1/12/2012

Harvard G05204W Game Choice 7-Foot 2-in-1 Air Hockey / Billiard Combination Flip Table Review

Harvard G05204W Game Choice 7-Foot 2-in-1 Air Hockey / Billiard Combination Flip Table
Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)
After going through endless reviews to find the right table for my basement, I'm convinced that this was a great choice. Air hockey was the big draw, but I also wanted a casual pool table that would be decent quality and not just a throw-away extra. Both have satisfied my expectations and we've had a lot of fun after only having this table for a month. The details are below for those who want them.
Build quality actually seems pretty good for the price. All of the main pieces are thick particle board with a black veneer. Everything was pre-drilled and most (though not all) of the holes lined up perfectly. The instructions were also very good. Like a previous reviewer stated, most of the connectors are bolts, but I was able to find a socket that would fit the nuts from my socket-wrench set (I forget the size, but it was metric rather than English). I did need to use an extender to get to many connections. That being said, the included wrench actually worked pretty well by itself, so well that my 6 year-old daughter was able to tighten many of the nuts without aid. When the table turns, it turns very easily with corner locks that clamp strongly. My only complaint is that there is a lot of friction when locking the table in place. I've already scraped some of the veneer off of one of the corner locks with only a few turns of the table.
The air hockey plays really well. Air flow is pretty strong, and the puck hovers nicely over the table, moving really fast when hit. We've had some problems with puck stability (especially when I hit it), so beware of placing any fragile objects in the vicinity. I was surprised that the table came with four mallets and four pucks, so four people can play at a time. Also, in contrast to the Amazon description, the table does not have electronic scoring. That was actually something that I was look for, but to tell the truth, the sliding score keepers on each side of the table are pretty good and provide an opportunity for some good smack-talking and score flaunting. To play the table, you will likely need an extension cord to get it working, but only a cheap two pronged one.
The pool table is just OK. There is a lot of friction on the felt, so the balls don't tend to drift too far, usually only getting one wall bounce off a good break. The pockets are just wood cavities in the table, so I do wonder if they will eventually cause the air hockey table underneath to warp in spots, but I doubt that there will be enough force to really cause a problem. I didn't have any drift or pocket sink problems that another reviewer has noted. The table comes with everything you need, including two playable cues, a good set of balls, triangle rack, and two chalks. I would have liked to have a cue rack mounted on the table, though.
Now, for the hard details. This thing is really, I mean really, heavy. That caused problems from delivery through build for us. First, when delivered by ABF (from Amazon), it was just delivered by one guy with a hand truck. Do not expect it to get anywhere near where you want it. Mine was delivered to my driveway on a crate with a knowing grin from the guy that I was up a creek. There is no way to reasonably lift the box, no matter how many people you have, if you want to get it through any normal door or down a stairway. When I opened the box, everything was packed fairly well, and we were able to move most of the pieces down to the basement without too much problem. The air hockey table was fairly easy to move with two people, but the pool table was a whole other story. Two very strong people probably could have lifted it, but I mean football strong. I was fortunate to have four people around who were willing to lift and move the table on level ground and up a few steps, but we slid it down the basement stairs rather than hold it.
After building it, you then have to turn the thing over. I would have loved some guidance in how to do that without breaking the legs. I kind of feel like we were lucky to get it turned over without any problems, but maybe the legs are really strong enough. I did put some pillows under them to try and distribute the weight a bit.
Once upright, the table moves pretty easily with two people.

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Tired of heading to the pub every time you want to play air hockey or billiards? Turn to the Harvard Game Choice combination flip table, which combines the best of both your games in a single arcade-style package. In its air hockey configuration, the table includes a 110-volt motor and a glossy white 76-1/2-by-38-inch play bed, giving the gameplay a fast-action feel. When you're done with air hockey, however, you can rotate the playing surface and transition into miniature billiards, with 15 billiard balls, a cue ball, and two pool cues to keep you sharp. The Game Choice is well built, with sturdy legs, cross bars for extra stability, and a 5-3/4-inch apron. Plus, the table includes a clever locking mechanism for easy storage. Other features include a 4-1/2-inch top rail that offers a more consistent rebound, an electronic scoring system, two hockey strikers, and two pucks. A great addition to a game room or office, the Game Choice table measures 90-1/2 by 32 by 44 inches (W x H x D).


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