"FRENCH-STYLE" VS. "GERMAN-STYLE" FOOSBALL TABLES An opinion, By Bruce Nardoci (revised 5/99) There are 2 major "styles" of foosball tables manufactured in the world today: "French-Style" and "German-Style", which have vastly different playing characteristics. Although playing characteristics vary between the different table manufacturers, there is a much bigger difference between French-style and German-style than there is between two different French-style tables or 2 different German-style tables. TABLE DESIGN: French Style tables are basically off-shoots (copies) of the France- made Bonzini table, and are identified by usually having "telescoping" rods that don't protrude out of the far side of the table (although that isn't really important to the playing characteristics), metal (aluminum) men, cork balls, and softer/grippier playfield surfaces. Examples are Bonzini, Rene Pierre, LeGrande, Stella, etc. German style tables are basically off-shoots of the German-made Deuster-Meister table, and are identified by having one piece bars that protrude through both sides of the table (although that isn't really important to the playing characteristics), having plastic men, plastic/composite balls, and hard/slick playfield surfaces. Examples are Tornado, Dynamo, Stryker, Garlando, Vulcan, etc. DESIGN CHARACTERISTICS: The difference in playing characteristics comes mainly from the difference in "grippiness" of the man/ball/playfield surface interaction between the 2 styles. Typically, if at least 2 of those 3 things on the table are somewhat "grippy", you can grip/pin the ball well (although really, you could grip/pin if the ball alone was grippy enough - as with a rubber ball on any table). On German style, due to the slicker man/ball/playfield interaction, the ball doesn't stay pinned as easily while being quickly/roughly moved around, so most shots/passes on those tables are performed with the ball beside the man (not pinned under it), rather than taking a chance the ball will slip away from the foot during a pinned shot/pass. On French style, due to the extra "grippiness", the ball can be maneuvered (or "walked") quickly/roughly while it is pinned between the man's foot and the playfield without losing it, so most shots/passes performed on those tables are executed from the pin position (because of the extra options it affords, as discussed later). On one extreme, a German style table like the Garlando with a smooth glass surface and hard plastic rectangular blocks for feet and a slick plastic ball makes it virtually impossible to pin the ball. Other German-style tables, like Tornado and Dynamo are more grippy, allowing you to pin the ball easily, but even they don't have enough "grippiness" to allow you to do fast/wide/elaborate maneuvers and changes of direction with the ball in a pinned position without losing it like you can on a French-style table. French-style tables are even more grippy that Tornado/Dynamo, making it possible to do certain shots and passes that can't be done even on a table like Tornado or Dynamo. This leads to the development of a somewhat different style of game than what you'd see on Tornado/Dynamo, with more variety and complexity. There are a few tables that have some characteristics of both styles, such as the brown-top tournament soccer which looks like a German style table with plastic men and balls, but the playfield and ball/man materials used are such that there is a high degree of grippiness available on it. Other tables that also had some of the characteristics of both included early versions of Dynamo, and Hurricane and Challenger. WARNING- READ THE BELOW SECTIONS ONLY IF YOU WANT A LONG EXPLANATION OF THE RAMIFICATIONS OF THE DIFFERENCES BETWEEN FRENCH AND GERMAN STYLE TABLES ON FOOSBALL PLAYING, OWNING, AND ENJOYMENT. ALSO, IT IS A COPY AND PASTE OF VARIOUS MESSAGES POSTED TO THE REC.SPORT.TABLE-SOCCER NEWSGROUP OVER THE YEARS, SO IT HAS SOME REDUNDANCY IN IT: PLAYING CHARACTERISTICS: Typical shots performed on German style tables are slide pull, slide push, pull-kick, push-kick, etc.; i.e., shots that don't require the ball to be pinned. One exception is the "rollover" shot which is done from a pinned position, but that shot doesn't require the ball to be "maneuvered" - this shot works on the German style tables because it is done without man ever leaving contact with the ball (rolling slowly back and forth in the middle of the goal) except for when its being hit forward, and thus there is little chance of losing the ball (it stays in the same pinned position the entire time). Pin shots can be performed on some German style tables, but in order to execute them without losing the ball they have to be done so slow (or with so much less "range") that they no longer are effective against top goalies. Similarly, passes on German-style tables are performed with the ball beside (not pinned) the man, as it is difficult to do fast or elaborate pin passes without losing the ball. In fact, on most German-style tables, one-man & pin passes are illegal by rule anyway (even if pin passes could be successfully performed). Also, some German style tables (such as Tornado) do not allow for consistent "bank" shots off the walls, although most other German style tables bank effectively. There are two main types types of French style pin shot series. One is basically a slide pull shot done from the front pin position, pulling it to the middle or far pull holes, or hitting it