Topic: Tables of the World

[WillD92]

http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?ie=UTF8&hl=en&msa=0&msid=104057148941475587199.00047b15aaed94c9340c2&ll=37.020098,15.292969&spn=113.680209,270.527344&z=3

I thought it would be cool if there was a map out there that showed the table(s) people play on in each location, but to make it simple, I just used the 5 ITSF main tables.  Two questions, why is it that Roberto-Sport and Garlando are both from Italy and yet played in different locations and does the Tecball table play similar to the Tornado?  Also, does anyone know if there is a place in Paris with a Tornado table (like a British Pub or something)?

[BillV]

Nice map Will.

BillV

[wildcard]

Now we have one more sanction to use against Iran if it doesn't shape up...take away their Tornados!

[JoeyDMaio]

For Switzerland it would be more Tecball and/or Garlando than Roberto sport...

To sum-up :
German-speaking part plays mostly Garlando
French-speaking part plays mostly Tecball/p4p 
Italian-speaking part plays mostly Roberto / Jupiter

Tornados are really rare, actually appart from the one my brother owns at home I've never seen any around here...

[GeneT]

I noticed there is not Warrior tables on the list.    No tables in Australia?  Canada has tables,  good start on the map though.   

[WillD92]

I was just using the 5 ITSF tables as a start and the countries going to Nantes.

[JoeyDMaio]

Austria plays Garlando and Russia is more Roberto Sport too

[WillD92]

Found this map of Tornado locations in the US. 

http://wpcontent.answers.com/wikipedia/commons/3/35/Tornado_Alley.gif

[kayko2000]

Malaysia uses Tornado, and Tornado-like Torpedos.
Taiwan uses Tornado.
Hong Kong now has a Tornado distributor as well (although I think foosball is very small in Hong Kong right now)
Canada uses Tornado, although I think the Quebecois might use Garlando or Bonzini's...    I would say I'm sure Western Canada uses Tornado.

[raithza]

South Africa uses Garlando's

(at least, I've never seen/heard of a tornado table here, and garlando's are commonplace)

[kayko2000]

WillD92, you can probably draw some information from the World Cup team table selections.
http://www.itsfworldtour.com/worldcup/team.php?type=MS&tour=2010

It's hard to say if 5 - 20 players can represent the bulk of players in a country, but it'd be reasonable starting point for countries you've not confirmed.

[PatRyan]

The world cup table selection is not necessarily a good indicator of what table is normally played on in a particular nation.  Many nations play on non-ITSF sanctioned tables, and must choose one of the 5 sanctioned brands for international competition.

Like in the Czech Republic, they play on Rosengart, but that is not an option for the World Cup.  Or Belgium playing on Kicker and Eurosoccer, also not an option in the World Cup.  Plus all of the other tables that are not as widely known.  Like the aluminum bathtub looking table (Metegol I think) that they play on in Argentina.  Or the Mexican made tables played on in Mexico.  Same thing with Spain and with Portugal, they each have their own style tables that are not ITSF sanctioned, but are the most widely played tables in those nations.  

Also, Canada has players that play on a variety of tables.  Tornado in the west, and Garlando(non-ITSF)/FAS table toward the east.  Also a group of Bonzini players in Quebec as well.  


As to the earlier question about whether TecBall plays like Tornado.  Not really.  Tecball plays more like the Tournament Soccer tables of days gone by.  It has a very sturdy cabinet, and a playfield similar to Tornado in composition.  The men are just like the ones that were on the TS Brown top.  The ball is similar to Tornado, but a little softer, or fuzzier or something (haven't put my Tecball ball on my Tornado in a while, so I don't remember exactly what the differences are.  But of the other 4 non-Tornado ITSF competition models of tables, Tecball is usually the one that requires the least amount of adjustment for the Tornado players.  

[bbtuna]

Pat,

all the other tables, are they not officially recognized because the manufacture doesn't want to pay to get them recognized (which I think is unethical by the way) or are there specific physical specifications that have to be met that they are missing?  I have never heard of any specification although i know of ITSF making recognized tables make changes to meet their bias, ah, i mean standards

is Tornado the slickest play style out of all the tables you mention...i know it is slickest of the "Official" tables but i was wondering - if you were going to rank them slickist to stickiest (least control to most control) how would you list them (recognized tables and non-recognized you mentioned below)

[Tyler Foos]

Tuna,

I believe Garlando is the slickest of the ITSF tables. Rarely (Rico) have I seen someone shoot anything other than a rapid tic-tac series - push kicks and pull kicks after several back and forths, for the most part.

Tyler

[PatRyan]

Bbtuna,

Other Tables of the world are not CURRENTLY recognized for competition by the ITSF because, presently, the ITSF bylaws and codes allow for 5 Official Competition Tables and 5 Recognized tables.  Each of those 2 sets of 5 slots are currently filled.  Which tables are "recognized" gets voted on each year, Which tables are "Official Competition Tables" gets voted on every 2 years.

As far as the "slickness" of the tables.... that depends on how you define "slickness".  In my opinion, Sardi (ITSF Recognized table) is probably the slickest.  It plays much like the old Garlando tables.  The ITSF Garlando has a different foot, and allows for pins and rollovers.  But, I would say that of the 5 Official Tables, Garlando has the least ball control. 

Tornado is not necessarily the slickest table, but it seems to be the table that non-Tornado players have the hardest time adjusting to.  It is the least pin friendly of the Official tables.  I also think the Tornado gives the smaller margin of error when trying to execute shots and passes.  That is why top players have "simplified" their game on Tornado.

As far as ranking the tables based on controlability or grippiness, that is hard to do.  The tables combine different characteristics to make them unique, and hard to quantify.  For example, Bonzini is very grippy (even with the ITSF Bonzini ball), but many people still find control an issue on that table.  Garlando is also grippy, but the surface is pretty slick, and the sdie strips are HUGE, the table plays extremely fast (I have the most trouble adjusting to this table).  Everyone but Tornado players find control and grippiness an issue on Tornado, but Tornado players have little problem with control.   The best overall tables for both control and grippiness (in my opinion) are the Tecball and the Fireball tables.  This is mostly due to the ball (and the Tecball ball could be a little better).  Tornado would be right there if they went with a slightly softer ball (somewhere between the current Tornado and Warrior balls). 

That is enough for now,

Pat