How to Play Air Hockey: Air Hockey Rules for Dummies

Air Hockey Equipment: What do you need?

If you have determined to purchase an air hockey table, here's the good news for you!

Most companies usually include all the air hockey parts you need to start playing the game. You just choose the table, and other vital parts will be delivered to you as well. An air hockey table set includes the following parts:

Air Hockey Equipment: What do you need

If you have determined to purchase an air hockey table, here's the good news for you!

Most companies usually include all the air hockey parts you need to start playing the game. You just choose the table, and other vital parts will be delivered to you as well. An air hockey table set includes the following parts:

Air hockey table 

Well, obviously, you need a table to play the game on! A standard air hockey table has the sizes 90"x 50". However, if you don't have enough space in your room, you can choose a smaller model. Just browse the game shops and discover the one that will perfectly fit your room.

The table also has shields that can be attached to it if both players are okay with them. The shields aim to bounce the pucks back if they are thrown out of the table.

Some of the most famous commercial-grade air hockey tables are manufactured by Dynamo and Gold Standard Games.

Mallets or strikers

Mallets are the sombrero-like tools that each player should have during the play. Although they are officially called mallets, you can also meet other names like "strikers" or "pushers.” 

There are mainly two types of mallets- high tops and low tops. The latter is used for flexibility and defense, while low tops are for pros and provide even faster play and incredible tricks.

Each player should get a similar mallet so that they don't have any defensive advantages over their competitors.

The only thing you should consider is that the color of the mallets shouldn't coincide with the surface color of the table; otherwise, it will be super hard to play because of the color similarity. 

When you take part in an air hockey competition, the referee looks at the mallets and approves or disapproves of them. But if you play at home for practice, you can use whatever mallet you want based on your preferences.

Pucks

The air hockey set you are going to buy will most likely have a puck in the box. It is perfect for your practice. However, if it gets damaged, you can always find a new one on webshops.

For the air hockey game, you’ll just need one puck. Choose the puck that is created for a high-speed game and is covered with plastic tape. If the puck layer doesn't have a good quality, it won't let you play the game properly. The puck will not move smoothly over the surface of the table or even worse. It will keep flying off of the table.

Basic Air Hockey Rules
 

If you want to know how to play air hockey, here are all the main air hockey rules you should consider before playing the game:

Coin flip

Before starting the match, the first action that you need to do is flip the coin. Won the coin toss? Then you can take the side of the table you want and start the game with it.

You can also toss the coin for the second time to find out who will start games 3, 5, and 7 with the puck. In this case, the opponent will start with 2, 4, and 6. 

Wait! But what about the 1st round, then?

Face-off

The first round is also called the "face-off.” During it, no one gets the puck to start the game. You have to place it in the centerline of the table.

In a professional game, the referee is the one that holds the puck. The players start moving the mallets around it. After hearing the command "players ready,” players do their best to get the puck and score a goal, or, at least, gain a favorable possession.

If you have a third person next to you, they can take the role of the referee in the game to make it fair. But if it’s just two of you playing the game, you can play without a referee. Just put the puck in the center of the circle. After counting to 3, you can start the game.

No “topped” pucks

You can have only one puck on the playfield. It can touch all the mallet parts but shouldn't be on the top of it. 

Stand behind the center-line

You should stand behind the center line and not beyond it. After each round, players also switch sides to keep the game more interesting.

Short Time outs

According to official air hockey rules, you can only have one time out during each game. It shouldn’t last longer than 10 seconds. You can have the break when the puck is not in play. You can have the second time out during the same game only if one of the players gets injured.

Scoring rules
 

The player who scores 7 goals first wins the whole game! But in what cases does the score count? 

Here are just a few examples you should consider:

You shouldn’t count the score if the puck…

• Pauses in the goal and doesn’t move. In this case, you just need to give the puck back to your competitor.
• Bounces back from the mouth of the goal.
• Enters the goal when the opponent is distracted from the game.

