Glossary of Terms
Glossary Of Terms
borrowed from
www.foosball.com
A B
C D E
F G H
I J K
L M N
O P Q
R S T
U V W
X Y Z
- 2-bar/2-rod:
- Either of the two defensive bars, each with 2 men. The second rod
away from the goal.
- 3-bar/3-rod:
- Either of the two "offensive" bars, each with three men.
The third rod away from the goal.
- 3-bar-goalie-rod:
- The "goalie" rod, with three men. Some tables such as the
Tornado lack ramps and instead have a third man on each side of the
goalie rod to pick up what would otherwise be "dead" balls
due to the flat backfield. The first rod away from the goal.
- 5-bar/5-rod/5-man-rod:
- Either of the two "mid-line" bars, each with five men. The
fourth rod away from the goal; the two rods at the center of the
table.
- 5-bar pass:
- A pass from the 5-bar to the 3-bar. See also "brush pass",
"stick pass".
- aerial shot:
- A defensive shot where the ball is caught on an almost- horizontally
oriented man, then flipped through the air over the rods toward the
opposite goal. If the ball hits the top of the table, the shot is not
valid. There are several ways to catch the ball, and several places to
balance the ball on the man, depending on the table-type. Also
"Rainbow Shot", "Goalie Field Goal".
- Alien (shot), The:
- A novelty shot in which the ball is moved on a rod intended for the
right hand (2-bar or 3-bar, and in singles the 5-bar also), but upon
being shot, is shot by cranking the rod with the left hand. Usually
done with the 3-bar. See also "crank (shot)"
- amateur:
- A specific ranking term indicating status above "Rookie"
but below "Expert" and "Pro". USTSA 1000-1299 pts.
- angle:
- To release the ball in a direction not parallel to the long axis
of the table. See also "spray", "angle (shot)".
- To tilt the men at an angle. A front-angle is toes-forward,
head-back, and a backward-angle is toes-backward, head-forward.
- angle (shot):
- A shot which is shot at an angle, straight at the goal, from the
ball's original and stationary position (i.e. no pulls, pushes, or
kicks involved).
- A spray shot. See also, "straight shot",
"cutback", "angle", "spray".
- ATSF:
- American Table Soccer Federation. The recent new tour organized by
Johnny Lott and played on the Stryker Tables. The ATSF can be
contacted at Johnny Lott's voice mail box at Dynamo at (817) 284-0114
ext 112, or at Dynamo's general and toll free no. (800) 527-6054.
- "auto-catch angle":
- When the 3-bar (sometimes 5-bar) is angled forward in order to more
easily catch any passes originating from the rear, or when it is
angled backward to catch any blocked shots originating from the front.
The angle is just lower than the angle for a pinned ball; to catch
harder passes, the angle can be lower with a looser grip on the
handle, or the angle can be produced as the ball contacts a fairly
upright man.
- "auto-stuff angle":
- When the 3-bar or 5-bar is angled forward so as to automatically
stuff any ball shot from the opposing defense because of the speed of
the bounce resulting from the block of any fast shot.
- back-pin:
- A ball-pin to the rear of the man, i.e. in the opposite direction as
the man is facing. Also "back-pinch". See also
"pin".
- back-pin/back-toe (shot):
- Any shot which begins from the back-pin position; sometimes
characterized by frequent use of banks to either side, as well as
simple reverses and kicks.
- bad-boys doubles:
- A doubles-play format where the offensive and defensive partners
switch places if and only if they score.
- bait defense:
- Any defense which opens an enticing hole to the offense; the
defender ideally predicts the offense's timing and closes the hole as
the shot begins, or even before it begins. The bait defense may be
moving or set. If the bait seems to be set and very obvious, this is
also known as "fishing". See "moving defense",
"set defense".
- ball:
- See "hardware"
for information on purchasing balls and other parts.
- ball-magnet:
- When a player is very good at catching loose balls. Also, a goal can
have a "ball-magnet".
- bank:
- To bounce the ball off of a wall (in rare cases a bank can refer to
a bounce off of another man, a "Joe").
- bank (shot):
- A shot which involves a bounce off of the wall.
- bar:
- A rod from a foosball table.
- bar player:
- Someone who has a good 3-bar shot, but is not very good at passing
with the 5-bar; in other words a good non-tournament player.
- BCTSA:
- British Columbia Table Soccer Association. The major Canadian
table-soccer organization, with its own set of player rankings.
- bearing:
- The table component that is attached into the holes in the side of
the cabinet and within which the rods actually rest and slide. baby
foot: The term for table-soccer in the UK, also
"table-football."
- bebe-foot, baby-foot:
- The French term for table-soccer. The term is also used in Quebec,
Canada.
- bevel:
- One of the facets of the handle, especially on a Tornado table, i.e.
if the handle is not circular in cross section, it's probably a
polygon or some approximation of one; the bevel would be any of the
sides of the polygon. On a Tornado, due to the pin-fastened handles,
the bevels are always in the same place relative to the men, and may
be reliably used to reproducibly position the hand on the handle, for
example for pass-catching.
- bluetop:
- The non-competitive version of the Tournament Soccer tables.
($500,000). See also "browntop".
- Book, The:
- The USTSA
ranking listings book.
- book:
- See "Lott, Johnny" for info on "The
Complete Guide to Foosball". Also check out alt.sport.foosball's FAQ files.; See "FAQ files." Also
email reid@emrg.ubc.ca for his recently published book on the push-kick
shot.
- Box,
The:
- The
goal.
- box:
- See "cabinet".
- brick,
to:
- In defense, to
be "Like Wall" rather than a "Sieve"; stopping all of an opponent's
shots.
- browntop:
- A competitive
version of the TS table; a "$1,000,000" table. See "TS".