straight (by spinning or using the far man on the 3 bar). This series can be done on most any table successfully, since it is a one-motion shot with little chance of losing it. However, the other French style shot series involves "walking" the ball around in front of the goal, and using various front pin reverses of direction to fake/create/disguise the hole you're shooting at. This is the style shot that is very difficult to do on German tables that don't have a great deal of grippiness. On typical French style pinned shots/passes, the ball is "walked" around in little (or wide) "steps", with the man leaving contact with the ball on each step (which is an opportunity to lose the ball when trying to repin it or rapidly change it's direction on a German style table). This style shooting has some advantages over the German "slide" shot style, mainly the ability to "create" holes through fakes/reverses (and the attendant "mental games" between shooter and defender), whereas the German slide shot style depends mainly on raw speed or anticipating/reading where a hole will be. It should be noted that the German-style shots can also be performed on French style tables, about as well as they can be done on German style tables, since the extra grippiness doesn't affect the ball being slid by the side of the man much. Banking the ball is also easily/consistently performed on French style tables. In addition, the lightness of the cork ball used on French tables allows for a variety of deliberate "airball" shots OVER the men an into the goal to be performed. On French-style tables, it is possible to do one-man & pin passes (and legal by rule as long as the ball is in motion), as well as the types of passes performed On German-style tables. Basically, the only illegal pass on French-style tables is the "hover over a stopped ball" pass, which is outlawed because it is boring to watch and play against. The additional options afforded by one-man and pin passes (as long as the ball is in motion when you do them) adds additional variety and complexity to the passing game (e.g., change of direction pin fakes, pin angles, etc.), from both an offensive and defensive standpoint, making it more enjoyable. While its possible to attempt some of the French Style shots on German Style tables, on the tournament level basically the only shots used on German Style tables are the slide pull and rollover, because the other shots are either more difficult to execute or are lower percentage than those two. With the additional playing characteristics of French Style tables, it makes some of the other shot series (certainly at least the front pin and back pin, bank shots, etc) more effective to where they are a valid option for many people to use in tournaments (not just in barroom fun & games), adding to the variety for the players and spectators. WHY THE ADDITIONAL PLAYING CHARACTERISTICS ENABLED BY FRENCH STYLE TABLES ARE IMPORTANT: The reason French style tables are better than German style tables is the increased abilities the "grippiness" of the table and some other characteristics give to what you can do with the ball in the way of shots/passes. Their are many things that can be done on a French Style table that couldn't begin to be done on a German style table, but there is virtually nothing a German style player can do that can't also be done on French style table. Those increased playing capabilities make for much more variety and complexity of play, which is more enjoyable from a playing standpoint (both physical and mental/strategic) and spectating standpoint. For instance, with a grippy ball you can use fakes (reverses, etc) to "CREATE" holes, rather than just shooting at an existing hole or shooting and hoping a hole will be there. Also, by walking the ball from side to side in front of the goal (as opposed to rocking it in the middle like on a rollover shot, or sitting in the push side like a slide pull shot), you can cause the defense to adjust, creating new scoring opportunities. it's the combination of having to do BOTH the read/react and create that adds additional complexity/enjoyment to the game for both the players (shooter/defender) and spectator. Also, the mind games going on when someone is trying to fake/create or defend holes is a lot of fun. That is the beauty of the extra dimensions increasing the table's playing characteristics can bring. The front pin shot series has all of the advantages of the pull shot or rollover, plus the advantage of being able to "create" holes by using "fakes" (e.g., moving the ball from one side of the goal to the other causing the defense to follow the ball, and then you can quickly move the ball back to where the hole was created and shoot it there). Far more elaborate fakes are also possible. In addition, you can easily shoot cut/angles between the men with the front pin, therefore giving you an extra hole that the straight angle shots of the pull and rollover don't give you (hit a few cuts between their men and watch the defensive men close up tight, leaving HUGE straight holes :)). It is also a more complex shot to shoot, since you can either read the defense and shoot at a hole that appears, or fake the defense to create a hole. In addition, since there is such a wide variety of options/fakes available on the front pin series, it is a more enjoyable shot to watch. And also, that is only the 3 bar - there is still a lot of stuff that can be done from the other bars that