Foosball table rods are a big deal in two ways: They are expensive and they can really affect the quality of your foosball games. This guide will answer the basic questions most foosball table owners usually have about their rods.
The Anatomy Of Foosball Rods
Foosball rods or bars differ greatly based on the quality of materials used by the manufacturer. The material could be too heavy, therefore making the rods too heavy and this contributes to an annoyingly slow game.
If you feel like every time you spin the rods, some sort of inertia comes in the way, it could be that your foosball table manufacturer did not do a good job with the rod materials.
The problem with heavy rods is that they make it incredibly difficult to make lateral shots.
Find Your Perfect Table In Our Reviews! Read Now!
The Good Type Of Table Rod
A good table should come with light rods that can be easily maneuvered laterally. High quality rods are chrome-coated, hollow and slide unhindered between the bearings, allowing you to perform good shots while keeping you well in control of the ball.
If possible, try to find hollow rods with safety caps at the end to prevent children, whose heads may be at the same level as the rods, from getting hurt.
How Do You Ensure Bars Are Installed Properly?
So if you have a single goalie table, you will have 22 men while a 3 goalie table comes with 26 men. Before you start installing the rods, organize the 4 roads on either side of the table to make the whole process less confusing.
Organize the 4 rods for each side of the table as such: first, is the 1 or 3 man goalie rod, second is the 2 man defensive rod, third is the 5 man midfielder rod and the fourth and last rod is the 3 man offensive rod. Be careful not to confuse the order of the 3 man goalie rod and the 3 man offensive rod.
To differentiate the two rods, simply look at or measure their length, the offensive is usually a bit longer than the goalie. You also need to be careful to install the men correctly.
Should You Replace Bent Foosball Table Rods?
Remember we mentioned earlier that foosball rods could be quite costly to buy. If your hollow rod bent due to aggressive play over time, it would be impossible to use it as it; it could be time for a replacement.
But wait…could you just bend it back and straighten it up instead of putting money into buying a new rod? Fortunately, you can bend it back to its original position depending on the damage done. Several things can severely bend and damage your rods and you should ask players to stop doing this:
- Pushing down the rods too hard
- Pulling the rod all out then leaning it down
To bend the rod back, look at the point where the bend starts and determine where the bend meets the table. Ensure that you spin the rod to cause the bend to face downward while the rod handle faces the ceiling. Gradually, press the rod downward; the pressure should be moderate to prevent the rod from bending to the other direction.
How Much Will It Cost To Replace The Rod?
Sometimes, a rod (or a couple of them) could be too damaged and therefore require replacement. Replacing rods from high-end tables is certainly not a cheap undertaking—be prepared to spend anything in the range of $30-$50 for a single rod or at least $250 for all eight rods.
In summary, it is really a good idea to start off with the right quality of foosball table rods in the first place, if you want to enjoy better games. Go for the hollow, lightweight type but warn other players against aggressive playing and pushing the rod too hard because this can severely damage the rods.
Even if your first set of rods was not the best type, you can commit to replacing them with premium rods; the payoff will be worth it in terms of game quality.
