Topic: New Handles

[Vesper]

Hello,
   has anyone played on an 08 Tornado with the new rubber handles?  I just ordered an 2008 Storm and will be picking it up in less then a couple weeks.  What Im wondering is should I pick up some old stock plain wodden handles while I am there to swap out right away, whats everyones thoughts or opinions?
V

[Daniel]

If you wrap your handles it does not matter what kind of handles you use.

[bbtuna]

I haven't heard about the handles changing to rubber...if that is true, do they have the same shape as the previous handles?  you can as stated always wrap the handles with tennis handle wraps but if they are rubber you may not want to, it would depend on how wet your hands get...if they were rubber you could also you a glove (golf gloves) which would make a good connection with most rubber

[Vesper]

Well I can let you know what they are like in a couple weeks.  I do wrap my 3 bar, it was more the shape and feel of the other 3 I was worried about.  They still look to be hexagonal, the sales rep said they are getting rid of the wooden ones on all models, but they still attach with a pin in the same place so they can be swaped with old ones if need be I suppose.

[bbtuna]

they were making a plastic handle (not rubber) within the last year but they have officially given up on that so if you are buying a table with the plastic handles (one side yellow the other black) then you are buying a table that isn't the latest edition    - which isn't bad, I play on a plastic handle table every week - gray marble coin-op...I really like the table and the handles are fine unless you like to play without a wrap and your hands get moist at all...I wrap all handles

but, that is plastic and you originally said "rubber"

but if they are plastic, wrap and go

[Vesper]

from what Im told, they are rubber, at least rubber coated.  They are all black, and it is a brand new 2008 model Storm for sure.

http://tornadofoosb.powweb.com/tornadofoosballcominc/id13.html

The sales rep said that they used the wooden handles on some of the pictures for media purpose because the rubber ones werent ready, but he said all new models will have them

[chance37]

Plastic/rubber = cheaper...........Brunswick is trying their best to cut back on the detail and take away from the playability......Not really sure if the play is differefnt because I myself have not played with the rubber/plastic handles, but It is definately a downgrade IMO....

[bbtuna]

the plastic were fine but they got so many complaints from the players they changed back to wood...I had no problem with them but if a person like to play unwraped, and there are a few of those out there, then they would stink...also, people don't like change good or bad

rubber could be real nice, depends on shape, type of rubber, etc...worse comes to worse, you can always wrap

Tornado was considering a changable handle system but that has been on hold for a time...you can see the handles, some of which are rubber, at the website of the guy who invented them

http://www.foosballpro.com/index.php

these were shown at several tournaments and many people commented on how the Viper improves the rollover because of the smaller diameter

I personally love the idea and hope they can work out the bugs...maybe this is step one in that direction

Last comment on "Brunswick is trying their best to cut back on the detail and take away from the playability"  I am not a VB shrill and I am very disappointed at some of the recent build quality issues and many other decisions VB has made.  However, I don't agree with the second part of your statement...yes they are trying to cut manufacturing cost but they are not "trying" to take away playability.

there is no incentive for them to do this...tons of incentive for other changes and attemtped changes and that is of course money...but there is nothing in it for them to ruin playability on purpose

now, I don't think they are trying to make the table or playability better and that really makes me mad

they have the power to create a real classy "tournament" table but they want to take the previous manufacturing model and see how much they can save....very disappointing

[chance37]

If that many people are complaining like you said..then the playability of the table has been affected.....Yes I do agree with you on that VB didn't want to change the playability....but R/D should have maybe asked or even Researched before they developed..Look at the cheap ass tables that use plastic such as sportcraft.etc....although i play with wraps and I wouldn't probably notice a difference a lot of older players refuse to use any type of tube or wrap......From my experience in the billiard business...brunswick has been around for a long time, but in recent years has turned towards over seas importing of not only parts, but tables as well...which means cheap...cheap...cheap...hmmmmmm.....TS were all imported too....don't here people chomping at the bit to get there hands on one of those....

[Paul]

Change the handles to plastic/rubber and you lose all of the players that don't use wraps, myself included.  I don't use wraps so I can play anytime I see a table.  Those who use wraps find themselves handicapped if they don't have a wrap with them.

People have been playing for 30 years with wood handles.  The wood handles are a sign of a quality table.  Plastic handles make the tables cheap.

I quess somebody decided they could make more money installing plastic handles and selling wraps than making a quality product.

[TSR_Brad]

If I could find a set of hard rubber/soft plastic handles like the ones that were on the Fireball I played on in Austria that would fit my table, I'd change them in a heartbeat. They were great. I suspect they're the same ones on the Performance Games table(s). I may have to look into it. PGI is local. Hmmm...

[bbtuna]

pure hard plastic are not good for bare-handed players but the composite plastic/rubber like ones like on Warrior (not played on the ones Brad is talking about) are good for bare-handed players and even better for gloves

the hard plastic Tornado came out with a couple years ago really aren't good for bare-handed players unless they don't sweet even a little

I think woodhandles are a germ nightmare one I have accepted as part of the game but really don't like

I would like the handles to be a fairly hard rubber and slight slimmer around without the dip but that is just me