Topic: Best Table (beat to death)

[kayko2000]

I mean the topic has probably been beat to death, not the table itself.

WHAT IS THE BEST TABLE BRAND?

I'm sure all the ITSF sanctioned tables are good, but what's the best brand of table?  I'm asking a biased group, because most guys on this board are from the US and play on Tornados, but you've been around and I want to get your opinions.  If this topic has been discussed thoroughly before, please just forward me the link.

Tornados are the standard here in Taiwan (but foosball isn't widespread enough that that's set in stone), and there's no doubting the solid construction of a Tornado which can last years upon years.  But are Bonzini, Tec Ball, Garlando, Roberto Sport that much worse in this area?

Where else are Tornados better than any other?
And what are the pros and cons of the other tables?  Playability, construction, sturdiness/durability, controllability, slick-ness (but is "too grippy" a bad thing?), resell value, etc.    Different prices get you different features, so I guess we just need to jump to the best each brand offers.
I'm sure playing style (which comes from the type of table you played most on) is a big factor.

Old Meister was complaining about how Tornados simplified his game too much and took away some of the fun of the TS days.  But that was met by disagreement from some people here.

A couple of quick searches online pulled up these results:

- Stuff Magazine 1999 (http://www.bonziniusa.com/foosball_sales/foosball/awards/BestFoosballTableAward_Review_and_Comparison_StuffMagazine.html) -- biased to the European game, and also a little out of date
- Garlando G-500 (http://www.galttech.com/research/sports/best-foosball-table.php)
- Jim Waterman's got Tornado F-5, Shelti Pro Foos II, and Bonzini B90 (http://foosdirect-store.stores.yahoo.net/ourrec.html), tho me thinks this is slightly out of date now too (since F-5 is discontinued)

Thanks!

[EDGEER]

As far as a vending machine I have heard that in Central America it is not uncommon for Tornado tables to have over 250,000 plays.  That's a pretty good testimonial as to quality in my book.

Any table can be fun if your able to get a good ball.

[Chase Pennell]

Tornado is my favorite table (bias answer)

I really like playing on Bonzini and Garlando. I think the Bonzini Table is built very well. The only issues i have with that table are the rods. They are too flimsy for me. I will end up bending them bad if I owned one, due to the way I shoot the ball.

I plan on buying a new table shortly. Let me rephrase another table (already own Tornado). I think I am going to get a Garlando. I have a friend nearby that owns a Bonzini so I think that it would be a mistake to have another one in town. I have not played on most of the other tables.

Warrior- Junk but has the largest tour in the US.

Bonzini- Fun but rods are not to my personal liking.

Garlando- Very fun the walls make it hard for me to pass but so what.

Jupiter, Euro Soccer- LOVE IT but they cost way too much money. Not sure if it is even still a table.

Fireball- Played on one and thought it was a toy. But would not mind having one.

I have not played on many others…..

[PatRyan]

Favorite = depends on my mood, but Bonzini and Tornado are probably my favorites, mostly due to the fact that I play them more than the other tables, but I would put Fireball and Tecball right up there as well.  I have probably have the least table time on the Garlando (probably why I considerit my least favorite)

Most of the ITSF Tables are pretty sturdy, well built, and will last a LONG time.

Warrior - plays great, very good ball, crap cabinet (not sturdy at all)
Bonzini - love this table, but the surface not being truly flat is the most annoying factor for me, well built, very sturdy
Fireball (the newest model) - plays great, very good ball, sturdy cabinet, THE BEST RODS I have ever seen!!!
Tornado - plays great, sturdy cabinet, truly round ball, I think the ball could be a LITTLE softer to allow for a wider variety of consistent shots
Euroscooer - plays great, sturdy cabinet, very good ball, men are not properly counterbalanced (but close), goalie rod is too close to the rear wall
Robertosport - goalie rod too close to the rear wall (rod will not rotate 360 degrees), cabinet not as sturdy as many of the others, plays pretty good
Tecball - sturdy cabinet, plays great, ball could be better, soft enough but they cannot seem to get rid of the seam and get them consistently round
Garlando - pretty sturdy cabinet, HUGE side strips, very fast play, decent ball
Shelti - good cabinet, good ball, great rods, feet on the figures are a little too wide for my liking, otherwise the table plays great

Having a good ball, and a sturdy cabinet, and a flat play surface seem to combine to make a pretty good table.  All of these tables are pretty expensive (with the exception of Warrior and Fireball).

[Daniel]

Here is link to a poll question on this
http://www.foosball.com/forum/index.php?topic=115.0