are routinely done by players on French style tables that can't be done effectively on German style tables that add significantly to the game (for instance, left-handed bank shots from the 2-bar in singles, motion pin passes from the 5 to the 3 bar, etc). The ability to do consistent bank shots in doubles also adds needed scoring punch (as well as defensive responsibilities) for the goalie, who on some German style tables such as Tornado has limited scoring opportunities with the mostly straight shot options avaiable to them (due to the ability of the opponents to set up a "zone" defense against those straight and spray type shots), and thus are reduced to basically being happy to "clear the ball" out of the goalie area or attempting a pass. Banks shots negate the effectiveness of most zones, adding to the offensive and defensive options. It all adds to the variety/complexity/beauty of the game that is missing on German style tables. One of the criticisms you hear about large German-style tournaments is that they're mostly boring to watch, since almost everyone does the same 1 or 2 shots, and the same 1 or 2 passes, in an effort to be as effective as possible in order to win. This is not the case at large French style tournaments, where the extra playing characteristics allow a much greater variety of "effective" play too, and is just plain more FUN. SO WHY DON'T GERMAN-STYLE PLAYERS COMPLAIN ABOUT THE LIMITATIONS OF GERMAN-STYLE TABLES? Due to the much greater current availability of German-style tables in the USA, almost all German-style table players (at least in the USA) have ONLY played on the various different German style tables (or haven't played extensively enough on French style tables to fully appreciate the difference). Therefore, they like German style tables just fine, because they don't realize what it is they're not able to do so they don't "miss" it. Conversely, once you're used to a French style table, you don't really enjoy playing on a German style table as much due to its limitations. In Europe, where French-style is more popular, players who play on German style tables (due to a large manufacturer sponsored tournament or something) do not like the limitations and attempt to make the German-style tables play more "French like" by doing things such as putting powdered rosin all over the playfield surface or adding double-sided tape or rubber boots to the bottoms of the men, to make it more "grippy". MECHANICAL ADVANTAGES OF FRENCH STYLE OVER GERMAN STYLE: A very important consideration between the styles of tables is the potential for injuries to be caused by players or bystanders getting hit by the German style bars which protrude through the far side of the table (and move toward and away from the table rapidly during play). That safety aspect is the reason it is illegal in France to use one piece rods like on most German style tables, and one of the reasons most "French" style tables (Rene Pierre, Bonzini, Le Grande, etc) use "telescoping" rods rather than one piece rods. Such rods also have the advantage of being one size fits all, where you don't need to stock different rods for the 2 bar than you do for the 3 bar etc - all the rods are the same. On French style tables the playing figurines (men) "squeeze" onto the bars, rather than have a pin/screw though them and the bar like on German style tables. This is an advantage in that, since bars on both style tables bend/break over time and have to be replaced, French table owners don't have to stock/buy replacement 2-bars, 3-bars, 5-bars, etc. like German tables need (since they have holes drilled in different patters based on the number of men needed on the bar), you just stock French "bars" and put the appropriate number of men in the appropriate places when you need to replace a bar. In addition, the holes drilled through the bars for the men to fasten to on German style tables are a weak point the non-hole drilled French bars don't have that frequently causes bar breakage. Also, the plastic German style men (or their screws/pins) frequently break and have to be replaced. In my 25 years of playing, I've never seen a French style man that had to be replaced (since they're made of unbreakable metal). German style tables do have some advantages over French style. The cabinets are typically heavier/sturdier, the plastic balls usually last longer, and the bars have less flexibility on high torque shots. SWITCHING BETWEEN TABLE STYLES: French-style players can play about as good on any French-style table as they can on the one they normally play on, and German- style players can play about as well on any German-style table as they can on the one they normally play on; with just some minor adjusting to the (relatively) slight differences between the different tables. However, neither type player can switch between the French/German tables easily because of the major difference in feel/playing characteristics (although it's not as hard for a German style to adapt to French, since they can still do all their normal German style passes/shots, etc., which isn't true for the French to German switch). The "feel" and timing difference between the tables styles is enormous, as well as the lack of "gripability" of the ball on German for French style players (and conversely too much gripability on French for German style players). It is somewhat easier to go from a German to a French because you can still do (from a playability standpoint) anything