Air hockey is a competitive game played between two players where both attempt to win the game by scoring more goals or points than their opponent. An air hockey table is used to play this game. The air hockey table has a puck and two mallets which are also known as ‘goalie’, ‘striker’ or ‘paddle’.
Air hockey was invented in the year 1969 but became popular only after 1972 due to the efforts of Bob Lemieux. The real inventors of air hockey were three Brunswick engineers – Phil Crossman, Bob Kenrick and Brad Baldwin. The trio came up with the game of air hockey when they were trying to create a game that used a frictionless surface. Initially, the game of air hockey existed in a slightly crude form and this is when Bob Lemieux’s expertise lent refinement to it. The improvisations he made to air hockey included fixing a doorbell to each end with a photo sensor to signal a ‘goal’. This is when the upgraded version of air hockey with a sporty appeal was introduced to the masses.
The game is played on an air hockey table with a smooth playing surface and slots at both ends of the table. It consists of a rail that prevents the puck and mallets from sliding off the air hockey table. The puck return is located below the goals at the ends of the air hockey table. The mallet has a handle attached to a flat surface that makes it easy to hold during the game. Some of the common air hockey mallets are ‘high-tops’; these resemble small plastic sombreros and ‘flat-tops’; these are used with a shorter nub. The air hockey puck on the other hand, is a small rubber disc. It serves the same function as does a ball in a game of football, soccer or hockey. Air hockey pucks are made from Lexan polycarbonate resin.
The game of air hockey requires air cushions. Here, air is released through the holes in the surface of the table. The air is released through a machine that is present inside the air hockey table. This improves the speed of the puck as it reduces friction. There are different types of air hockey tables available. Some of these have no air holes and machinery. Instead, these air hockey tables have plastic surfaces to reduce the cost of purchasing the table. In other types of air hockey tables, the pucks generate their own air cushion using a battery and a fan.
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