British Foosball Association
Tables can be broadly categorised into country playing styles. The UK does not have a particular style of its own, but rather a number of styles corresponding to the import of tables from a variety of foreign manufacturers.
The common pub glasstop is characterised by Red and Blue players, a plastic ball and slippery glass playing surface. The style tends to be fast and free, with an emphasis on fast reactions. Pinning the ball is difficult but not impossible, and pin shots have become very common at tournaments.
Manufacturers include Garlando, FAS, FABI, Roberto-Sport and Sardi.
The open top Tornado table, with Yellow and Black players, is firmly established in the US and is also popular with many UK and European pro's. The table was designed as a high-quality cross between styles, and its design greatly facilitates controling and passing the ball, enabling skills to be developed with extremely high levels of precision and consistency. The angle on the feet of the players facilitates pinning the ball without it becomming de rigeur. The style play of is best described as controlled.
The primary table is the Tornado, although its success has led to numerous copycat manufacturers including Rosengart and Sivissidis
The metal players, cork balls and linoleum surfaces characteristic of most French tables prohibit accurate passing and tap or drag based shots, but lend themselves to pinning the ball with ease. The style of play can be described as fluid, with the ball being moved freely between players in a pinned position.
Although there is no national tournament scene in the UK on French tables, local events held at Cafe Kick and Bar Kick are well attended and have attracted a wide range of top players.
Bonzini, René Pierre
Soccer 2000, Jupiter, Black Diamond, Stakanit, Topper, Royal Star
Lowen, Leonhardt, Saarland, Tournament Soccer, Vitalite, KCE, Eurosoccer, Deutscher Meister
Futbolin, Segarsa, Val, Bifuca
