Air hockey
Years1973 to present
GenreElectro-mechanical, arcade, table sport, bar sport
Players2
SkillsDexterity, agility, hand-eye coordination, reaction time

Air hockey is a tabletop sport where two opposing players try to score goals against each other on a low-friction table[1] using two hand-held discs (mallets/pushers) and a lightweight plastic puck.

The air hockey table has raised edges that allow the puck to reflect off horizontally, and a very smooth, slippery surface that further reduces friction by suspending the puck on a thin cushion of air ejected from tiny vent holes built inside the surface. This causes the puck to hover and move easily across the table with little loss of velocity, which simulates the lubricated sliding of an ice hockey puck across a well polished rink, hence the name of the game.

Federations

History

Origins

Air hockey is a game resting on an older technology, the air table. Air tables began as a conveyor technology allowing heavy objects like cardboard boxes to easily slide over a table surface. The original air tables of the 1940s had rather large holes that were plugged by ball bearings. An object sitting on the table would depress the balls, allowing air to escape and lift the object slightly off the table.[2]

In the early 1960s, physicists began designing and building crude air tracks for educational purposes. John Stull, a professor at Alfred University, created a simple low-friction air track using a vacuum cleaner under a flat surface perforated by small holes. Stull partnered with the Ealing Corporation, which further developed the idea.[3]

In 1968, Sega released an arcade electro-mechanical game similar to air hockey, MotoPolo. Based on polo, two players moved miniature motorbikes around inside a cabinet, with each player attempting to knock the balls into the opponent's goal.[4][5]

By the late 1960s, Ealing developed a tabletop with a sandwich of fiberboard or plexiglass sheets separated by a honeycomb structure. The top surface was drilled with a grid of small holes, and the space between the boards was supplied with low-pressure compressed air, just enough to allow "air pucks" to float over the surface.[6][7]

Creation

Air hockey was created by a group of Brunswick Billiards employees between 1969 and 1972.[8] In 1969, a trio of Brunswick engineers – Phil Crossman, Bob Kenrick and Brad Baldwin – began work on creating a game using a low-friction surface. The project stagnated for several years until it was revived by Bob Lemieux, who then focused on implementing an abstracted version of ice hockey, with a thin disc, two strikers and slit-like goals equipped with photodetectors. It was then decided that the game might appeal to a larger market and air hockey was marketed and sold to the general public. The original patents reference Crossman, Kendrick and Lemieux,[9][10] as well as Ealing's earlier work on air tables.

The game was an immediate financial success and by the mid-1970s there was interest in tournament play. As early as 1973, players in Houston had formed the Houston Air Hockey Association, and soon thereafter, the Texas Air-Hockey Players Association, codifying rules and promoting the sport through local tournaments at Houston pubs Carnabys and Damians, and the University of Houston.[citation needed]

Competitions

The United States Air-Table Hockey Association (USAA) was formed in 1975 by J. Phillip "Phil" Arnold, largely as an official sanctioning body.[11] Since its inception, the USAA has sanctioned at least one national-level or World championship each year, crowning 12 different champions over 30 years. In March 2015, the Air Hockey Players Association (AHPA) was announced and is providing air hockey players with an additional organization also overseeing the sport of air hockey.[12] The two organizations run independently but abide by a similar set of rules and share many of the same players. In July 2015, the AHPA crowned its first world champion and also the youngest in the history of the sport in Colin Cummings of Beaumont, Texas.[citation needed]

Today, professional air hockey is played by a close-knit community of serious players around the world, Having 4 main scenes in the US: Houston, North Carolina, Chicago and Boise; Barcelona in Spain; Saint Petersburg, Moscow, and Novgorod in Russia; and Most and Brno in the Czech Republic. In the late 1980s, Caracas, Venezuela served as a hotbed of activity; three-time World Champion Jose Mora and other finalists originated from there. By 1999 most of the Venezuelan activity had disappeared.[citation needed]

Air hockey tables

A typical air hockey table consists of a large smooth playing surface designed to minimize friction, a surrounding rail to prevent the puck and mallets from leaving the table, and slots in the rail at either end of the table that serve as goals. On the ends of the table behind and below the goals, there is usually a puck return. Additionally, tables will typically have some sort of machinery that produces a cushion of air on the playing surface through tiny holes, with the purpose of reducing friction and increasing play speed.

