# Any opinions on a foosball table for my basement?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-opinions-on-a-foosball-table-for-my-basement/263437>\
**Category:** In My Humble Opinion\
**Created:** [September 7, 2004, 2:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-opinions-on-a-foosball-table-for-my-basement/263437 "2004-09-07T02:33:11Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 6\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![minor7flat5](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/minor7flat5/32/258_2.png) [@minor7flat5](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/minor7flat5)\
**Post date:** [September 7, 2004, 2:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-opinions-on-a-foosball-table-for-my-basement/263437/1 "2004-09-07T02:33:11Z")

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Just finished tiling the basement, painting the walls, and so on. I’m getting to the fun part now – buying new toys.

I am interested in a foosball table, but I know squat about them.  
My criteria are simple:

o It must be relatively cheap (\<$500 sounds bearable)  
o It must be robust.  
o It should look good – not too gaudy.  
o I prefer if it can survive an accidental eigth inch of water on the floor (i.e. no particleboard that swells up and so on).

I’m interested mostly in getting the most robustness for my buck.

Does anyone have a nice one? Any tips? What do you like about your table? What don’t you like?

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**Author:** ![astro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9dc877/32.png) [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\
**Post date:** [September 7, 2004, 3:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-opinions-on-a-foosball-table-for-my-basement/263437/2 "2004-09-07T03:02:29Z")

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[Here’s some reviews of top end tables](http://www.bonziniusa.com/foosball_sales/foosball/awards/BestFoosballTableAward_Review_and_Comparison_StuffMagazine.html)

[Here are some nice tables for sale](http://www.fivestarbilliards.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=CTGY&Category_Code=Foosball)  
[Or build your own!](http://www.foosball.com/content.php?page=109)

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**Author:** ![Gangster\_Octopus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a8b319/32.png) [@Gangster\_Octopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gangster_Octopus)\
**Post date:** [September 7, 2004, 3:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-opinions-on-a-foosball-table-for-my-basement/263437/3 "2004-09-07T03:04:45Z")

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Also, get a sign that says, “Spinning is for losers!”

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**Author:** ![ccwaterback](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/df705f/32.png) [@ccwaterback](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ccwaterback)\
**Post date:** [September 7, 2004, 5:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-opinions-on-a-foosball-table-for-my-basement/263437/4 "2004-09-07T05:53:52Z")

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Bumper pool is fun too.

[http://www.dannyveghs.com/bumper.htm](http://www.dannyveghs.com/bumper.htm)

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**Author:** ![MysteryFellow63427](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a88e4f/32.png) [@MysteryFellow63427](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MysteryFellow63427)\
**Post date:** [September 7, 2004, 8:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-opinions-on-a-foosball-table-for-my-basement/263437/5 "2004-09-07T20:49:14Z")

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More foosball info:  
[http://www.foosball.com/learn/knowledge/learnFAQ.html](http://www.foosball.com/learn/knowledge/learnFAQ.html)

This page lists Tornado, Dynamo, and Shelti as the best foosball brands:  
[http://www.foosball.com/learn/knowledge/topbrands3.htm](http://www.foosball.com/learn/knowledge/topbrands3.htm)

I have played on both Tornado brand and Dynamo brand tables. If I were going to buy one, I’d get a Tornado, but I don’t think you can get them for as cheap as $500.

(I am not affiliated with any of these companies.)

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**Author:** ![Grundlepuck](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/5e9695/32.png) [@Grundlepuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grundlepuck)\
**Post date:** [September 7, 2004, 9:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-opinions-on-a-foosball-table-for-my-basement/263437/6 "2004-09-07T21:57:12Z")

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Well, speaking as an ex-tournament player who still follows the sport, if you ever want you or your kids (or your Mom, cat, or neighbors) to play serious foos, then Tornado is the way to go, especially in the U.S. If you just want to knock the ball around on occasion when some friends are over, then it is not a consideration, but most U.S. tournaments are played on Tornadoes, including the World Championship that occurred this past weekend in Dallas. And it is a hell of an addictive pastime to take up.

There is a decent board for Foosball at [[http://p067.ezboard.com/bfoosball6358](http://p067.ezboard.com/bfoosball6358)](Foosball Board) – they have a Marketplace that you could try posting a wanted ad in, or just repost your OP from here on the board. You can’t get a new Tornado for under $500, but you should be able to pick up a used one if you’re patient. You’ll want a home model, not a coin-op – which is good because the home models are cheaper.

I’m glad that I got to use my foosball knowledge! It is one of the few things that I got out of college.