The NHL Sting Ray Air Powered Hockey Table is one of the coolest-looking tables in this price range that uses a full-sized blower motor. It is ideal for both kids and adults and is a worthy addition to any game room out there. In this review, we will take a look at its features, how it’s designed, where its strong and weak points are, and most importantly – how it stacks up against similarly priced air hockey tables. Now, let’s jump into this!
Overview and Features
Our Rating:
- Decent price
- Excellent for kids and adults
- Large playing surface
- Power corners
- Comes with 4 pucks and 4 paddles
- Awesome design
- Easy to install and adjust
Design & Build Quality
The design of this table is its strongest characteristic. It has amazing graphics on its playfield. These graphics also serve a purpose by having a goalie field and a center circle to drop the puck at. The playfield has another unique feature that further improves the gameplay. It is called “power corners” and it improves the bounce-offs of the pucks when they hit the corner. Traditionally, corners aren’t rounded, especially on cheaper air hockey tables. This table, however, has additional bouncier rails on its corners which rounds the corners a bit and makes for some quick action during the game!
When it comes to the build quality, you get what you paid for pretty much. What I want to say is that you won’t be particularly impressed by the way this table is built but it still is fairly sturdy and can withstand adults playing on it. Unlike other cheaper tables, it does have some weight to it, weighing at 155 lbs, making it sit still on its spot.
Set-Up Process
The set-up process of this table is quite simple although it will require having a second person help you since the table does weigh a bit. There is no option for the table to be professionally installed for you which is a bummer since it can take you a few hours to do it on your own.
On each of the table’s feet, there are large leg levelers which work with all sorts of surfaces and are surprisingly easy to adjust even if the table is sitting on them. For the best results, I recommend placing this table on a hard surface rather than a carpet.
Performance
The performance of this table is defined by its single blower motor. It does a decent job of distributing the airflow across the playfield, though it might seem weak at times. This will become apparent the longer you play, as there will be dead spots appearing where the puck won’t slide as well. Still, with the pucks that come with the table, the gameplay is completely adequate. One issue with the motor, however, is its long-term durability.
Scoreboard & Accessories
The game comes with a flip-up LED scoring system that tracks the score automatically for you. It shows both results on two LED displays. It also shows the time in the middle and has a few options such as game types, sound on/off, and more.
Accessories-wise, you get 4 pucks and 4 paddles which are actually quite good in quality. This will allow you to start playing straight away without having to buy extra items for the table.
One additional accessory that is sold separately is the table tennis top from the same company. This is why the LED scoring system can fold inward so that the table will create a flat surface for you to place the table tennis on top of. If you’re short on space, this is a good way to get more games without compromising even more interior space.
Dimensions
This table measures 84 inches in length across its playfield making it one of the largest in this price class. It is also 48 inches wide and is 32 inches high, making it good for both adults and kids to play on, however, taller adults will struggle a bit. It weighs 155 pounds which is good since it will stay stable on its spot.
For more of my thoughts on air hockey table dimensions and how to choose the right size for your living room, head over to my full article on the topic!
Price & Warranty
Price-wise, this table lands perfectly in the budget class with not a lot more to ask out of it in terms of economy. It does bring decent value for its money and isn’t as overpriced as some other models that rely on their brand name. You get the standard 1-year coverage with it as you do with other air hockey tables on the market.
Advantages and Disadvantages
Pros
- Decent price
- Excellent for kids and adults
- Large playing surface
- Power corners
- Comes with 4 pucks and 4 paddles
- Awesome design
- Easy to install and adjust
Cons
- The Blower motor isn’t very durable nor consistent
- The build quality is sub-par
- Quality control issues
If you’ve experienced certain issues with your table and want to learn how to potentially fix them yourself, make sure you check out my guide on air hockey table troubleshooting!
NHL Sting Ray vs Triumph Lumen-X Lazer Air Hockey Table
One of the main differences between the Triumph Lumen-X air hockey table and the NHL Sting Ray is that the Sting Ray is geared more towards adults. It is a whole foot longer on its playfield and stands slightly higher. Moreover, its structure is more durable and sturdy when fully set up, whereas the Lumen-X feels a bit flimsier and won’t hold well when adults play on it often.
However, there are some cool features on the Lumen-X that more than makeup for its lack of stability and size. It has interactive LED lighting built into its rails that have cascading effects. This makes for an awesome appearance, especially in dimly lit game rooms. It also has dual-motor blowers that provide perfect sliding of the puck on its playfield, although the NHL Sting Ray delivers plenty of performance with its motor as well.
Both tables are priced fairly similarly with the Sting Ray being the slightly more expensive one. All in all, if you’re set on playing with your kids and want the table to also handle a few friendly matches between you and your friends, I suggest getting the Sting Ray. If you’re looking for an air hockey table solely for the kids to play on, the Lumen-X will be more than good enough on its own!
Conclusion and Rating
Our Rating:
As a whole, the NHL Sting Ray Air Powered Hockey Table is something you should definitely be considering if you are thinking of getting something engaging for your kids. Thanks to its size and overall stability, it can also be enjoyed by adults. The Sting Ray has a few interesting features such as its unique design, the LED scoring system, and the fact that you get two sets of pucks and paddles. Other than that, it really doesn’t offer you a ton more than most other models in this price range. For its money, you should at least shortlist it!