on a French table that can be done on a German table. The skills used by German style players will work on most any table since they don't depend on any grippiness (it would just be a matter of them adjusting their timing to the different feel of the French style tables, and not striking the ball quite as far behind the bar as they normally do, and angling their men a little farther forward to catch passes - all things that are reasonable to adapt to be able to do well). There is also the difference in timing due to the different weights of the men/bars/balls, but that is just a matter of getting used to that. However, much of what is done on a French style table can't realistically be done on German style due to the lesser gripability of the ball. If you're used to German style tables, you'll think French style tables are junk (and vice versa). French style players rightly complain that its too difficult to execute their shots on German style tables the way its necessary to do to score on top goalies. Their shots/passes can't be done to their full capabilities on the German style tables without losing the ball. Although they can be attempted at reduced speed and with less range and motion, this causes the shot to be easily defended - it takes the additional grippiness afforded by the French style table to allow the additional capabilities which make it difficult to defend even for experienced French-style defenders. German style tables simply don't have the necessary playing characteristics to allow the French style to be used effectively. Another problem with French style players when they play on German style tables is that a lot of passes done on French style tables are done "pinned", which you can't do on German style tables well without losing them, and even if you could its against most German style tables rules to do pin passes. Also, a problem on some German style tables such as Tornado's, even with non- pinned passes, is that many of French players non-pinned passes are cut/angle passes, and the design of the Tornado foot makes it difficult to chop/cut the ball accurately without a lot of practice. I suspect that's why most Tornado players use a "brush" pass to angle the ball, rather than a "chop/cut". German-style players who play on a French style table for the first time frequently complain that when they try to do a shot or pass on a French style table, the ball "stubs" when the go to hit it forward or bounces off their men when they try to catch it. The solution to that is just a matter of not pulling the ball back as far behind the bar on their stroke as you do on their German style table - people can and do shoot pull shots on French style tables (although it is somewhat harder to do on some French tables that have thin rods and/or very light balls than on a German style table), and angling their men forward more on their catches. However, that same stubbing problem is a reflection of the grippiness that allows so many other types of shots to be done on French-style table than is possible on German style table - a good trade-off don't you think? WHY GERMAN STYLE IS CURRENTLY MORE WIDELY AVAILABLE IN THE USA (BUT NOT THE WORLD): In the 1970's, French-style and German-style tables were about equally popular throughout the USA (although never in the same states, due to the differences in playing characteristics which caused players on one type to rebel against any attempts to introduce the other type into their area). French style (mainly Rene Pierre & Bonzini) tables were popular in the southeast USA, with tables ranging from Florida to New York, and they've also been in other places like Oklahoma and California. German style tables were popular in places like Texas and the mid-west. However, in the late 1970's, German style tables started to overtake French style tables in popularity in the USA SOLELY due to the exposure afforded by the existence of a manufacturer-backed tournament tour on a German style table (Tournament Soccer, and later Dynamo/Tornado); not due to any superiority in the table or playing characteristics (players wanted to play for big $$, which could only be done on the German style table tournament tour). Once the Tournament Soccer tour took off, other USA manufacturers copied their German-style table hoping to grab some of their business, causing the German style table to become the most prevalent in the USA. Note: the promoter that started the big $$ Tournament Soccer tour in the mid-1970's actually wanted to do it using French-style (Rene Pierre) tables, but due to a marketing blunder by the USA distributor at the time the promoter had to switch to German style tables (see the article on the history of foosball in the USA on the News/ page on this Web Site for more details). Then, when foosball in the USA mostly died out in the late 70's/early 80's due to the video game craze, there was no promoter of French style tables left for it to make a comeback as happened with the German style Dynamo/Tornado tables, so now there are only a limited base of French style tables/players left in the USA, while there is currently a much larger base of German style tables. French style tables currently are the most popular in Europe and the rest of the world (at one time Rene Pierre was the most played on table in the world). German style tables are still popular in much of the USA, but Bonzini USA is currently working hard to re- establish the French Style in the