Topic: Experience Level Of Your Game

[snake eyes]

I have been playing for 8 years, Wow has it been that long....

[PatRyan]

I have played for over 20 years on over 16 different tables, and competed on at least 5-6 different tables (that I can think of at the moment)

Damn, I have been playing a long time 

[snake eyes]

Damn Pat just how old are you?

[PatRyan]

Not even close to being able to play Senior events yet.  I am 40.  I played my first game of foosball sometime in the mid eighties, at a foosball hall full of TS tables.  Started playing with something that resembled foosball skills a few years later when I was about 16 years old or so, on Rene Pierre but with a hard plastic ball.  First real taste of pro foosball in 1988(real taste meaning getting beaten repeatedly by players with actual real foosball skills). First tournament in 1990, first major tournament in 1991.  Downhill every since

    

[Daniel]

playing for 16 years

[snake eyes]

This is a funny story I will share with you guys. I had not touched a table until I was 36, I am now 44. I got divorced and was looking for a room-mate, I just happened upon this friend of a friend that needed to rent a room. Low and behold this cat had a Tornado Cyclone in his condo. We were both lazy and influenced by certain times of the day (particular 4:20) anyway our dishes would pile up for 2 weeks at a time turning into nasty stinking things that would run our guests away. To determine who would do the dishes we would have the best of 3 games on the Cyclone. Man it seems like for a year I did our dishes, BUT I finally figured out his game. My hands never touched dishwater again. Fast forward: He has since given up the game, I have made many friends going to state and local tournaments...Just what is there not to love about foos?

[ttheo]

26 yrs on 3 different tables. million dollar, dynamo and tornado.

[GeneT]

Been playing 36 years.       Its what i did instead of high school,  though I did graduate.  Then i did not play much from 1980 to 1992, then i picked it up again.      I have had much fun and met lots of people.

[WillD92]

Played for first time during summer 1985 when I went on a class trip to Cannes, France.  Then came back to USA and started dplaying on Dynamo and shortly thereafter on Tornado.

[mudfarmer]

i played my first game in the mid 1960's on a deutscher-meister in a pizza parlor passing thru billings montana on a family trip. played alot on DM then TS green, blue and brown tops all thru the 70's.played a little in the early 80's on dynamo/tornado drifted away a few years then owned an old DM from 88-93. moved and haven't played much since then until my new T-3000 got here a couple days ago.

[The Gripper]

Although I'm a new member to the forum and have never played in a sanctioned tournament, I've been playing foosball since 1972 (almost exclusively on Rene Pierre Tables). After school I used to walk to "Bimbo's Foosball" in Fairfax, VA where I'd vacuum the carpets and clean the ashtrays. The owner rewarded me with free use of a RP table for the day where I eventually acquired some skill. In 1985, while hiking across Europe, I stumbled onto a RP in a bar in Avignon, France where I had a lot of fun one night competeing against the locals. Then about 1990 I came across a RP in full working order at Lloyd's Juleboxes in Sterling, VA that I just had to have so I bought it for $400. I've stored my RP table at a friends house where I acquired the nickname, "The Gripper" and we've continued to play there ever since. I'm considering a drive to Staunton, VA for the upcoming tournament in July 2010 which would give me a chance to meet some of the other members and an opportunity to play against what I'm sure will be very strong competition. Unfortunately, one of the handles on my RP just broke and I'm having quite the challenge finding a replacement so I can continue my practice. I already spoke to Gloria Cribbs of Bonzini USA and realize I'm fighting an uphill battle but if anyone out there can help me acquire a 1970's RP handle it would be greatly appreciated!

[PatRyan]

Gripper,

You should definitely try to make it to the Staunton Tournament in July.  Great competition, and a really fun tournament.  I look forward to meeting you there! 

[The Gripper]

Thanks, Pat.

Can you or anyone else please tell me if competition in Staunton, VA will be held on Bonzini or RP type tables (steel or metal men, cork balls)?

[PatRyan]

The Staunton tournament in held on Bonzini tables. Aluminum men, cork balls, etc.  The Bonzini plays VERY similar to the RP.