The only tables that are approved for play and sanctioned by the USAA (United States Air Hockey Association) and the AHPA (Air Hockey Players Association) for tournament play are 8-foot tables. Approved tables include all Gold Standard Games 8-foot tables; some 8-foot tables from Dynamo; and the original 8-foot commercial Brunswick tables. Other full-size novelty-type tables with flashing lights on the field of play, painted rails, and/or smaller pucks are not approved for tournament play. There are also smaller air hockey tables having a size of 1.5, 2, or 2.5 feet, called mini air hockey tables.

A mallet (sometimes called a goalie, striker or paddle) consists of a simple handle attached to a flat surface that will usually lie flush with the surface of the table. The most common mallets, called "high-tops", resemble small plastic sombreros, but other mallets, "flat-tops", are used with a shorter nub.

Air hockey pucks are discs made of Lexan polycarbonate resin. Standard USAA and AHPA-approved pucks are yellow, red, and green. In competitive play, a layer of thin white tape is placed on the face-up side. Air hockey pucks come in circles and other shapes (triangle, hexagon, octagon, or square).

Four-player tables also exist, but they are not sanctioned for competitive play.[citation needed]

Rules

The basic rules of play are listed as follows:

  • The first player to reach 7 points wins the match
  • First possession of the puck is determined by a face off
  • Players may strike the puck with any part of the mallet, and each player can only use one mallet
  • Players have seven seconds to complete a shot towards the opposing goal
  • Once scored on, the player has ten seconds to return the puck back into play
  • When the puck is in contact with any part of the centerline, either player may strike the puck
  • Players can position themselves anywhere around the table as long as they stay on their side of the centerline
  • Each player is permitted a ten-second time out each match, and must be called by the player when they are in possession of the puck, or the puck is out of play
  • "Palming" or any use of the hand in contact with the puck is not permitted
  • Contact with the puck by any part of the player is prohibited
  • “Goal tending” or using the hands to prevent a goal is prohibited
  • Players cannot hit the puck off the table[13][14]

Fouls are issued to players who violate any of the rules. The player who receives the foul must turn possession of the puck over to the opponent. Technical fouls are issued for more severe violations, such as goal tending. When a technical foul is called, the opposing player is given a free shot on the offender's goal. The offender is not allowed to defend the shot, but can resume play if the shot misses and bounces off their end of the table.[13][14]

Gameplay

Competitive (tournament) play is usually distinguished by the following:

  • The mallet is gripped behind the knob using one's fingertips, not on top of it. This allows more wrist action and helps the player to move the mallet around the table faster.
  • For basic defense, the mallet is kept centered at least 8 inches out from the goal. In this position, very slight movements to the left and right will block virtually all straight shots. To block bank shots, one pulls back quickly to the corners of the goal. This is known as the "triangle defense".
  • Shots are often hit out of "drifts", where the puck travels in set patterns designed to throw off the opponent's expectations and timing. The most popular drifts are the "center", "diamond", "diagonal", and "L".
  • Shots are often organized into groups of shots which are hit with the same apparent delivery but opposite directions, caused by hitting the puck at slightly different locations on the mallet. For example, a transverse motion of the right arm can lead to a "cut shot" to the left corner of the opponent's goal or a "right wall under" (bank off the right wall, into the right corner of the opponent's goal).

Competitive air hockey

Tournament history

USAA World Championships

Source: 1978-2009[15]

USAA Air Hockey World Championships by Houston-based United States Air Hockey Association (USAA):