USA. WHY YOU SHOULD GIVE A DAMN ABOUT MY OPINION: In order to make a judgement about the respective advantages of French style tables vs. German style, people who have played very little on one style of table or the other are, in my opinion, not really in a position to make an informed judgement, as all they notice are the differences and how it hurts their play, rather than truly appreciating all the characteristics and possibilities of each table. It takes people who have played a significant amount at a high competitive level on both styles to really make such a judgement, and unfortunately there aren't many of them due to each styles players not liking/wanting to play on the other style. For instance, if you took a Tornado player over to a brown top TS table (a table with some of the characteristics of both French and German tables) there's no way he'd say it was a better playing table, even if he played on it consistently for a month or so. All he'd notice is the fat handles screwing up his grip, the heavy bars slowing down his shot, the difficulty of catching the ball, etc. But if you asked someone whose played a LOT on both brown top TS's and Tornados, I bet most of them would say that the TS was a better playing style of table. I first learned to play foosball on German style tables (Vulcan and Deuster-Meister), and didn't play on French (Rene Pierre) style tables until I'd been playing foos for 2 years on the German tables. I originally never intended to play on French style tables, as I was used to German style. However, after 2 years, all the German tables in my area were replaced with French tables. I hated them so much I quit playing for 6 months, and only started playing on them because I eventually couldn't stand not playing. I initially started playing on the French style tables using my German style shots/passes, and only switched to the French style of shots/passes later as I experimented with it out of curiosity (as well as the difficulty I had trying to defend it). I didn't come to appreciate the French style until I had played on them a long time, and had adapted that style to where I saw what it was all about, and after I'd played and watched long enough the best French style players to truly appreciate the intricacies of the game, which I didn't fully understand and appreciate during the time when I'd play on the French tables just every once in a while at tournaments. However, after I learned to play on them I came to realize they were the better style to play due to the increased number of things you can do on them vs. German style. Since then, I have played continuously and competitively on BOTH style tables (for over 25 years), and even with all that German-Style experience I appreciate the extra versatility/complexity and fun the French style tables bring to the game. CONCLUSION: As one of the few people who have played a lot on both French and German Tornado style tables for an extended period of time, my opinion is that the French style of play is better. On French style tables, you can do virtually everything that can be done on German style tables, PLUS the things that can only be done on French style tables, making for a more complex and variety game for both player and spectator enjoyment. Most German style players don't realize the value of this extra variety/complexity, since they never play with it and thus don't realize what they're missing (and thus are perfectly happy playing on German style tables). However, French style players realize what's missing when they play on a German style table, and it detracts from their enjoyment. That doesn't mean that German style doesn't have some characteristics that are better than French tables, and that the French tables couldn't be improved a lot too, just that the overall playing characteristics are better. A comparison I like to use to illustrate the difference between German and French-style tables is the difference between Putt- Putt and Golf. Please understand I'm not intending to offend - I know Golf is a well respected classy sport and Putt-Putt is perceived as a simple kids game, but that is not what the comparison is about. I'm simply trying to illustrate (albeit via a gross exaggeration) that while Putt-Putt and Golf are basically the same game concept, there is a lot more complexity and options/difficulty involved in Golf than there is in Putt-Putt, and that a Golfer, while he would be able to do OK at Putt-Putt, he would not be using a lot of the skills he has (driving, irons, etc) when playing on a Putt-Putt course, and would not be able to beat a Top Putt-Putt player at Putt-Putt or enjoy playing Putt-Putt as much as he does Golf. Another comparison is that of checkers to chess (again, similar games, but chess has more options/complexity and once you're used to it you don't enjoy playing checkers as much). French style tables just afford so many additional capabilities of play that add to the complexity and variety of the game, which makes it much more enjoyable from both a players and spectators standpoint. More variety can't be anything but good for foosball. Finally, the strongest argument I can make for French style over German is this: I have never met ANYONE who's played a significant amount of time on both style tables (and by significant I mean was fairly proficient at both styles), that didn't prefer the French style of play to the German style (including a current German style table promoter).