- brush:
-
- To hit the
ball so that it moves in an angle due to a pushing or pulling movement of
the rod as the ball is struck; this motion is in essence a "brushing" of the
ball and gives it the high (or low) spin required to angle the ball. In
passing, the ball is often placed behind the rod, just less than where a
tight back-pin would be. This maximizes the brush effect by "squeezing" the
ball, but may erroneously cause a squibb pass. See also"squibb pass",
"squeeze".
- A
brush-pass. See "brush-pass".
- brush-down:
- A brush in the
pull direction. See also "brush", ""brush-pass".
- brush-pass:
- A 5-bar pass
executed using a brush in either direction. this pass is usually executed with
the closest man on the five-bar in the vicinity of the near wall; upon
passing, the ball is slightly to the rear of the rod (just less than where a
tight back-pin would be) and is often transferred to the closest man on the
five bar from a tenuous (not tight) back-pin on the second-man. From here, the
ball can basically be lane-passed or wall-passed from the same position,
ideally in the center of this near man's field of movement. The brush gives
the ball a high spin to angle the ball in either direction, and in the case of
a wall pass from far off of the wall, the spin serves to keep the ball
"hugging" the wall all the way down to the three bar. A slight squeeze will
give the ball such a spin. Often, the left arm posture for the five bar is a
palm-up underhand one with the elbow pointing directly to the left, to provide
leverage for the brush motion. Other common options are an off-the-wall lane
brush and a 2nd-man brush through the lane to the wall. In addition to the 5-
to 3-bar pass, a 2- to 5-bar brush pass is common in singles play. See also
"brush", "squeeze", "squibb pass", "stick pass". See FAQ2 for how to learn a
brush pass.
- brush-up:
- A brush in the
push direction. See also "brush", "brush-pass".
- bumper:
- The rubber
elements on the rods on the outside of the distal men which help shield the
men and cabinet from impacts due to rod motion.
- BYP:
- Bring Your
Partner. See also "DYP".
- cabinet:
- The "box" of
the foosball table; does not include, the rods, the elements on the rods, the
bearings, nor the playfield.
- Calcutta:
- Organized
betting, usually on seeded teams in Open events. Often the right to a bet on a
specific team goes to the highest bidder, and sometimes the payouts are
percentages of the total amount wagered by all parties. Betting on yourself is
allowed.
- camping
out:
- For a defense
to predict & arrive at a hole much sooner than the offense shoots at it--
usually even before the shot begins!
- cashing
in:
- To "hit the
bank". See "bank (shot)"
- cheese:
- A solid or
semi-solid food product made from the fermentation of dairy liquids.
- chip:
- To hit the
ball on either the front or back corner area on the opposite side as the
intended direction of ball-movement. The ball is either slightly forward or
backward of the rod, and is often pinned outright. Used for front-banks (ball
setup back), Texas-T shot (ball setup front). See also "front-bank",
"Texas-T".
- chocolate-chip,
to:
- See "double-dip".
- Complete Guide to
Foosball, The:
- An
out-of-print foosball book by Johnny Lott. See "Lott, Johnny"
for complete information.
- corner/corner-ramp:
- See "ramp".
- count system offense:
- A system
described by Lott. Instead of trying to read the defense, choose a hole and a
count beforehand. Then don't look at the defense, count to your number then
shoot your hole. This may yield a higher percentage scoring when the defense
is "out thinking" you.
- crank
(shot):
- A shot usually
with a left-hand rod which is like a spin executed by rolling the handle along
the wrist and arm as one pushes the hand downward past the left edge of the
handle. Usually shot with the goalie rod. See also "goalie crank", "Alien
(shot)".
- cup:
- On some
tables, the receptacle, shaped like a quarter slice of a sphere, on the
outside surface of the table, leading to the hole through which the ball is
served.
- curve:
- A shot or pass
in which the ball's path curves due to extreme spin put on the ball, which
originates from a very high-pressure (back) pin position, which then is
released as the rod is moved to the left or right as the pressure on the pin
is maintained, resulting in the spin. Most often seen as a 2- to 3-rod pass
(back-pin ball on 2-rod 2 to 4 ball lengths from the wall, and curve the ball
by moving the rod away from the wall; the ball curves _towards_ the wall to
the waiting 3-man on the wall) or a trick 3-rod shot. See also
"squeeze".
- cut-back:
- An angle shot
in which the ball is moving in one lateral direction (left or right) before
being shot, but is angled toward the goal in the opposite direction (right or
left) upon being shot, often resulting in the defense to continue moving past
the actual trajectory of the ball. May be combined with pull, push, or various
kick shots. May also be used in passing, especially 2-bar to 3-bar
passing.
- cut-throats:
- A game for a
total of three players. Play is two-on-one, with the doubles team always
serving. If the singles players scores, he gets a point. If the doubles team
scores, no points are scored and the players rotate counterclockwise (i.e. the
singles player is now the doubles defender, and the doubles forward is now the
singles player). The first player to five points wins. Another variation
dictates that when the defensive doubles player scores, instead of rotating
all the players, the defensive switches directly with the singles player; this
is more fair, mixes up the matchups more, and rewards the goal scorer.
- dead, or
dead-bar:
-
- See "dead-man"
- A "dead"
ball, unreachable by any of the playing figures. See also "gray zone".
- dead-ball:
- An exercise
device to strengthen the wrist; it's a palm-sized ball to be squeezed by the
hand.
- dead-man:
- A term to
describe a shot of the ultimate length. e.g. (using the _offense's_
perspective for push/pull & L/R): for a pull-direction shot, pull the
defending 2-bar ALL THE WAY to the offense's near-side wall so that the
right-hand side bumper (the offense's right) is touching the wall. The length
of the long shot must therefore be long enough to, in this case, go AROUND the
LEFT man on the two bar (the offense's left) and into the goal, i.e. the ball
passes between the two men on the defending two-bar. At this position, the
2-bar is "dead" and cannot move any further to cover this long shot, hence the
name. The dead-bar shot may not be as possible/practical on some tables with
smaller goal widths than the Tornado's. However, on the Tornado, if the
painted goal line is open, the "dead-man" shot is also open. Most shots (all
shots?) can be shot dead-man (e.g. push/pull, push-/pull-kick, snake, tic-tac,
pin-shot, five-bar kick shot). Also "dead-bar".
