Buying guide for Best dome hockey tables
Arcade games like foosball and air hockey may be more well-known, but dome hockey tables have some serious fans, too. This hockey game borrows some of its design from foosball, but it’s a true hockey game, as its figurines use a hockey stick to guide the puck into the goal.
You control your hockey player figurines through a rod with a handle on the outside of the game board (much like foosball). Where foosball figurines move side to side across the entire length of the game surface, bubble hockey figurines slide in slots on the game surface, limiting their movement on the surface. The hockey figurines can spin to shoot, allowing the hockey stick to propel the puck toward the opposing team’s goal.
Unlike foosball, dome hockey tables have a clear plastic bubble that fits over the top of the game surface. This keeps the puck from flying across the room and protects the figurines from rough treatment.
If you’re considering purchasing a dome hockey game, it’s a smart idea to learn more about the features of dome hockey tables to give you a starting point.
How to buy the best dome hockey table
Size
Dome hockey tables typically measure about 54 inches in length, 30 inches in width, and 54 inches in height (at the top of the bubble). The rods extend 12 to 18 inches from each end of the table. This is the most common size for a tournament-quality table or for a high-quality table from a top manufacturer.
Some tables are quite a bit smaller. These tend to have a lower price than full-size dome hockey tables, though they likely won’t be quite as sturdy.
Plastic bubble
Dome hockey tables live up to their name by including clear, plastic domes that fit over the top of the game surface. For the highest-quality games, this bubble consists of thick, nearly unbreakable plastic, just in case players use it roughly. Cheaper games may use thin plastic that could break.
The bubble keeps the puck from flying off the game surface. Players can see through it easily, so they can control their figurines with the rods.
Some tables may not include a plastic dome, which makes them shorter. For easier storage, some tables allow you to remove the bubble.
Base
A plastic pedestal base in the center is the traditional type of base for dome hockey tables. This base provides a higher level of stability than using legs on each corner of the game table.
As players are moving back and forth to try to control their rods, the pedestal design stays out of the way. With legs on the corners, players may crack their knees into the legs while moving.
Cheaper dome hockey tables may use four legs, while pricier tables may have a pedestal design made from plastic. Some of the most expensive designs may use wooden braces and crossbeams in the pedestal, providing maximum stability without affecting your ability to move back and forth.
ICE’s original table featured an Olympic theme with players in colors of the United States and the U.S.S.R., representing a game from the 1980 Olympics, commonly called the “Miracle on Ice.”
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Most important features for dome hockey tables
Figurines
Inexpensive bubble hockey games may use players with generic looks and colors. More expensive games that hold marketing licenses may have uniform designs that resemble actual NHL (National Hockey League) teams.
Figurines on more expensive tables often have significant details that look great. Cheaper tables may have fewer artistic details on the figurines.
Scoreboard
Many dome hockey tables include a digital scoreboard. It keeps track of the score, while also providing a clock that tracks the amount of time remaining in each period.
Cheaper tables may use manually operated scoreboards on the outside of the plastic dome, while more expensive tables place the digital scoreboard inside the dome.
On the most expensive games, the scoreboard may include a small LCD screen that shows animations and videos.
Sounds
Some bubble hockey games generate game sounds as you play. This could include a foghorn when you score a goal or music between periods. The audio speaker for the game may be part of the scoreboard, or it may exist inside the pedestal.
Lights
Some tables offer LED lighting as an accent to the game. These lights may create colors that enhance gameplay around the exterior of the game field and on the pedestal. Some games even use colored spotlights after a player scores a goal.
Did You Know?
Early dome hockey tables sold in the United States used a primarily blue color scheme, while early tables made for sale in Canada used a primarily red color scheme.
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How much do dome hockey tables cost?
Inexpensive
The least expensive dome hockey tables cost $200 to $1,000 for a new table. Some of the tables in this price range may not include the clear plastic bubble dome.
These tables may be smaller than average and may not consist of the sturdiest materials. They may have foldable legs rather than the centered pedestals found on higher-quality games. If the players begin playing roughly or lean on the table frequently, the legs could collapse.
