How to Buy Foosball Balls
There might be more to buying balls for a foosball table than meets the eye. Foosball balls come in different sizes, types and colors. Although it can be as simple as walking into a local sporting goods store and picking up a bag of balls, experts make a few key decisions before they buy.
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Instructions
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Compare the different materials available. Foosball balls come in a variety of substances and the one you choose may affect your game. You can purchase balls made of cork, wood, sponge rubber, woodgrain foam and even steel. The ball material along with the size and, most importantly, the weight, will affect the speed and amount of noise a ball will make while in play.
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Find the right size. You'll find foosball balls in a variety of sizes and more than one size may work for your particular table. The most important part of this decision is making sure the size you choose will fit through all the openings on your table, especially the serving holes.
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Choose a good weight. A lighter weight may not necessarily be faster, but a too heavy ball may also slow down your momentum. Another thing to consider is balls that are super fast are harder to control, so speed isn't the only thing to consider when looking at weight. Finding a happy medium that combines both good speed with excellent control should factor into your selection.
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Select a fun color. Colors run the gamut, from natural woodgrain to every color of the rainbow. For added fun, you can get checkered, glittery and multi-colored balls. There are also balls with aliens, yin yangs, eyeballs and billiard-ball designs. You can even get glow-in-the-dark balls.
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Decide between new or used balls. If you're buying the balls for a foosball table you have installed at a local bar, then you may prefer to save some money by looking for used balls. Since these balls have a tendency to disappear from the establishment, why spend big bucks on items you'll be replacing again shortly. You may also choose used balls if they're for a kid's table or completely for amateur play. If the table is a big money maker, for professionals or it's for regular tournament use, then most likely, you'll want to stick with new balls only.
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Tips & Warnings
Specific balls are available for pin-shot and training purposes only. If you want one of these balls, you'll most likely have to visit a store specializing in foosball parts, and you won't want to use these balls for regular play action.
You can also get smooth or textured foosballs. Smooth balls give you the ultimate in speed, whereas textured balls have become more of the standard with better control while still having good speed.
If you can't decide what type of ball would be best for your table, consider buying a sampler bag of balls. This allows you to play with various kinds of balls and make a more educated decision on which one you like best.
The fancier the ball, the higher the price tag. If you're looking for cheap, stick with a bag of plain-Jane, standard balls from a local sporting goods store.