- defensive
area:
- The playfield
from the two-rod to the back wall. Some tables have corner ramps in the
defensive area.
- defensive
bars/rods:
- The goalie rod
and the two-rod.
- demi:
- A convention
in France which occurs on any goal from the 5-bar, the near 3-man, or on any
"bizarre/random" event: The point is marked by moving a counter halfway
between the scored and unscored points on BOTH teams. Whoever scores the next
goal takes 2 points, i.e. takes the point and the "demi". If another demi is
scored instead, another counter is added to the first demi, and the next
"real" goal counts for 3 points. Hence, with "demi" rules, one must be careful
not to score accidental or 5-bar shots, since it may actually count for the
opponent.
- designated
event:
- A doubles
tournament format in which players of a certain ranking and above must play in
goal (defense) as a handicap. The less experienced players get to be the
stars, and the more experienced players develop a good defense, albeit
grudgingly.
- Deutschmeister:
- A type of
table. A "old-time serviceman's table".
- dink:
- A light and
fairly slow shot usually aimed at or around the near post, timed so that the
defense vacates this post when expecting a power long-shot, e.g. a long
pull-kick, or any other ball movement back to the far post.
- dot:
- On a Tornado
table, the white circular markings along the three bar which represent
different areas to shoot from, and also represent one ball-width from dot to
dot. The outside dots usually are thought to represent a shot which will not
go into the goal if shot straight.
-
- double-dip/double-dyp:
- To come out of
(i.e. win) the loser's bracket in a doubles elimination tournament and beat
the winner of the winner's bracket in two straight matches to win the entire
tournament.
- double-elimination:
- A tournament
format in which to be eliminated from the tournament altogether, a team must
lose two matches. See also "double-dip", "loser's bracket", "winner's bracket".
-
- double-post:
- A shot which
first strikes one post of a goal, immediately deflects to strike the other
post of the goal, then is deflected away from the goal.
- doubles:
- 2-on-2 play.
For variations see also: "Hawaiian
Doubles", "Goalie Delight", "Bad Boys Doubles", "Super Doubles", "Cutthroats" (2 on 1)".
- drive-pin:
- A maintenance
tool, esp. on Tornado tables, used to push tension pins (to affix
playing-figures) through the holes in the rods. It is a solid pin almost the
diameter of a tension pin, but is more than twice as long and is tipped with a
blunt nib which fits into the inside of a tension pin. See also "pin".
- drop:
- To serve the
ball. Also "foos".
- Dynamo:
- A type of
table. It has corners which "curl" up gradually from the playing field. Also
the company which produces this table and which now also produces the Striker
tables. See also "Striker", "ATSF" Dynamo's number
is (800) 527-6054, and may be called for parts and tournament information for
Dynamos and Strykers.
- DYP:
- A doubles
tournament format where one is to "draw your partner".
- ETU:
- European Table
Soccer Union.
- European
pin:
- see "pin"
(shot).
- Expert:
- A specific
ranking term describing a rank below "pro" but above "Rookie" and "Amateur".
USTSA 1300-1799 pts. Usually someone with a consistent tournament level shot
and a very studied and effective 5-bar. Also: "Novice".
- fan:
- An open-hand
shot. See "open-hand".
- FAQ
files:
- (frequently
asked questions files). Alt.sport.foosball's FAQ files are available by
anonymous FTP at conrad.harvard.edu in /pub/foosball, or by
email from uyeyama@helix.mgh.harvard.edu. See the beginning of this file for a
detailed listing. See also "book."
- far-bank:
- A bank
(usually a shot) off of a wall, originating from a man on or near the outer
edge of the rod, and bouncing off of the wall on the opposite (far) side. A
2-rod or 3-rod shot.
- far-post:
- See "post".
- fermo:
- See "primo."
- finger
grip:
- A grip on the
handle where the palm doesn't not touch the handle; the four curled fingers
and the thumb hold the handle. This is not a palm-roll, or "open-hand" grip.
Also known the as "golf grip".
- finger
width:
- A term to
describe the "length" of a shot such as a pull or a snake. e.g. for a
pull-direction shot, pull (from the offense's point of view) the defending
2-bar almost all the way to the wall, specifically X fingers widths (e.g. 1
FW, 2 1/2 FW, etc.) separating the wall from the right-hand side bumper (The
offense's right). The length of the shot must therefore be long enough to, in
this case, go AROUND the LEFT man on the two bar (The offense's left) and into
the goal, i.e. the ball must pass between the two men on the defending
two-rod. Hence the smaller the finger width, the longer the shot. re: 0 FW see
also "dead-man".
- fish:
- See "bait defense".
- five-bar
pass:
- A pass from
the 5-bar to the 3-bar. See also "brush
pass".
- foos:
-
- The serve
where the ball is entered into play, hence the phrase, "Losers foosers" for
the custom of the scored-upon team serving the next ball. The term is
derived from the German word for "foot". In Germany, "fussball" is
"football" which is "soccer" in the US. Foosball is known as "kicker" in
Germany, "bebe-foot" in France.
- Also a
stuffed shot. See "stuff".
- foosball
widow:
-
- A
spouse/significant other who is left alone (widowed) while the player is out
playing.
- A
spouse/significant other who hasn't been exposed enough to become addicted
to the game.
- foos-geek:
- where?
- foos-shark
- Somebody you
should have looked up in the Book before you put money on the table, even
though they looked drunk.
- foot:
- One of the
vertically adjustable elements on the bottom end of each leg of a foosball
table. See also "toe".
