Roberto Sport Foosball Table: What Should You Know Before Buying One?
If you've spent any amount of time around foosball tables - not the bar-quality ones with missing rods and sticky balls, but real tables built for serious play, you've probably heard of Roberto Sport.
And if you haven’t, don’t worry. I’ll walk you through everything that matters about this brand so you don’t waste money on the wrong gear.
I spent a good chunk of my time compiling all the information and experience I’ve gathered from working with players and customers interested in the Roberto Sport foosball tables.
You are going to learn what is “italian style play”, clear some misconceptions about european foosball tables, how you can personalize your foosbal table and many more.
Why do serious players care about Roberto Sport tables?
There is this thing called the the International Table Soccer Federation (ITSF) and they are like the NFL of the foosball world. There are five brand which tables fit their high standards for build quality and true foosball gameplay, commonly known as the Top 5: Tornado, Roberto Sport, Leonhart, Garlando, Bonzini.
Roberto Sport, is an italian foosball brand that has been around since 1947. If you want a table that shows up in ITSF-certified tournaments, has excellent build quality and one that feels the same today as it will five years from now - you won’t be dissapointed.
Mr. Armido Roberto (founder of Roberto Sport) with his daughter at the Exhibition for Entertainments in Milano in the 70s.
Roberto Sport tables are:
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Fast, and I mean very fast. They offer the so called “classic italian play” that is super dynamic and constantly keeps the ball moving, thanks to the tempered glass playfield in most of their models.
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Made in Italy and well respected in the industry
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Equipped with both solid and telescopic rods (the safe ones that don’t protrude, in case you have kids around).
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Built with tempered glass, sandblasted tempered glass or laminate playfields that offer more professional feel
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Product range fitting for kids, casual players, bars/game rooms and professionals, without sacrificing from quality.
This video showcases an "al volo" (shots can be taken “al volo” — directly off passes, rebounds, or the ball being in motion) gameplay on a Roberto Sport foosball table. There is a dynamic and speed that you cannot experience on alot of other tables
In my experience the difference is night and day the moment you play on one.
What separates good from great foosball tables?
Anyone can stick four legs under some wood and call it a foosball table. That’s not the standard here. Here are the features that matter when evaluating a Roberto Sport foosball table:
Solid and sturdy build
Cabinets are often multilayer plywood or MDF core panels with proper seals. Sturdy aluminum or iron legs – tables like the Winner Pro or Revolution are rock solid. You can pick a very heavy or very light foosball table, depending on preference.
Professional-grade rod systems
Chrome-plated stainless steel rods for durability and slick motion. On solid rods, you can put your whole weight on them — they won’t bend. Telescopic variants are available to protect younger players and families.
Performance-tuned playfields
Clear tempered glass offers fast, responsive ball movement – Italian-style. Sandblasted tempered glass gives more control with slightly slower speed. Laminated playfield delivers true professional-grade feel.
What do I wish more buyers knew?
I talk with customers about those tables on a daily basis and I’ve compiled a list of few things that help set better expectations of what to expect:
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Tempered glass can feel very different if you haven’t played on one. Great for speed and clean passes, but can be very hard to maintain control if you haven’t developed a feel for the ball - this can either be something you love or you hate.
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There is only one goalie. This is an european style table and it challenges you to a more strategic type of defense, in comparison to the american style tables with three goalie setup.
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Do not leave your table outside, if it’s not an outdoor model. I’ve seen first hand what happens to a Tornado table left outside and it’s not a pretty sight. Roberto Sport, or any other brand for that matter is not an exception. If you plan to play outside get table designed with weatherproof materials. Check out our outdoor foosball collection.
Which Roberto Sport model fits you?
Featured Products
Don’t buy a Revolution if you’re just playing during the holidays, it’s like learning guitar on a $10,000 Gibson. But if you run a club, host tournaments, or care about your practice sessions? It’s worth every cent.
Personalize your foosball table
Roberto Sport is the only tournament grade brand that offers this much of customization option for almost all of their models. Here is a graphic of all the things you can personalize.
Check out our Roberto Sport customization page.
Ready to pick your table?
You don’t have to be a pro to appreciate quality, but it helps to think like one. Start by narrowing down who’s going to use the table, what kind of playfield speed you enjoy, and how much abuse it’s realistically going to take.
If you want something built for real players or at least people that would love to be one, go Roberto Sport.
And if you’re still unsure which model to go for, check out our Ultimate Guide to Buying a Foosball Table. There we’ve compared every major brand out there and have compiled information about everything possible there is to know before purchasing your foosball table.
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Happy foosball gaming!
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