How to Ensure the Best Lighting for Your Foosball Table: Options to Consider

A while back when playing foosball on a friend’s table, one of our mates kept blaming the glare from one of the windows as the reason for losing. While this might have just been an excuse to help them deal with defeat, I could not help but wonder what kind of light is optimal for a foosball game; and what effect poor lighting could have on the quality of the game.

The Importance of Proper Foosball Table Lighting

Foosball is a game in which the winner is mostly determined by their hand-eye coordination. This allows them to keep track of the ball and move their men appropriately. Therefore, it is important for the ball to be properly visible to all the players.

While having a dim light is highly unlikely to result in any long-term eye conditions, it will cause your eyes to strain and tire quicker, reducing the amount of time you can comfortably play foosball. On the other hand, a light that is too bright could lead to glare which could inhibit the ability of the players to properly track the ball. The right brightness will therefore not only help in creating that ambient feel of game rooms, but will also prevent glares and shadows from influencing the outcome.

Which Lighting Type is Most Suitable for Foosball Tables?

There are three types of lighting for rooms, which will be described in more detail below. These are:

• 1. Ambient Lighting
• 2. Task Lighting
• 3. Accent Lighting

Ambient Lighting

Also known as general lighting, this type is used to light up an entire room. It gives a consistent illumination level for the room and can provide a great environment for foosball. These lights can be installed in wall-mounted fixtures, ceiling-mounted fixtures, LED downlights and floor lamps to name just a few.

Since changing the lighting of the whole room can be a rather expensive option, foosball players can opt for other lighting types that offer more flexibility.

Task Lighting

Where the room serves more purposes than just gaming, or where more flexibility is desired, task lighting is the ideal option. This type of lighting focuses on the specific task being conducted without altering the ambient light of the room. This can be used for purposes, such as cooking, computer work, or gaming.

Accent Lighting

This is a type of light you should not use for your foosball table. This is light that is used to focus on a given point of interest to give the desired effect. An example of such an effect is giving the impression of a larger room.

Choosing the Right Brightness for the Table

While the most commonly used bulbs for foosball tables are 60-watt bulbs, 40-watt bulbs are also used for those who find the former too bright. This range is ideal in offering perfect visibility without the occurrence of glares. More control of the brightness can be achieved by the installation of a dimmer switch, which can then be adjusted as required.

How High Should You Hang the Lights Over the Table?

As a general rule, the height of a foosball table light should be about 32-40 inches over the table; approximately the nose height of the players. Due to differences in table design, this height can be adjusted accordingly; where fewer bulbs on the lamp call for the lights to be hung a little higher.

Choosing the Right Size of Light to Hang Above a Foosball Table

Below are the general length rules of lights for different table sizes:

• 3.5 feet 35"–55"
• 4 feet 40"–60"
• 4.5 feet 60"–75"
• 5 feet 65"–90"
• 6 feet 90"–110"

How to Light the Table without Altering the Room

In some cases, altering the lighting of the room may not be an option. In such cases, standing lights can be used to improve the lighting. When using standing lights, two will be needed; one at each end of the tables where they will offer the least obstruction to players.

With the above information, you are now set to use the most suitable lighting for your table for the best foosball game experience. If you are looking to start your foosball experience, our website offers all the help you will need in buying the best foosball table for your budget. Feel free to browse our catalog and contact us in case of any inquiries.

---

Featured Table