- forward
shootout:
- A specialty
event in which the opponents take turns shooting a single shot
(technical/penalty shots) from the 3-rod. Also "FS" or "FSO". See the separate FAQ file, "USTSA-rules-of-play".
- front-bank:
- A bank shot
executed from the 3-bar. If shot with the outer men, can be executed via an
angle to the wall. If shot from the middle man from a pass from an outer man,
can be executed by rod motion to the side of the intended bank. If shot from a
stationary position by the middle man, can be executed from a back-pin
chip.
- front
line:
- The
3-bar.
- front-pin:
- A ball-pin to
the front of the man, i.e. to the same side that the man is facing. Also "front-toe". See also "pin".
- front-pin
(shot):
- Any shot which
begins from the front-pin position.
- front-toe:
- See "front-pin".
- front-toe
(shot):
-
- See "snake shot";
- see front-pin (shot).
- FS /
FSO:
- See "Forward Shootout"
-
- glass-top:
- Any table
whose playing field is covered by a sheet of glass. Prevalent in pubs in
England.
- goal
liner:
- The table
element of some tables which is shaped like an inverted "U", and lines the
side and top edges of the goal.
- goalie:
- Usually the
center (or only) man on the goalie rod.
- goalie
crank:
- A crank-shot
executed with the goalie bar. See also "crank
(shot)".
- goalie
delight:
- A rule that
every time the goalie (defensive player) scores, as a reward the next ball is
dropped into play in their defensive zone instead of being served normally.
The condition usually does not apply on the last point of a game, i.e. the
first ball of the next game does not go to the goalie.
- goalie
rod:
- The defensive
bar closest to the goal; the 3-man goalie rod of a Tornado, the 1-man goalie
rod of some other tables.
- goalie
wars:
- A specialty
event in which the 3- and 5-rods are lifted, and the players attempt to score
on each other from their defensive regions. Also "GW".
- gray-zone:
- Parts of the
table where a ball is "dead" and unreachable by any of the
playing figures.
- grip:
-
- The exact
positioning of the hand on the handle relative to the rod. See also "bevel";
- A tennis, or
similar grip wrapped around the handle and usually fastened with a 1/4" band
cut from an inner tube on the outside edge of the handle. See also "rubber".
- grooves:
- The textured
patterns in a man's toe which help grip the ball.
- GW:
- See "Goalie Wars"
- hack:
- To shoot the
ball immediately as it comes within reach of the rod; does not preclude
actually having an on-goal shot. Also used as a derogatory term to describe
most 5-bar shots.
- Hammer,
The:
- The pull shot.
See "pull (shot)."
- handicap:
- To slightly
better the odds between teams of different skill levels (R/A/E/P), spotted
points and/or first-serves are given to the lower-ranking team scaled to the
difference in _total_ (add rankings of doubles partners) skill level between
the teams.
- hardware:
- For hardware
& parts information, try calling the numbers listed for Tornado, Stryker,
Dynamo, or Rene Pierre to locate a local vendor. These vendors will often
carry parts for several types of tables, including T.S. Most promoters can
also handle mail-orders. Also try calling local game-machine vending companies
since if they vend foosball machines, they will likely sell parts. Almost any
conceivable part can be purchased, from entire playing fields or cabinets to
men, bumpers, pins, balls, corner ramps, drink racks, goal-liners, etc.
- Hawaiian:
- A match format
that if one team wins a game by a shut-out (5-0), they automatically win the
match. "Hawaii Five-Oh, Book'em Danno!"
- hockey
shot:
- A shot which
goes into the goal off of a deflection from a man on the same team as the
shooter.
- Hollywood:
- Where they
make movies.
- home-version
table:
- A _non_
coin-operated table. Also "time-play
table."
- hover snake
(shot):
- A snake shot
which is preceded by the middle man "hovering" over the stationary ball and
occasionally tapping/pinning it; the shot is executed immediately after on of
these "taps". See "snake (shot)".
- hear birds,
to:
- When a cheap
shot has occurred. ("do I hear birds?... cheap, cheap...)
- Hurricane:
- The touring
tournament table before the TS tables.
- Inside
Foos:
- A
Californian-based player organization. They have a newsletter and currently
make videos (w/excellent foos-commentators) of open USTSA Tour events and
other meetings such as workshops and clinics. For subscription and video
information, write to 7030 1/2 La Tijera Blvd.; Los Angeles, CA 90045; or call
(310) 670-2408.
- jacket:
- An embroidered
foosball jacket, often awarded as a first-place bonus prize by the sponsor of
a major tournament.
- jar:
- To (illegally)
shake the table while banging the rods against the walls. If subtle or not
called, is a good cheating way to mess up your opponent's pin or any shot
depending on a pin
- Joe:
- A shot which
goes into the goal off of a deflection from a man from the opposing (i.e.
defending) team.
- Kentucky
(shot):
- See Texas-T (shot).
- kibitz:
- For spectators
to advise/coach the players. In tournament play this is illegal.
- kick:
- A lateral pass
from a man on the rod to usually the adjacent man, for the purpose of then
shooting or passing it forward. A kick shot executed when the passing motion
is begun with the ball away from the passing man can be VERY fast, hence its
use in tic-tac shots, as well as adding it to pin--shots and other shots to
quickly place the ball to shoot into the opposite post.
- kicker:
- One term for
foosball in the German language, derived from a popular Swiss table
manufacture from Geneva of the same name. Another German term is
"tischfoosball" for table-soccer.
- lane-pass:
- A 5-bar pass
to the three bar which is just off of the wall, very often angled and very
often grazing just off the edge of the reach of the 2-man of an opposing
dead-man 5-bar. See also "5-bar pass".
- lane/line:
- The white line
on the playing field which traces the edge of the goal. If the line is
visible, the dead-bar shot is open.
- lemming:
- When the ball
rolls slowly but surely into the goal, despite all of the defender's best
efforts.
- lift:
-
- To
(illegally) lift the table by pulling up on the rods.