  1. World Singles Championship Since 1978
  2. World Doubles Championship Since 1995
YearChampionRunner-upThird Place
1978Jesse DoutyPhil ArnoldRolf Moore
1979Jesse DoutyPhil ArnoldJoe Campbell
1980Jesse DoutyPhil ArnoldJoe Campbell
1980Jesse DoutyRobert HernandezMark Robbins
1981Bob DubuissonPaul BurgerJesse Douty
1981Jesse DoutyBob DubuissonPaul Marshall
1982Jesse DoutyMark RobbinsBob Dubuisson
1983Bob DubuissonJesse DoutyPhil Arnold
1984Mark RobbinsRobert HernandezBob Dubuisson
1985Bob DubuissonRobert HernandezVince Schappell
1985Bob DubuissonRobert HernandezMark Robbins
1986Robert HernandezBob DubuissonMark Robbins
1986Mark RobbinsBob DubuissonRobert Hernandez
1987Robert HernandezJesse DoutyPhil Arnold
1987Jesse DoutyMark RobbinsRobert Hernandez
1988Jesse DoutyBob DubuissonRobert Hernandez
1988Jesse DoutyBob DubuissonJoe Campbell
1989Tim WeissmanBob DubuissonJesse Douty
1989Tim WeissmanJesse DoutyRobert Hernandez
1990Tim WeissmanJesse DoutyRobert Hernandez
1990Tim WeissmanPhil ArnoldMark Robbins
1991Tim WeissmanMark RobbinsRobert Hernandez
1991Tim WeissmanJesse DoutyAlbert Ortiz
1992Tim WeissmanRobert HernandezMark Robbins
1992Tim WeissmanKeith FletcherVince Schappell
1993Tim WeissmanBrian BrodskyKeith Fletcher
1994Brian BrodskyMark RobbinsTim Weissman
1995Billy StubbsWil UpchurchDon James
1996Tim WeissmanWil UpchurchAndy Yevish
1997Wil UpchurchTim WeissmanJesse Douty
1999José MoraPedro OteroJimmy Heilander
2000José MoraPedro OteroTim Weissman
2001Danny HynesTim WeissmanJosé Mora
2002Danny HynesEhab ShoukryBilly Stubbs
2003Ehab ShoukryJosé MoraAndy Yevish
2004Danny HynesAndy YevishAnthony Marino
2005Danny HynesBilly StubbsAnthony Marino
2006Danny HynesWil UpchurchDavis Lee
2007Davis LeeKeith FletcherEhab Shoukry
2008Danny HynesEhab ShoukryJosé Mora
2009Ehab ShoukryDavis LeeKeith Fletcher
2010Davis LeeBilly StubbsAnthony Marino
2011Danny HynesEhab ShoukryBilly Stubbs
2011Danny HynesEhab ShoukryBilly Stubbs
2012Billy StubbsDanny HynesEhab Shoukry
2012Billy StubbsEhab ShoukryTim Weissman
2013Danny HynesDavis LeePedro Otero
2014Billy StubbsDavis LeeDanny Hynes
2015Colin CummingsPedro OteroDanny Hynes
2016Colin CummingsDanny HynesBrian Accrocco
2017Jacob WeissmanVadim ChizhevskiyColin Cummings
2019Colin CummingsVincent SaucedaJacob Weissman
2021Colin CummingsJacob WeissmanJacob Muñoz
2022Colin CummingsJacob WeissmanMarcelo García
2023Colin CummingsJacob WeissmanPete Lippincott
2024Colin CummingsJacob MuñozJacob Weissman
2025Jacob MuñozColin CummingsConnor Cummings

Doubles World Championship

YearChampionsRunners-Up
1995Tim Weissman/Don JamesWil Upchurch/John Rufener
1996Tim Weissman/Don JamesWil Upchurch/Jesse Douty
1997Tim Weissman/Don JamesWil Upchurch/Scot Morgan

AHPA World Championship

Source:[15]

Air Hockey Players Association (AHPA) - Air Hockey World Championship

YearChampionRunner-upThird place
2015Colin CummingsBilly StubbsBrian Accrocco
2016Colin CummingsBrian AccroccoDoug Howard
2017Colin CummingsVincent SaucedaBrian Accrocco
2018Colin CummingsVincent SaucedaDanny Hynes
2019Colin CummingsVincent SaucedaKeith Fletcher

US Championship

Source:[15]

YearChampionRunner-upThird place
1983Jesse DoutyMark RobbinsBob Dubuisson
1984Jesse DoutyPhil ArnoldMark Robbins
1998José MoraPedro OteroTim Weissman
2004Danny HynesEhab ShoukryDon James
2007Wil UpchurchDavis LeeKeith Fletcher
2009Danny HynesEhab ShoukryJosé Mora

Texas State Open

Source:[15]

YearChampionRunner-upThird place
1998Tim WeissmanJosé MoraWil Upchurch
2000José MoraDanny HynesJimmy Heilander
2002José MoraDanny HynesAnthony Marino
2003Anthony MarinoJosé MoraDanny Hynes
2004Danny HynesEhab ShoukryAnthony Marino
2005Danny HynesEhab ShoukryAnthony Marino
2007Tim WeissmanVince SchappellJoe Cain
2008Danny HynesJimmy HeilanderSyed Rahman

