Back Pin

Information about the Back-pin for Beginners

The back-pin shot was very popular during the 70s & 80s on the Dynamo and Tournament Soccer Tables. It is not a very good shot to use on the Tornado Table due to the nature of the table design. However, some players have gone to the extend of "filing" the Tornado's "men's feet" to adapt it for back-pin shot. The main reason for it's lack of popularity is it's lack of execution speed which is why it is used more on the goalie 3-men than the forward 3-men. There are two ways of executing the back-pin: palm and wrist. I would suggest you choose one way and stick with it. Advantages: naturally setup to execute the "brush" series of shots the ability to "dribble" the ball by "pinning" the ball down makes the shot dangerous the ability to fake opponents out with a fake series the ability to transform into other shots like push-kick, pull-kick or tic-tac Disadvantages: cannot shoot a straight goal lack of execution speed on the Tornado 3-men (or is it just me... =) What the back-pin really needs is someone to use it to win a World Championship... then we should see the numbers of back-pin users increase, just like it's alter-ego, the front-pin.

Front Pin

Information about the Front-pin for Beginners

The front-pin shot like the back-pin was very popular during the 70s & 80s on the Dynamo and Tournament Soccer Tables, etc. It is gaining popularity again and it is all because of a Belgian player named Federico Collignon when he won the 1999 World Championship. Collignon sent a frightening message to the world foosball community (which is dominated by the 'pull shot' and the 'snake') with his front-pin. There are two ways of executing the front-pin: palm and wrist. I would suggest you choose one way and stick with it. Advantages: tough to execute the 'brush' series of shots but it has one advantage over the back-pin, which is that it can shoot a straight goal  the ability to 'dribble' the ball by 'pinning' the ball down makes the shot dangerous the ability to fake opponents out with a fake series the ability to transform into other shots like push-kick, pull-kick or tic-tac very effective whether if you are playing forward and goalie Disadvantages: cannot think of any, except that it is VERY difficult to learn and be really good in it.

Pull Kick

Information about the Pull-kick for Beginners

The Pull Kick has always been a shot that is easy to execute on any foosball table, but depending on whether you use wrist or palm technique, the accuracy and speed varies. This shot is mostly used as a secondary backup shot rather than a primary shot. There are two ways of executing the shot: palm or wrist. I would suggest you choose wrist for mastery, as you can control the speed of execution and speed of the ball. All you need is practice... :-) Advantages: easy to setup and learn for beginners there are 5 holes opened to a pull-kick shot at any one time as suppose to 7 scoring opportunities depending on the defense. natural ability to transform into other shots like tic-tac, pull shot, etc. Disadvantages: compared to the push-kick, the pull-kick depends on the palm technique to control the "squaring-off" or "spraying" of ball shot on a goal very tough to recoil on a "deadman" (but then again, do you need to?)

Push Kick

Information about the Push-kick for Beginners

The push-kick is one of those most basic and straightforward shot. It is easy to learn but tough to master. Technically, there are many ways of scoring a goal with the push-kick and is hard to explain without watching how it is done. Suffice it to say that it should be executed in one single movement. There are two ways of executing the shot: palm or wrist. I would suggest you choose wrist for mastery, as you can control the speed of execution and speed of the ball. Advantages: easy to setup and learn for beginners there are 5 holes opened to a push-kick shot at any one time as suppose to 7 scoring opportunities depending on the defense. natural ability to transform into other shots like tic-tac, pull shot, etc. the ability to control the "squaring-off" or "spraying" of ball shot on goal the ability to control the speed of execution and speed of the ball. Disadvantages: very tough to recoil on a "deadman" (but then again, do you need to?)

Push Shot

Information about the Push Shot for Beginners

The Push Shot, alter ego of the Pull Shot, was also one the most scary shot used by experienced users. The fact that it is hard to "recoil" using this shot, prevents it from being chosen as a primary shot by player. Advantages: easy to setup and learn for beginners, and on any foosball table there are at best 4 holes opened to the push shot at any one time depending on the defense. natural ability to transform into other shots like tic-tac, push shot fakes, etc. the ability to control the speed of execution and speed of the ball. Disadvantages: very tough to recoil on a "deadman"

Pull Shot

About Pull Shot:	At one time the Pull Shot is THE shot to use! Deadly on any table. This popular shot is used by various world-ranked players such as Todd Loffredo, Tom Adkisson, Tony Bacon, Dave Gummeson, Cindy Head, etc.
Variations:	Roll fake, roll and push kick & snake pull shot.

Snake Shot

About Snake Shot:	This popular shot is used by various world-ranked players. Popularise by Terry Moore (King of Snake), in the World Championship.
Also known as:	Rollover, Wristrocket, variation of Front-toe or Front pin.