Air Hockey Paddles

Air hockey paddles are possibly the most important, yet underrated pieces of equipment for air hockey players. Paddles are what you actually hold on to while playing and use to hit the puck with. They are also sometimes known as strikers, goalies or mallets. In addition to being used for offense, they are also used to defend your goal. Hence the reason for also being called “goalies”.

There are two basic styles of air hockey paddles. High-tops and flat-tops. They have the same basic bottom, it’s just the height of the nub that is different. Both types of paddles function exactly the same. It’s personal preference on which one you want to use. A good idea is to purchase both types of mallets so that you can try them both out and see which one works best for you.

There are also several different ways to hold strikers. Some people like to hold the nub with their palm resting over the top, like palming a baseball. Other people like to grip the nub lightly with just a couple of fingers. A popular style of grip is to not hold the paddle by the nub at all and to instead place two or more fingers into the base applying downward pressure.

You should test out a bunch of different grips to see which one works best for your individual style of play. You may be surprised at how different the game feels just by holding the air hockey paddle a different way.

Mallet’s are available in many different colors. You can even buy them in fluorescent or glow-in-the-dark. Great for tables that use black lights! They are really inexpensive, so it can be fun to pick up a couple of different colors and sizes to experiment and have fun with.

Air hockey paddles can make a big difference in your game, especially if you play on a tournament level. It’s advised to try out as many different styles and sizes as possible to find the right mallet that works best for your style of play. Also, don’t forget to experiment with various gripping styles while you’re at it. Have fun!