some | | | | If the puck leaves the table, a foul is called on the |
| sort of mechanism that produces acushion of air on | | | | player that caused the puck to go out of play due to |
| the play face, with the function of reducing friction | | | | offensive motion and the opposing player gets |
| andescalating speed of play | | | | possession of the puck. Generally, when a player |
| Tips from the professionals | | | | causes the puck to leave the table with a forward |
| Practice "combos": these are groups of shots which | | | | motion of the mallet, even defensively (known as |
| are hit with the same apparentdelivery but opposite | | | | charging), the foul is charged on them. An out of play |
| locations, caused by hitting the puck at slightly | | | | foul results in the opponent receiving possession of |
| different locations on the mallet. | | | | the puck. |