Foosball Basics
Step1
Put the ball in your opponent's goal while keeping it out of yours by using the player rods that you push, pull and turn. The game is a race to five points.
Step2
Watch the time limits. The ball is allowed 10 seconds on your 5-man rod and 15 on both your 2- and 3-man rods.
Step3
Pay attention to what the ball is hitting on the table. The ball must hit the playing field before it can be hit by a man.
Step4
Have the team that served the last shot serve again if the ball stops where it can't be reached by a player.
Step5
Have the goalie put the ball into play if the ball stops behind a 2-man rod.
Step6
Count all legal shots that go in the goal even if they come back out on the table after the score is made.
Step7
Be careful how you shoot into the goal. A goal made from a spinning rod that has turned more than 360 degrees doesn't count.
Foosball Offense
Step1
Think about angles. If you hit the ball head-on, it will advance straight forward, but hitting different places on the ball will yield different results.
Step2
Keep your man close to the ball instead of swinging the man up high to come down hard on the ball. This is a good practice for beginners and will allow you more control of the ball.
Step3
Keep your eyes on the ball more than on the movement of your opponent's rods. This will keep you from getting too caught up in the defense of your opponent and will let you focus on your shot.
Step4
Practice the wrist flick, which is how you will make most of your shots. The movement is simple: while holding onto the rod handle, throw your wrist down hard toward the floor.
Step5
Refrain from spinning the rods - continually flipping your players over. It's not as helpful as you might think, actually contributes to more-random play, and is illegal in tournament play - as is moving the table.
Foosball Defense
Step1
Try to stop the ball when you block your opponent's shot.
Step2
Take a controlled shot after you've stopped the ball.
Step3
Avoid just bouncing a moving ball across the table. If you simply deflect the ball on defense, the ball can very easily go back into your opponent's possession.
Step4
Use your rods wisely. If you have men on two different rods lined up perfectly, you are blocking the same space twice.
Step5
Stagger your men so that you block more paths to the goal.
Step6
Watch for sloppy shots. A lot of goals are made on deflected rather than purposefully shot balls.
Step7
Try to control loose balls so that they don't get delivered right back to your opponent.
Comments
Anonymous said
on 8/8/2006 Slap the ball with your forward rod when the goalie is trying to get the ball out of defense. Block it normally, 1 or 2 times (try to stop it - but do not slap it back).
Especially block the sides, so they feel the only way out is down the middle.
Wait until they are in front of goals trying to hit down the center, just as the kicker is about to follow through on their shot hit it back at them hard (preferably on a very slight angle so it avoids being blocked by the kicker and hopefully smashes into the goal).
You have to time the slap well - and predict where the ball is going to go. If the opponent only knows straight shots, then the task is easy. If they know angles you will need to watch what angles they are going to try for. You can tell by the position of the man relative to the position of the ball. Then swing through the line.
If you opponent has a habit of scoring from defense, then use this technique a lot to put psychological pressure on them - they will hit a lot softer because they are afraid of their power being used against them.
Try to use it when in front of goals. Slaps work best when you have an open goal and don't need too much angle.
This also works well from the 5 man in front of goal.You can slap both 3 and 5 man at the same time in case it goes past your 3 man. You should not swing your feet too high when you follow through on the slap back, as it leaves your defense open - you want to bring the man down to dead straight or slightly pointing forward, so if you mistime you are still blocking their shot.
Anonymous said
on 8/8/2006 Before you switch to your goalie you should lift your offensive players 90 degrees. When you make a shoot the chances of the ball hitting a player will decrease and the chances of making a goal will increase.
Anonymous said
on 3/29/2006 When you are using your forward rod, move the ball to the guy closest to you and drag it over. The opponent will then switch their forward guy, then you shoot. If you drag and shoot with the right timing, your chances of scoring will be much greater.
Anonymous said
on 3/6/2006 When you are hitting the ball, hit it toward the side. If you keep it in the middle and your opponent gets it, it makes it easier for them to shoot and get a goal.
Anonymous said
on 11/22/2005 True beginners spin the rods because it's the only way they can get any power on the ball. It takes some time to develop wrist power, however; spinning is illegal! Now, try this instead; cup the tips of your fingers and use the same motion as when spinning the rod only catch the handle in your cupped fingers, you will be able to soon hit the ball hard with impact and without spinning by using a technique known as the palm roll!