How to Prepare for an Air Hockey Tournament

People who want to gain tips and tricks for their upcoming air hockey tournament should read this guide. It will help them in planning out an excellent strategy that will actually work for them. The first thing you need to do is to figure out the areas you are weak in. Since this is not just any regular match, you have to make sure that you practice a lot.

An air hockey tournament requires preparation. Even though it is not as physically demanding as conventional hockey, yet it requires strength. Players need to have strong defensive strategies, fast reflexes and quick decision making ability. Focusing on your practice sessions, knowing your weaknesses and strengths and playing against various opponents will prepare you for a competitive tournament.

Following tips will help you prepare for an air hockey tournament:

While preparing for a tournament, you need to focus on areas you are weak in rather than on the where you excel. Looking at your game as a whole is recommended. This includes your defense, reaction times and speed. Each player has various strategies and they get multiple chances to play with a variety of opponents but they should only use proven techniques during the big game. Do not use the moves that do not work for you.

Other than knowing the right strategy, it is extremely important to know the type and size of the table that is going to be used in the forthcoming tournament. Various lines offer various air hockey tables and MD air hockey table is one of them. It is a traditional table which provides you the experience of playing in an arcade.

Even though it is true that you need to concentrate on your weak areas more, your strengths also require attention. You will need to practice these moves to stay sharp. Practicing these shots and techniques won't take as much time as the other ones, but practice will be necessary.

In order to fix your weak areas and try out new techniques, you have to set a goal for each practice session. The goal of each practice session will be depending on the area you want to fix. Doing this will help you monitor your progress and will motivate you to do better next time. If you do not set a goal, you will be over the board.

Before practicing, it is recommended that you warm up for 15-20 minutes. It is also essential before the tournament starts. Warming up saves you from injuries, improves your focus and mindset and eases your tense muscles.

Mechanics are significant when it comes to playing air hockey. Dividing your time between matches and drills is essential as drills will brush up your moves and matches will help you test your performance.

Different professionals have different advice when it comes to pre tournament preparations. Some believe that players should start preparing a month before, while others are of the opinion that going hard for one week before the tournament is enough.

People who have never played in a tournament before should start preparing a month. It will help them know how fast-paced they usually are.  These people should practice in a tournament-like environment. Playing with a break of 15 minutes will help them get a better idea of the big game.

It is recommended that you spend 2 to 3 hours of your day at your training sessions.

During your practice sessions, save some matches to practice straight shots only. This will help you build your defensive skills and will also make your opponent try out new and creative drifts. Knowing the air hockey table dimensions is also essential in this regard.

Off-speed drills are challenging yet a lot of fun as they prepare you for the tournament in a great way. It helps you brush up your defense skills.

Have a few drills dedicated to puck shots only. Ask your opponent to miss multiple shots so you can aim to snag the puck. The person, who grabs maximum pucks in 10 to 15 minutes of time span, wins. These kinds of drills will not only improve your reflexes but they will also help you develop control over the puck and facilitate transition play.

People who are experienced have amazing puck control and fast reflexes. Regular players have faster than average reflexes and response time. Air hockey is a fast game and it requires players to be attentive as the puck keeps moving back and forth at lightning-fast speed. A key tip here is to keep one eye on the puck and the other one on your opponent so you can anticipate their next move. This kind of focus will come with time and practice.

A warm-up session before a match is significant. It eases your muscles and warms you up before the match starts. If possible, find the time to practice a full game prior to heading out to the big game. It is also recommended that you reach early at the venue and warm up. Practice your defense strategies, moves and secret shots. Keep yourself aware of your surroundings as well.

After reading this guide you will be pretty much aware of the tips and tricks of playing air hockey. It is extremely important that you make the most out of each practice session. It is also recommended that you have multiple training partners so you can experience different playing styles. If you spend enough time on your moves and strategies, you will be ready to ace it on your big day.