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Questions on tables.

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Questions on tables.
« on: November 09, 2009, 04:11:49 PM »
My wife got me a used Harvard foosball table.
It looks like an older version of the Rematch. It's a gray cabinet, red and white men, and a shiny black table surface.

Here are my questions:
    Is a shiny surface common? I've never played on a table like this. Seems trapping is much harder.
    There is a ring of black foam around the side. I don't remember anything like this on the table I played on at an old job. When I try to trap along the wall, the ball just stops and I can't slam it into the wall to bounce it out to a middle man on the same rod. Is this foam ring normal on a table?
    Is there a list of "official" table specifications?
    Does anyone else have a harvard table like this? If the shiny surface turns out to be bad and the foam ring is also frowned on, why did Harvard make a table like this?

Thanks for any help.
Tho, I'm not sure on loving my table, at least I can play foosball again!

Offline bbtuna

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  • TS, Dynamo, Tornado, Warrior, & Fireball
Re: Questions on tables.
« Reply #1 on: November 09, 2009, 05:39:46 PM »
i do most of the table hunting and evaluating with people on this site and me, as well as many others, recommend the primary tournament tables available in the US and not Harvard, Shelti and others

the other tables are not worth talking about, they are in most cases, a waste of money...now in your case, your wife was thoughtful enough to buy you a table which is a pretty big damn deal...with that said, you need to make the most out of what you have

shinny surfaces are not in and of themselves bad the ball, table surface, and material of the men is what will determine what kind of "control" you get...you can't really change the men or table surface so that leaves hunting for a ball that will give you what you need

here are some recommendations

the yellow Bonzini ball would probably work...Bonzini was known for using cork balls...didn't roll very true but they had more control than people knew what to do with
there is a painted cork version - foosball direct (which is this site and a trusted source) thinks this is the best ball for situations like yours http://foosdirect-store.stores.yahoo.net/bonyelpainfo.html

Warrior ball - this ball as some real design ideas in it and is a good mixture of weight and control matched with perfect roundness and durability....very good ball
this is the most expensive ball but it is in my opinion the best all around currently...
http://www.warriortablesoccer.com/shop/shop.php

Tornado balls - get the newest one called the 5 Hour Tumbled ball
http://foosdirect-store.stores.yahoo.net/fts-110-005.html

unless someone else has more experience with it, i would recommend buying 2 of each and see what works best

don't understand what you mean on the sides, can you post a picture...

there aren't many foosball table manufactures who are building tables carefully designed and manufactured for the player - casual or professional...Harvard in definately not one of them

only 3 US companies and a handful of European tables Bonzini and Garlando being the only two you can find in the US

the 3 tables of note...
#1 papa of the group is Tornado - been doing it 35 years and has been the only tournament table for more than 20 until Warrior came on the scene the last 18 months
#2 is Warrior which is owned by a serious player who has made it big (Warrior Golf Clubs) and is trying to actually create a professional tour and is concerned with specific details of table design
# Xfoos or Extreme Foos which was just debuted within the last month and way to early to tell what will happen with this table but it is designed and owned by one of the great players of the 70's who has part of design 4 or 5 other tables before taking on his own...looks very solid and well designed but again, not enough info yet


Re: Questions on tables.
« Reply #2 on: November 09, 2009, 06:08:33 PM »
Thanks Tuna.

I know that Harvard isn't a well thought of brand but you're right, it was a gift and it's much better than the big nothing I had before.

I'll try out some different balls. Thanks for the suggestions.

I'm really thinking the foam may be something that's for noise reduction or something. I'll take a pic and post it tonight. I'm thinking it would be easy to replace it with some wood. Maybe by shrinking the dimensions and 1/8th of an inch I'd get rid of some of the dead spots where players can't get to the ball!


Re: Questions on tables.
« Reply #3 on: November 09, 2009, 07:05:44 PM »
I'd guess the "foam" is what's left of a doubles sided strip of adhesive that held what would have been "field trim" or a piece of formica/plastic/other that was to keep the ball from getting stuck against the sidewalls.

I'd suggest getting a razor-blade/scraper and scrape off the foam.   You can experiment with other tables field trims and try to make them fit your table.

Here's s link to a cheap strip you can try out... you'll may need 2, one for each side.
http://foosdirect-store.stores.yahoo.net/fts-110-370.html

Hmmm... last tidbit... only "italien style fastball rules" require that you kick a ball off the side wall so you can shoot it with a different man on the same rod!   The standard rules let you just move it between men and avoid the walls (and your funny foam strips) if you want!

Re: Questions on tables.
« Reply #4 on: November 10, 2009, 11:03:13 AM »
Ah!
I was not aware there could be rules here too!

I just knew that I used to really like to trap the ball along the wall, then slam my guy into it, quickly twist him out of the way and let the ball bounce to my middle man on the rod.
That trick just flat out sucks on the Harvard!

I'll check out that strip you suggested.
I bought 4 new balls and they're on their way. I'll write back on how they change the play.

Thanks for the response!