If you’re purchasing a used table, it may fit in this price range.
Mid-range
Expect to pay $1,000 to $3,000 for bubble hockey games with an average price point. Some newer games fit in this price range, as do some used tables from the highest-quality manufacturers.
All dome hockey tables in this price range should have the plastic bubble included, as well as multiple pucks. High-quality LED lights and recorded sounds also may be part of games in this price range.
Most of these tables feature hollow or solid pedestals that support the table, allowing them to stand up to rough play without collapsing. They rarely feature legs on the corners of the table.
Expensive
The most expensive dome hockey tables cost $3,000 to $10,000. Some tables may cost even more. These tables come from the highest-quality manufacturers.
Some of these games feature licensed team logos from NHL or Olympic teams. The level of detail in the logos and in the uniforms on the player figurines is highly impressive. The LED lights and game sounds on these tables are impressive as well.
These are extremely sturdy tables that feature pedestals to support the game surface. Some may use thick wooden braces under the table for an even greater level of support that can survive rough game play.
Some common manufacturers of hockey game tables with bubble domes include ICE, Carrom, Holland Bar Stool, Hathaway, Harvard, and Shelti.
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Rules for playing games on dome hockey tables
Playing a game of rod hockey does require you to follow certain rules. These are rules that the players must enforce themselves, so some arguments may arise. For serious gameplay, a neutral third-party referee or scorekeeper can make judgments on when to apply certain rules to avoid arguments.
- Game length: Gameplay typically consists of three periods of 90 seconds each. Many dome hockey tables include a clock and scoreboard to track the game time.
- Number of players: Dome hockey works as a one-on-one or two-on-two game. If two players are on each team, each player must control three of the six rods for their team.
- Stuck puck: Occasionally, the puck ends up in a spot on the game surface where no player can reach it. Stop the clock and tilt the game until the puck rolls to the figurine that was closest to the puck at the time it became stuck.
- Spinning: You only can spin a player figurine for up to one second. Continued spinning could result in a penalty goal for the other team.
- No shaking the table: Players can’t shake the table or violently bump the game while moving the rods back and forth. They can’t lift the table, either.
- Stalling: Players must keep the puck moving. If the puck remains in contact with one figurine for more than five seconds, the referee can award a penalty goal to the other team.
- Scoring: Goals only count when the dome hockey table records the goal. If the puck gets stuck in the net rather than going down the scoring chute, the game doesn’t record the goal, and the teams should continue playing.
- Winning: Some games require the winning team to win by at least two goals. If the game is tied or has only a one-goal difference when the clock runs out on the third period, the gameplay should continue.
- Own goals: Sometimes, you may accidentally knock the goal into your own net with your team’s figurine. This counts as a goal for your opponent.
FAQ
Q. Can I buy a bubble hockey game that features real NHL logos?
A. Yes, as long as the manufacturer of the table holds a licensing agreement with the NHL. If you choose an NHL-licensed game, you might be able to choose which NHL team to include as the home team. The base (or “ice”) on the playing surface should feature your chosen logos.
Q. How does bubble hockey differ from air hockey?
A. Those playing bubble hockey maneuver small figurines representing hockey players on the game surface. The player uses handles on the outside of the game (similar to foosball). When you spin the handle, the figurine spins inside the game, “shooting” the puck toward the goal. Air hockey involves using a handheld paddle to slap a plastic puck toward the goal. Forced air causes the puck to float a fraction of an inch over the top of the air hockey playing surface.
Q. What are some other names for dome hockey tables?
A. Some people refer to these games as bubble hockey or rod hockey.
Q. Is it possible to lose the pucks from the dome hockey tables?
A. Yes. The tiny pucks leave the game surface when they go into the goal. The puck then travels down a chute, tripping the scoreboard so the game registers a goal. The puck could disappear inside the mechanics of the game. Some designs require you to return the puck to the game-playing surface by hand through a slot, and you could lose the puck during this process. If this happens, extra pucks are available for sale.