North Carolina State

Source: 2023,[16] 2024,[17] 2025[18]

YearChampionRunner-upThird place
2023Vince SaucedaJacob MuñozJustin Flores
2024Jacob WeissmanAustin FernandesVince Sauceda
2025Connor CummingsJoey LissBrian Accrocco

Chicago Open

Source: 2025[19]

YearChampionRunner-upThird place
2025Joey LissConnor CummingsBrian "Q" Quezada

EAHA European Championship

Source:[15]

YearChampionRunner-upThird place
2006 (Singles)Goran MiticMichael L. RosenJosé Luis Camacho[NB 1]
2007 (Singles)José Luis CamachoSergey AntonovSergio López
2006 (Teams)SpainCzech Republic
2007 (Teams)RussiaSpain

WTHA European Championship

Source:[20][21]

YearChampionRunner-upThird place
2008Martin KučeraPetr HonsaDalibor Kyzlink
2009German VarginAleš TichavskýTomáš Vítámvás
2010German VarginJiří KubesaJan Kubečka
2011Aleš MařaJaroslav Jun. FranklMartin Kučera
2012German VarginMartin KučeraJakub Gabco
2014Patrik JuchelkaPavel KolodějJakub David
2018Ladislav ŠustáčekJaromír ProcházkaPavel Koloděj
2022Lukáš DoležalPatrik JuchelkaLadislav Šustáček

WTHA World Championship

Source:[22]

YearChampionRunner-upThird place
2016Dmitriy PavlovMartin KučeraMatěj Šanoba
2024Karel LangLukáš DoležalJan Doležal

Catalan Championship

Source:[15]

YearChampionRunner-upThird place
2003Pedro OteroEmilio AraujoMarc García[NB 2]
2004Marc GarcíaSergio LópezJosé Luis Camacho
2005José Luis CamachoSergio LópezMarc García
2006José Luis CamachoMarc GarcíaJavi Navarro
2007Marc GarcíaMauro SturleseJavi Navarro
2008Sergio LópezJosé Luis CamachoMauro Sturlese
2009Arnau MartínSergio LópezMarc García
2012Jairo CorreaJorge TomasSergio Lópe

WTHA Russia Open

Source:[15][23]

YearChampionRunner-upThird place
2006Mauro SturleseIgor Masloboev[NB 3]Sergey Grishin
2007Dmitriy ButyrevSergey GrishinNikita Vaganov
2008Anton Kozykhodzhaev
2009Dmitriy Butyrev
2010Sergey Khomchenkov
2012German Vargin
2013German Vargin
2014Denis MiniyarovJakub HasilPetr Vyoral[24]
2015Maxim SuprunenkoJakub Hasil[25]
2016Dmitriy Pavlov
2017Jakub HasilRuslan PasechnikEvgeniy Volkov
2018Maxim SuprunenkoRuslan PasechnikPetr Honsa
2019Evgeniy VolkovRuslan PasechnikNadezhda Pasechnik
2021Ruslan PasechnikArtem YumashevRoman Tomashpol
2022Ruslan PasechnikNadezhda PasechnikNikolai Ivanov
2023Ruslan PasechnikRoman TomashpolNadezhda Pasechnik
2024Dmitriy ButyrevAndrey EskinRuslan Pasechnik
2025Andrey EskinRoman TomashpolRuslan Pasechnik

Russian National Championship

Source:[15]

YearChampionRunner-upThird place
2008Dmitriy ButyrevVadim ChizhevskiyGerman Vargin
2009German VarginSergey AntonovVadim Chizhevskiy
2010Vadim ChizhevskiyGerman VarginSergey Rebrakov
2011Yuri MoiseevAnton PolskiyVadim Chizhevskiy
2012Vadim ChizhevskiyDmitriy PavlovAnton Polskiy
2013Dmitriy PavlovAnton PolskiyVadim Chizhevskiy
2014Dmitriy PavlovVadim ChizhevskiyAnton Polskiy
2015Dmitriy PavlovVadim ChizhevskiyAnton Polskiy
2016Vadim ChizhevskiyDmitriy PavlovYuri Moiseev
2017Vadim ChizhevskiyDmitriy PavlovRoman Gorokhov
2018Vadim ChizhevskiyDmitriy PavlovAnton Polskiy
2019Dmitriy PavlovRoman GorokhovAnton Polskiy
2020Dmitriy PavlovAnton PolskiyVadim Chizhevskiy
2021Dmitriy PavlovAnton PolskiyRoman Gorokhov
2025Vadim ChizhevskiyRoman GorokhovYuri Moiseev