- To lift the
men on a rod to allow a free ball path.
- limited
event:
- Any event
where the combined point totals of the two players on each team may not exceed
a specified ceiling, e.g. a "Limited 3500" event has a 3500 point
limit.
- long:
- Far post. See
"post".
- "Long
Shot":
- The foosball
movie. Johnny Lott was the shot double for the rainbow shot. See "Lott, Johnny".
- losers'
bracket:
- The section of
the tournament-tree in which all of the teams which have lost one match in a
double-elimination ' tournament play each other (i.e. this bracket is
single-elimination). "winners of the losers'" refers to the winner of this
bracket, the team which goes on to play the "winners of the winners'" See also
"double-elimination", "winners' bracket"
- Lott,
Johnny:
- Old time world
champion pro who currently is promoting the ATSF-Striker tour. Described as a
mortal enemy of CE McCloud. Was a shot double in the movie Long Shot. Johnny
Lott has written probably the only Foosball book, the out-of-print "_The
Complete Guide to Foosball_ by Johnny Lott, with Kathy Brainard.; Chicago,
Ill: Contemporary Books, 1980. xi, 176 p.: ill. : 24cm ISBN 0809259990 (hdbk.
$9.95), 0809259982 (pbk. $5.95)" See also "ATSF", "Striker" for information on ATSF
events.
- man/men:
- The playing
figures on the rods.
- master:
-
- A largely
honorary ranking traditionally bestowed on perhaps a dozen players in the
world; a rank technically above "pro".
- In the old
Dynamo tour, a rank above pro;
- In the USTSA
the twelve top-ranked players;
- In the USTSA
the winner of the single-elimination Master's Singles event in the Masters
Tour event, in which to qualify, one must place in the top twelve of Open
Singles; a single green Master's Jacket and Master's Cup is also
awarded.
- McCloud,
C.E.:
- Inventor and
President of Tornado Table Soccer. See also "Tornado", "USTSA".
- meatball:
- Double game
ball, as in 4 pts to 4 pts, sudden-death to 5pts. Also "sweat ball".
- mid-line:
- the
5-bar.
- money-added:
- A tournament
format in which money is added to the amount collected from player entry fees
to increase the payback to the top finishers.
- monkey
shot:
- A snake shot,
named for the curled-wrist on the handle on the setup. See "snake shot".
- mongoose:
- Foosspeak for
any very effective defense for the Snake shot. Often involves good coverage of
the dead-bar shot by switching the utilized man on the 2-bar
unpredictably.
- movie:
- See "Long Shot", "video".
- moving
defense:
- A defense in
which the men defending the goal constantly move both horizontally and back
and forth (to cut off different angles) so as to hopefully open different
holes in an unpredictable manner. Also known as "stochastic defense" or
"random defense", although the defense, if done well, is usually not strictly
random at all.
- near
post:
- See "post".
- NEFA:
- New England
Foosball Association. Call Mad Maggie's Billiards at (508) 774-5347 for more
information. They publish the newsletter, The NEFA Fun Fax.
- newsletters:
- USTSA, Inside
Foos, NEFA, and OFAP put out newsletters, as do Rene-Pierre aficionados. See
appropriate listings.
- no-man's
land:
- In defense,
when 2/3 of the goal is open because the goalie is standing directly behind
one of the men on the 2-bar.
- novice:
- See "Expert".
- OFAP:
- Oklahoma Foos
Awareness Program, the newsletter of Tornado of Oklahoma-- 3315 N. Service
Rd.; Moore, OK 73160; (405) 799-9797.
- offensive
bar/offensive line:
- The
3-bar.
- on-goal:
- A shot
trajectory which, if not altered or stopped, enters the goal.
- open
event:
- A tournament
event in which anybody may enter, i.e. even the best players (i.e. pros) with
high point totals may enter.
- open-hand:
- A shooting
technique where to attain high ball speeds upon shooting, the handle is
allowed to roll slightly along a partially opened-hand so that the man is
cocked back further than normal to shoot. Often used for bank shots,
pull-kicks, and sometimes for push- and pull-shots. Also "fan".
- outward:
- Push
direction. See "push".
- parts:
- See "hardware" for information on buying
parts & hardware.
- Peppard,
Lee:
- The creator of
the Tournament Soccer table and promoter of its tour in the 1970's. Johnny
Lott in his book calls Peppered the "founding father of professional
foosball."
- pin:
-
- The position
when the ball is being squeezed between the playing field and the bottom of
a man; this naturally must occur with the man tilted with its toe to the
front or to the back, which are known as front-pin and back-pin,
respectively. Sometimes, pin is used in the context of a ball being squeezed
between a man and the wall. Also known as "pinch". A "walking pin" is when
the ball is continuously moved horizontally from the pinned position, only
to be pinned again on the same bar.
- The table
element which affixes the men to the rods, taking the place of both nut and
bolt of some tables. The advantage is that there is no thread (as on a
screw) to be worn off to make the men loose.
- pin
(shot):
- A shot
beginning from a pin position; this usually means a front-pin shot that is
known as the European Pin Shot, or a European Front-Pin Shot. Also "toe-shot".
- pinch:
- see "pin"
- pit:
- In a
tournament, a special area for important matches, usually equipped with
spectator seating.
- playfield:
- The entire
surface of the table upon which the ball moves during play. Also refers to the
actual table element of the playfield, which may be removed or replaced for
maintenance.
- points:
-
- Points in a
game.
- Personal
USTSA ranking points.
- post:
-
- On some
tables, the goal-liners. See "goal
liner".
- A shot
which actually strikes the edge of the goal and is deflected away at an
angle (i.e. not a flat bounce off of the wall adjacent to the goal), but
does not go in;
- to shoot
such a shot;
- to strike
the edge of the goal in this manner (e.g. "The shot posted.")
