Air Hockey Terms

Air Hockey - A competitive game where players attempt strike an air hockey puck, which floats across a Harvard air hockey table on a cushion of air, into his/her opponent's goal. Brunswick Billiards owns the term "Air Hockey", so varying terms such as "Air Table Hockey" have recently become more common. Attacker - The player currently controlling the air hockey puck. Bank Shot - A shot that crosses the centerline and directs the puck into the left or right rail on its way toward the goal. Block - When a defensive player prevents an incoming puck from entering his/her goal by intercepting the puck with the air hockey paddles. Also known as a "save". Center Line - The horizontal line, visible on many Sportcraft air hockey tables, that divides the table into equal halves. Charge - A defensive technique during which a player lunges forward as the opponent hits a shot across the centerline.

Chase Shot - When a player moves outward and strikes a puck that has just rebounded off of his own back rail and is moving back toward the centerline.

Cross-straight Shot - A straight shot that is launched from one side of the table and crosses on the opposite side of the opponent's goal.

Cut-Shot - A straight shot that is hit so that the motion of the mallet and the direction of the puck are opposite. This involves "slicing" the edge of the puck when making a shot.

Defender - The player that does not have possession of the puck.

Drift - The controlled momentum of a puck on the attacker's side of the table. Drifts are used to disguise attacks by striking the puck at angles that differ from the drift. The "Circle (diamond) drift" and "L-drift" are two of the most commonly used drifts.

Interference Defense - Aggressive maneuvering for the purpose of getting the puck or scoring. When an opposing player controls the puck, the defensive player charges or chases off-goal shots.

Face-off - Placing the puck in the middle of the Dynamo air hockey table. Both players attempt to either gain possession or score a quick goal.

Goal- One of the two gaps on either side of the tabletop air hockey table where points are scored.

Goaltending - A technical foul that results when a player "palms" the puck as it moves toward the goal. Penalty is a single free shot from the opponent.

Lexan - The material used to make sanctioned USAA air hockey pucks.

Mallet - The device players use to strike a puck. Also called "strikers", "paddles", or "pushers". Traditional arcade air hockey mallets are the white high-topped mallets. There are also low-top pool table air hockey mallets in a variety of materials and handle options which provide more control or greater speed.

Off-goal - A technique during which the attacker directs the puck towards the opponent's back-rail to set up a combination where the attacker quickly strikes again, this time toward the goal, on the puck's return.

Over - When a player strikes a puck that is completely on the opponent's side of the centerline. Also known as "off sides".

Over the mallet - Also referred to as "overs". Not to be confused with the "over" penalty, this is a bank shot that hits a side rail, crosses in front of the opponents mallet, and enters the opposite side of the goal. See also "under the mallet."

Palming- When a player touches the puck with a hand, finger, clothing or anything other than the mallet; the result is a foul.

Puck - The circular object that players strike with the mallet in attempt to score goals. Air hockey pucks are typically yellow and made of Lexan.

Pump-fake - When an attacker pretends to strike the puck in order to freeze or move the opponent's defense.

Rail - One of the four metal beams that outline the playing surface; also known as walls.

Release - The motion a player makes as the mallet strikes the puck.

Straight shot - A shot that directs the puck across the centerline toward the opponent's goal without contacting a rail.

Topping - A foul committed when a player touches the puck with the bottom of his/her mallet, whether intentionally or accidentally.

Triangle defense - A basic air hockey defense that refers to positioning the mallet equidistant from the two side rails and approximately one foot in front of the goal.

Under the mallet - Also referred to as "unders." A bank shot that hits a side rail and enters the same side of the opponent's goal. See also "over the mallet."