Topic: planning to purchase new table for company rec room

[gpeters]

I will be assisting in the purchase of a new foosball table at one of my company's recreation/lunch rooms.  I haven't played or followed foosball for about 25 years or so.  Any recommendations?

The table would get a moderate amount of use (14 hours???/week) by my company's employees during their lunch hour or before/after work hours.  We are located in Denver, Colorado, United States.  We are typical players looking for some casual entertainment.  Yet, I never liked foosball tables where the balls rolled unevenly, the men's feet were imprecise and rods were bent or sloppy.  Playing on sloppy tables was like playing golf with an egg shaped  ball ... why bother to try to hone your skills?  Therefore, I am going to push for a rugged and precisely manufactured equipment. 

I'm not sure of the level of funds that will be available, but we might be able to afford something like a Tornado T-2000.  The Tornado Cyclone II and T-2000 seem like two logical choices.  Tornado seems to be the major surviving manufacturer in the United States.  Garlando looks colorful, Tournament Soccer is not around, Dynamo is not around ... (Dynamo's goals seemed so big it was disgusting???), I'm not sure about Bonzini. 

Your comments would be appreciated.

[marty]

i think tornado 2000 would be a good choice, but keep in mind there goalie
opening is 8 inchs i think the same as dynamo, i also started playing again
after being totaly away from foosball 20 + years  i own a tournment soccer
table, a tornado 2000 and this year i bought the new legand table witch i
also would be a good choice for and old school player but right now they
are haveing a few problems with the goalie hitting the back wall , i here
that shelti makes a good table but the feet on the men like the legand are
wider , have yet to play on a bonzini but beleve it to be a top notch table
also and single man goalie cork ball clay playfield for better ball control
foosball is big in colorado mainly tornado if you haven't yet find a table
in a bar our something and try it out it took me a little bit to get use to
the three man goalie and banks are harder to hit but its the fastest table
i have played on yet and if the table is level the balls do roll true

[Double A]

****

[grandmaster]

Buy a new coin op Tornado. You won't regret it.

[gpeters]

Unfortunately, the purchase of the foosball table where I work was quickly done last week without any of my input. 

Some rookie purchased a demo floor model Sportscraft USA Cup foosball table for $150.  It was a good price but the handles are already slipping from the steel rods.  It is perhaps the most slippery table I've ever seen ... seems very difficult to get any real ball control ... releveling it may help and/or changing ball styles.  The new users don't even understand what they'll be missing by not buying a high quality table like a Tornado.  The way it is now, a decent snake shot is not going to happen on this table.  Oh well.

Perhaps I'm being overly critical.  What do you think of the quality/durability of Sportscraft foosball tables?  Are they simply adequate?

[grandmaster]

Sportcraft is ok for kids. Serious play requires a sturdy table. Coin op Tornado tables are sturdy and EARN $$$$.