- On-goal at
the very edge of the goal; this may refer to a shot's trajectory as well as
the area of the goal which may be defended. The terms "near post" and "far
post" are often used. "Near post" (also known as "short"), is the edge of
the goal on the same side as the ball is placed as a shot is executed; the
"far post" is the edge of the goal on the opposite side (i.e. a shot going
"long"). See "on-goal" .
- primo:
- A European
term (esp. Italy) used for a style of game-play in which it is legal to stop,
pin, and maneuver the ball along a rod. Also known as "fermo." To be
contrasted with "vola". Before a game it is agreed among the players whether
the style will be "primo" or "vola". See also "vola."
- pro:
- A specific
ranking term denoting the highest rank, one above "Rookie", "Amateur", and
"Expert". USTSA 1800+ points. Pro-A and Pro-B currently exist in the USTSA
ranking system, with Pro-A at (2200?) points. See also "USTSA."
- pro-recoil:
- The reversal
of motion of the rod at the shooting of a shot, very often seen on
tournament-level versions of shots on the competitive level. This whip-like
recoil helps keep the ball motion straight or even causes it to cut back.
Essential to hit most dead-man shots. See "dead-man", "cut-back".
- promoter:
- A person who
officially or semi-officially locally organizes tournaments, lobbies for more
playing locations, and otherwise promotes the sport of table-soccer. The
table-manufacturers often have available a list of promoters who will have
information on local playing locations as well as any regular or special
tournaments. Most promoters are also table-operators and may also be able to
sell hardware. See also "table-operator", "USTSA", "ATSF".
- pull:
-
- The act of
literally pulling a rod (towards you).
- The
horizontal vector (direction of movement) _towards_ the player initiating
ball movement, also "down" as in "brush-down".
- pull
(shot):
- A 3-bar shot
executed entirely with the middle man, which pulls the ball laterally and very
rapidly from its starting point then shoots it into the goal; The starting
point is usually from a maximally pushed-rod position. See also "roll fake."
- pull-kick:
- The
mirror-image of a push-kick. Often shot using an "open-hand" style. See "push-kick", "open-hand".
- push:
-
- The act of
literally pushing a rod (away from you).
- The
horizontal vector (direction of movement) _away_ from the player initiating
ball movement, also "up" as in "brush-up".
- push(shot):
- A 3-bar shot
executed entirely with the middle man, which pushes the ball from its starting
point then shoots it into the goal; The starting point is usually from a
maximally pulled-rod position.
- push-kick:
- A 3-bar shot
beginning with the ball on the closest (i.e. Right edge) man a few ball-widths
from the wall. The ball is pushed so that it may be shot with the middle man.
Usually executed open-hand in a single motion, and is often shot dead-bar
long, or a fake by shooting an angle shot to the near post with the near man.
Email Reid Abel, reidd@emrg.ubc.ca for information on his self-published
push-kick book.
- race-defense:
- Any defense
where the philosophy is that the defense will wait until the offense begins
the shot after which the defense "races" the offense to the open hole.
- rainbow
(shot):
- See "aerial shot".
- ramp:
- In some
tables, any of the four raised corners of the playfield. Some ramps are
separate triangular elements, and some, like on the Dynamo and Stryker tables,
are curved extensions of the actual playfield. To replace triangular ramps, it
is often necessary to install a separate Styrofoam support under it to raise
it to the desired pitch. Some tables, such as the Tornado, lack ramps
altogether. Also: "corner", "corner-ramp."
- razzle
dazzle:
- A flamboyant
style of play intended to show off the talents of the players for the
audience. Also "Saturday Night
Foosball".
- rebound
(shot):
- A novelty
shot. On the 3-rod, the ball is setup on an outer man as if for a pullkick or
pushkick. The shot begins normally but is shot into the wall short of the
goal. The middle man shoots the rebound into the goal.
- recoil:
- See "pro-recoil".
- Renee
Pierre:
- A French-make
table (from Chalon-sur-Saone) with unbalanced men with metal-weighted toes,
telescoping rods, linoleum playfield, metal-scoop goal, egg-shaped cabinet,
sawhorse-type legs, and soft white-covered cork balls. A 6-player variety
($1699) also is manufactured. In North America, it is popular in Virginia
Beach (Virginia), North Carolina, and Quebec (Canada), and is currently
distributed by Brady Distributing Co. of Charlotte, North Carolina at (704)
357 6284, Fax (704) 357-1243. Prices for new tables range from $699-$1499. See
also "bebefoot".
- reset:
- A resetting of
the time-limit on a rod, usually by a jar from the opposing side which results
in any ball motion, or by having the ball briefly touch a man on an opposing
rod. The time-limit may also be reset by calling a time-out.
- rod:
- The table
element to which the men and handles are attached; bar.
- roll
fake:
- A fake from
the pull setup in which the ball actually rolls very slightly as the middle
3-man lifts and brushes the left side of the ball (rolling it mainly backwards
a fraction of an inch), then shoots it straight in. This fake can fool an
opponent wary of the purely-lift-fake in which the ball is not touched at all
before being shot straight.
- rollover
(shot):
- See "snake shot."
- rookie:
- A specific
ranking term for the lowest rank, below "Amateur", "Expert", and "Pro". USTSA
0-999 pts. All new players in tour events begin as rookies with 900 points,
although for "limited" events, they are considered to have 1200 points.
However, if the player has a record of beating Amateur-ranked players in
tournaments, that player may begin as an Amateur; the same holds for a similar
record against Experts or Pros.
- rookie
pass:
-
- A heavily
discounted entry fee (usually about $100) to allow a Rookie to enter nearly
all the events in a large tournament. "Amateur passes" are also often
available for slightly more money. These passes encourage newer players to
enter competition and also incidentally results in large tournament trees,
128 doubles or 256 singles at large events.
- A
rookie-level 5-rod passing technique. :)
- RP:
- See
- rubber:
- A handle grip
fashioned out of a section of inner tube, usually slightly longer than, and
fitted over the handle. Helps especially with the snake shot. See "grip".