You can count the score if the puck...

• Hits the goal and is thrown inside.
• Bounces back from the mouth of the goal. It hits the player’s hand and rebounds back into the goal.
• Hits the opponent’s hand, you can clearly see that it would definitely score regardless of the hand.

Trickier scores that you should count
 

• When the player scores a goal, the opponent loses the mallet. They aren't allowed to stop the puck with their hands. When this happens before or during losing the mallet, you can count the score.
• Suppose one of the players hits the puck and drops the mallet when the puck enters the player’s own goal. In such a case, the goal counts if the other competitor has no interference or defensive shot. Keep in mind that you can use your hands to stop the puck in such a situation.

Boundaries in Air Hockey

This is one of the most essential air hockey rules you should pay attention to when playing. 

Here are the parts of the air hockey table the puck is allowed to touch while playing:

• Mallets
• Goals
• The surface of the table
• The walls around the table

In all other cases, the puck goes out of bound. That means you have to stop the game and hand the puck to the opponent. 

However, there is an exception to this rule:

If the player uses the mallet to stop the back and blocks it but doesn't hit it in return. Even if the puck flies out of the table, it is the fault of the one who shot it. Accordingly, the possession is handed to the second player who just blocked the puck.
 

Penalties and Fouls
 

• Palming- This happens when you touch the puck. It may include any part of your body and even clothes. If you do so, you will have a technical foul. The latter is when your opponent has the chance to shoot at your unprotected and open goal. Please keep in mind that you can't deliberately make your opponent cause the palming by hitting the puck off the table at them. If you do so, it will not count as palming but goal-tending.
• Topping- This happens when a player uses the mallet to hide the puck, catch or stop it. If you do so, you'll have a regular foul. Your opponent will get possession of the puck, but you can still protect your goal, unlike the technical foul case.
• Touching the centerline- If your mallet overreaches the centerline, it is considered a foul. But if it's the puck that touches the centerline, both players can attempt to strike.
• 7-seconds rule- Did you get possession of the puck? You have 7 seconds to shoot. If those seconds run out, it counts as foul. The player who couldn't hit during these 7 seconds has to hand the puck to the opponent.

Beginner vs. Professional: what’s the playing difference?
 

Professional air hockey players play the game differently as they have their special tips and tricks to level up their game. 

Here are just a few tricks professional air hockey players use during the game:
 

• Mallet grip- If you look at how beginners and professional players grip the mallet, you can see a huge difference here. Newbies usually hold the mallet with the entire fist. Professionals use their 2-3 fingers to hold the mallet. Actually, this allows them to control the mallet better than newbies do with their 5 fingers. It also speeds up the game and allows the player to have a broader range of motion.
• Drifting first, then hitting- Professional players don't shoot the puck first. They drift in, then hit it using straight and cut shots. This allows the player to keep possession of the puck and deceive the opponent with their unexpected fast moves.

Frequently asked questions 

• How many rounds are there in hockey?

An air hockey match consists of 7 rounds. 

• What’s the average air hockey game duration?

Air hockey game duration primarily depends on how fast you are playing and how long it will take to score those 7 points. However, here are several time-related air hockey rules you should consider:

1. Each player is allowed to take a time-out that is no longer than 10 seconds.
2. The player who conceded a goal has only 10 seconds to resume the play.
3. A player only has 7 seconds to push the puck once it is on their side of the table.

• Can you stop the puck in air hockey?

No! You can't stop the puck in air hockey.  If you use your mallet to stop the puck, the referee will count it as "topping,” which will lead to a regular foul. 

• How many points is a win in hockey?

The player who scores 7 points first wins the whole game.

Let the Pros help you -  Call Us!

At Game Please, we are ready to take your skills to a whole new level. 

Visit our webshop or contact us 24/7, and our professionals will lead you through the whole process of purchasing the perfect air hockey table for your home or bar.