Czech Championship

Source:[26]

YearWinner
2007Martin Kučera
2008Martin Kučera
2009Dalibor Kyzlink
2010Aleš Mařa
2011Martin Kučera
2012Martin Kučera
2013Aleš Mařa
2014Ladislav Šustáček
2015Jaromír Procházka
2016Jaromír Procházka
2017Jaromír Procházka
2018Simon Kaňa
2019Jaromír Procházka
2020Jakub Schlosser
2021Lukáš Doležal
2022Petr Jun. Kusý
2023Lukáš Doležal
2024Ladislav Šustáček
2025Ladislav Šustáček

Cup of Czechia

Source:[27]

YearWinner
2007Martin Kučera
2008Martin Kučera
2009Aleš Tichavský
2010Martin Kučera
2011Aleš Mařa
2012Martin Kučera
2013Jaromír Procházka
2014Ladislav Šustáček
2015Jaromír Procházka
2016Ladislav Šustáček
2017Jaromír Procházka
2018Ladislav Šustáček
2019Ladislav Šustáček
2020Jakub Schlosser
2021Lukáš Doležal
2022Ladislav Šustáček
2023Ladislav Šustáček
2024Ladislav Šustáček
2025Eryk Pawlica

Notes

  1. ^ "European champion"
  2. ^ "Catalan champion"
  3. ^ "Russian champion"

See also

References

  1. ^ "Everything You Need To Know About Air Hockey". AirHockeyPlace.com. 2017-03-03. Retrieved 2021-04-09.
  2. ^ George E. Lamb, Conveyor, , granted Apr. 6, 1943
  3. ^ Zupan, Mark (July 14, 2025). "Fiat Astronomy and Astrophysics at Alfred University". Wellsville Regional News
  4. ^ "セガ60周年スペシャルインタビュー。伝説の筐体R360や『バーチャファイター』などアーケード開発者が開発秘話をたっぷり語る!" [Sega 60th Anniversary Special Interview: Arcade developers of the legendary chassis R360 and "Virtua Fighter" tell a lot of development secrets!] (in Japanese). Famitsu. 2020-06-28. Retrieved 18 April 2021.
  5. ^ "Arcade Developers Talk Sega's History of Taking On Challenges". OneMillionPower. 28 December 2020.
  6. ^ Thomas W. Williams III, Air Table, , granted Dec. 10, 1968.
  7. ^ Thomas W. Williams III, Air Table, , granted Feb. 25, 1969.
  8. ^ "History of Brunswick Billiards". Brunswick Billiards. Archived from the original on 26 February 2022. Retrieved 11 September 2020.
  9. ^ "Air cushion table game". No. 3773325.
  10. ^ "Puck and bat for an air cushion table game". No. 3927885.
  11. ^ "The History of Air Hockey". airhockeytablereviews.com. Retrieved 11 September 2020.
  12. ^ "AirHockeyWorld.com tournament results". Archived from the original on 2 April 2010. Retrieved 29 December 2009.
  13. ^ "Let's Play AIR HOCKEY". olhausenbilliards
  14. ^ "OFFICIAL AIR HOCKEY RULES". Bubble&AirHockey
  15. ^ "Tournament History 1978-2009". airhockeyworld.com. Archived from the original on April 2, 2010.
  16. ^ "2023 North Carolina State Tournament Results". www.ncairhockeyplayers.com
  17. ^ "2024 North Carolina State Tournament Results". www.ncairhockeyplayers.com
  18. ^ "2025 North Carolina State Tournament Results". www.ncairhockeyplayers.com
  19. ^ "2025 Chicago Open Results". www.airhockeyrank.com
  20. ^ "WTHA - OTHER DISCIPLINES RESULTS". www.billiard-hockey.com
  21. ^ "Mistrovství Evropy". www.airhockey.cz
  22. ^ "Mistrovství světa". www.airhockey.cz
  23. ^ "AIR Russia Open WTHA". www.cosmozz.info
  24. ^ "Russia Open 2014". www.airhockey.cz
  25. ^ "Russia Open 2015". www.airhockey.cz
  26. ^ "Mistrovství ČR". www.airhockey.cz
  27. ^ "Český pohár". www.airhockey.cz