- saturday night foosball:
- See "razzle dazzle".
- series:
-
- a 5-rod pass
then 3-rod shot.
- a set of
options from a shot set-up, e.g. a "back-pin series."
- set:
- Stationary.
- set-defense:
- Similar to a
race-defense; the defense is totally stationary in anticipation of the
offensive shot.
- short:
- Near post. See
"post".
- shot
mark:
- A small streak
left on the table after a shot.
- silicone:
- The best
lubricant for the rods. It will not build up grime, nor will it damage the
plastic components such as the bearings. Drip silicone (as opposed to spray
silicone) is slightly preferable.
- singles:
- A game, match,
or event in which each team has one player.
- skunk:
- to shut out
the opposite team in a game.
- slice:
- A brush, esp.
on a stationary ball. Often used as an option from a pull setup. See "brush."
- slide:
- Illegally
sliding the table horizontally, usually by pushing or pulling the rods after
they are already against the wall.
- snake
(shot):
- A 3-bar shot
executed from a front pin and a grip on the inner wrist; the ball is moved
horizontally then the arm executes a reverse-crank so that the rods spin
backwards so the same man strikes the ball. Technically not a spin shot since
the angle from point of last contact to point of shot is just under 360
degrees; the follow-through after point of shot must also be under 360
degrees, and contact w/the rod must not be broken. Usually started in the
center with the middle man, although push-only or pull-only specialists exist.
Also: "Monkey Shot", "Wrist Rocket", "Rollover".
- specialty
event:
- Any one of the
following: four-on-four, goalie-wars, roller-ball, or forward wars. Specialty
events are usually open events.
- spike:
- See "stuff". Also applies to blocked 5-bar
pass attempts, and may even be a shot on goal, esp a bank-shot.
- split:
- A shot
trajectory which goes between the two primary men defending the goal, each man
being on each of the two defensive rods.
- spray, spray
(shot):
- To angle a
shot in the same direction that the ball was moving just as it was shot; i.e.
a spray pull (shot) angles toward the right/pull-direction; spray-pushes from
the push-kick position to the near-post are common.
- squeeze:
- When the ball
is literally lightly squeezed in such a tenuous back pin position so that upon
being pinned while being brushed, the ball is released with a very high spin
(and therefore angle). The spin is less extreme that that of a "curve" ball.
Sometimes used as a shot from the defensive region of players who back-pin the
ball often. See also "brush", "brush pass", "pin", "curve".
- squibb
pass:
- A pass which
seems illegal but if begun legally is technically still a valid pass under
USTSA rules: When a brush pass is accidentally momentarily pinned, then
immediately shoots/squeezes out as a pass. A legal pass if the intended brush
pass originally legal. Also "stubb-pass". "brush-pass".
- straight
shot:
- A shot which
is shot from the ball's original and stationary position straight into the
goal on a trajectory parallel to the long axis of the table. See also "angle shot".
- stick
pass:
- A pass which
is passed straight and not in an angle. Ideally the ball is both brought into
position (as with a kick or a series of kicks) and passed, extremely fast. The
typical stick pass series is done after a rapid 2-1-2-1 man tic-tac, after
which follows a 2-1 lane pass, a 2-1 wall pass, a 2-wallbounce-1 lane pass, or
a 2 or 2-1-2 pass to the middle man in the lane between the opponent's 2 and 3
men. See also "brush pass".
- Stryker:
- The touring
table of the ATSF. There is the old Striker, and there are prototypes for a
new "Electronic Striker by Dynamo", with telescoping rods, digital displays,
and a speedometer-equipped goal. Johnny Lott's table. For information on
Striker tournaments you can contact Johnny Lott's voice mail at Dynamo at
(817) 284-0114 ext. 112, or for a toll-free connection (ask the operator for
box 112) and more information on hardware and parts (800) 527-6054. See also
"ATSF", "Lott,
Johnny".
- stubb
(pass):
- See "Squibb pass".
- stuff:
- When a
defensive shot is blocked and immediately shot back at the defense from which
it originated; this is usually done with the 3-bar, although stuffs from the
opposing 2-bar are seen in goalie-wars.
- Subbuteo:
- A 2' X 4'
table-soccer game with very little resemblance to "foosball"-table-soccer. The
men are played by flicking them individually, the playing field is set at a
pitch, and the game is generally more faithful to the rules of actual soccer.
The game has a large following in Europe with large regional championships,
including a "World Cup". rec.sport.soccer, rec.games.miniatures, and
rec.games.board sometimes have Subbuteo threads.
- super
doubles:
- In a
tournament, the event in which the doubles championship teams from all
categories play each other, single elimination, beginning from the lowest
division champions to the final match with the Open Doubles champs.
- switch(-up),
to:
-
- For the
offensive and defensive players to switch roles; this is possible only
between balls or during time-outs.
- For the
defense to switch the man on the 2-rod being used to block a shot; this is
one technique in a moving defense, but if used too often the offense can
"time the switch" and score.
- table,
a:
- A foosball
table.
- table-football:
- One synonym
for foosball in England.
- table-operator:
- Any person who
organizes the placement of their table-soccer machines for commercial
purposes. Most exclusively table-soccer-oriented operators are also promoters,
and in general seem to maintain their hardware in better condition than other
large general-purpose vending companies or businesses which own their own
machines. See also "promoter."
- Table
Talk:
- USTSA's
newsletter. See "Tornado" for information.
- table-top:
- A term
indicating a ball out of play, after an airborne ball strikes the top surface
or ashtrays of the table then falls back into the playing field; such a ball
is considered out of play, as if ejected from the table.
- telegraph:
- For a player
to reveal their intentions to the opponent.
- tension
pin:
- See
"pin".
