Air Hockey is a fun game but it is also a competitive one. Even if you are not playing at tournaments and are just casually playing with friends, a bit of strategy never hurt anyone. And well, if you’ve got a competitive side then you are going to want to read on as we talk all about air hockey drifting and how to make the most use of it.
What Is Air Hockey Drifting?
Drifting isn’t just cool in action movies but also on the table. This is a great offense technique that you should practice to get it right. Once you have got a handle on it you will automatically become a better player. So what is it? Air hockey drifting is when you gently push the puck with your mallet and when it is moving slowly you take your shot. Think of it as a pass to your own self. There are a few reasons why this is such an effective offense. One, you can use it to trick your opponent. Once you drift a puck your opponent will get the impression that you will send the puck in one direction and get ready to block it but with a drift you can change the direction so that your opponent does not have time to recalibrate and block the puck. Two, you can move the puck into the shooting zone which is an invisible zone close to the centerline and if you shoot from here the accuracy of your shot will be much more.
How Is It Done?
Drifting may sound easy and theoretically it is simple enough but as with everything when you add speed and the requirement for quick reflexes it becomes a bit more tricky to effectively drift the puck. The puck will be almost completely frictionless from the air blowing from the table on top of which when you drift you are essentially hitting a moving puck. So practice is a must.
Triangle pucks for Air Hockey Drift
What Are the Types of Drifts?
Drifting might look like taking chances and pushing the puck without really thinking it through but there are types of drifts that players learn to arm their offense. Specifically, there are three types of drifts: the basic, L-drift or the circle drift. Learning all three is not easy. We suggest mastering the basic first and then moving on.