- Texas-T
(shot):
- A 2-bar or
3-bar shot beginning with the ball in a front pin, usually considerably to the
left or right oft the field. The ball is moved to the next man over and shot;
the move is executed by chipping the front edge of the ball on the opposite
side as its intended direction of movement; The chip is in essence a very
exaggerated bank, so much so that the ball moves from a front pin and is so
nearly horizontal that the next man on the bar can come down and shoot it from
slightly rear of the bar. Also "Kentucky
shot".
- textfile:
- See "book", "newsletter", and
"FAQ" for more information on
foosball-related text.
- tic-tac
(shot):
- Onomatopoetically named for the sound that the shot
produces during its execution. Basically either a 2-bar or 3-bar shot where
the ball is passed continuously and hopefully misleadingly from man to man to
man so that when the shot is executed, the defensive will be in the wrong
place to block, especially if they are following the movement of the ball;
most often shot to the far post or angled to the near post.
- tie-rod:
- In many tables
(esp. TS and its clones), the bolts on the outer sides of the table near the
top connecting a metal rod through the table beneath the scoring counters. Tie
rods must absolutely always be kept tight, otherwise the table may be quickly
damaged permanently.
- time-play
table:
- See "home-version table." So
named because when used commercially, the balls are rented to players by the
hour. Sometimes this term denotes a version of the table a notch higher than a
"home-version" table.
- timing:
- When an
offensive shooter or passer times a predictably moving "moving defense" so as to wait
for the open hole then hit it.
- toe:
- The tip (i.e.
bottom) of a man.
- toe
(shot):
- A pin shot;
named because of the use of the man's "toe" on the ball. See also "front pin (shot)", "back pin (shot)"
- Tour,
The:
- Any of the
professional table-soccer tournament tours. See "USTSA", "ATSF".
- Tornado:
- The touring
table and parent company of the USTSA. For information on the table, their
newsletter Table Talk, Tour events, and local tournaments in your area, you
may call or write Tornado Table Soccer, Inc.; 4949 Rendon Rd; Fort Worth, TX
76140; (817) 483-6646 or their Tornado Hot-line at 817-561-0511. See also "USTSA", "CE_McCloud"
- tournaments:
- See "Tornado", "Stryker", and for
more information on tournaments.
- tournament-hardened:
- Someone who is
experienced in competitive level play, i.e. not losing any loose balls,
usually shooting only the tournament (i.e. best) shot from the 3-bar, having a
good moving defense, knowing game strategy and psychology, using time-outs
well, knowing the rules well, etc.
- tree:
- An
elimination-bracket diagram for a tournament event.
- TS:
- Tournament
Soccer brand table; the previously touring tournament table before the
Tornado. Also known as "browntop" or "Million $" tables.
- urethane:
- The material
from which the Tornado balls are fashioned. Unlike older-type balls, these
balls do not dent with use.
- USTSA:
- United States
Table Soccer Association. The USTSA holds tournaments exclusively on Tornado
brand tables, from Fort Worth, TX. They publish the newsletter Table Talk. See
"Tornado" for address & phone
numbers.
- variations:
- See also: "specialty events", "doubles", "cut-throats", "vola".
- videos:
- See "Inside Foos" for information on
foosball videos.
- vola:
- A European
term (esp. Italy) for a style of game-play in which the ball may not be
stopped, pinned, or even maneuvered roller-ball style along a rod. Only one
hit/touch is allowed per rod after which the ball must move to another rod,
and the two defensive rods are considered different rods. These rules result
in: 1) slower 5-rod to 3-rod passes with on-the-fly angle shots; 2) the 2-rod
repeatedly bouncing the ball off of the back wall or passing it back and forth
with the goalie rod; 3) a great variety and skill at 3-rod to 5-rod back pass
offensive shots. To be contrasted with "primo". Before a game it is decided
among the players whether the style will be "vola" or "primo". See also "primo."
- walking pin
(shot):
- A pin shot
which is preceded by numerous lateral adjustments of the [usually front-] pin.
See also "pin (shot)."
- wall
pass:
- Any pass along
the wall from one bar to another. If properly executed, the opposing side must
be completely against the wall, since the bumper on the rods pushes the edge
man away from the wall nearly a ball length to begin with. Most commonly from
5-bar or 2-bar to 3-bar. See also "5-bar pass", "brush pass".
- winners'
bracket:
- The section of
the tournament tree in a double elimination tournament in which those teams
which have not lost any matches play each other. Losing teams in the winner's
bracket enter successively progressive berths in the loser's bracket. The
winner of this bracket is referred to as "winners of the winners US. This team
plays the "winner of the losers'" for the tournament title, which it wins if
it wins a single match, and can lose only if it loses in two straight matches,
because of the double-elimination format.
- World's:
- The USTSA
World Championships held every year in Texas.
- worm:
- a weak
execution of the Snake/Rollover shot. See "snake shot."
- wrap:
- See "grip".
- wrist
rocket:
- See snake shot.
- WTSA:
- World Table
Soccer Association. The defunct touring organization existing before USTSA;
based on the TS table. See also "Peppard, Lee".
- Z-shot:
- A double-bank
shot, from the 2-bar, although a 3-bar Z is not unheard of.
- zone
defense:
-
- A defense
against a 2-bar shot, which involves the 3-bar and 5-bar covering part of
the goal, and the goalie-bar and 2-bar covering the other part; frequently
the 3-bar and 5-bar will cover "long", leaving the straight and near shots
open but covered by the defensive bars. Usually the #3 and 4 men on the five
bar, together with the middle man on the three bar cover long, while the
center goalie covers the edge of the goal, and the #1 man on the two bar
cover the remaining area of "short", while these two defensive men are
slightly angled toward each other to guard the "split" between them; these
numberings refer to counting the men from the edge of the rod, beginning on
the side nearest to the side the ball is currently on (in the opposing
side's defensive area).
- Also can
refer to a defense against a 2-bar shot involving coordinated use of the
3-bar and 5-bar only.
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