Short answer: Bubble hockey, also called dome hockey, is a two-player table hockey game played under a clear dome. Each player twists and slides rods that move a team of hockey players, the puck drops from the top of the dome at face-off, and the dome keeps it on the rink. Super Chexx by ICE is the best-known table. A new commercial-grade table costs several thousand dollars, has a footprint of about 30 by 60 inches and weighs around 140 lb.
Bubble hockey is the game people remember from bars, bowling alleys and arcades: two players hunched over a glowing dome, hammering rods while a buzzer counts down. It is one of the few arcade games that is entirely physical, with no screen in the play area, which is exactly why it has stayed popular in game rooms. This guide explains how it plays, how it differs from air hockey and rod hockey, how much room a table needs and what one costs.
How bubble hockey plays
- Two players, two teams. Each player stands at one end and controls a full team through rods that come out of the cabinet. Pushing and pulling a rod moves a player along a track; twisting it swings the stick to pass or shoot.
- Face-off from the top. The puck drops from the centre of the dome at the start and after every goal, so both players get a fair start.
- Timed game. Play runs on a clock shown on the overhead scoreboard, with goals counted automatically as the puck drops into the net.
- The dome. The clear dome covers the whole rink, which keeps the puck in play, protects the players and mechanism, and gives the game its name.
Bubble hockey vs air hockey vs rod hockey
- Bubble hockey (dome hockey). Rod-controlled players on a rink sealed under a dome. Positional and tactical: you pass between your own players and shoot past the goalie.
- Air hockey. No players at all: the puck floats on a cushion of air from holes in the table and each player hits it directly with a hand-held mallet. Faster and more physical, and the tables are larger. See our air hockey tables.
- Rod hockey (table hockey). The same rod-and-player idea as bubble hockey but on an open table without a dome, usually smaller and lighter, and mostly made for home use.
A short history
Table hockey games with rod-controlled players go back to the 1930s. Bubble hockey as an arcade game took off in the early 1980s, when ICE (Innovative Concepts in Entertainment) built its first dome hockey game around the excitement of the 1980 Olympic hockey tournament, with the USA facing the Soviet Union on the rink. Super Chexx followed and became the reference table, and the current Super Chexx Pro keeps the same layout with an updated cabinet and scoreboard.
How much room a bubble hockey table needs
A Super Chexx Pro measures 59.8 inches long, 29.9 inches wide and 53.9 inches tall, and weighs 139 lb. Players stand at the two short ends, so plan the length of the table plus about two to three feet at each end for each player, and a little space along the sides for spectators. It runs from a standard household outlet. Check the narrowest door and stair on the route: the cabinet is about 30 inches wide, so most interior doors are fine.
What a bubble hockey table costs
New commercial-grade bubble hockey tables from ICE sell for several thousand dollars, with premium wood-cabinet versions costing more. Our Super Chexx Pro bubble hockey table is sold new, with the current price on its listing, plus a flat $200 freight to any US address. Used tables appear from bars and arcades; check the dome for cracks and clouding, the rods for play, and that the scoreboard and goal sensors work.
Looking after one
- Clean the dome with a cleaner made for plastic and a soft microfibre cloth. Household glass cleaners with ammonia can cloud clear plastic.
- Keep the rink free of dust and debris so the puck slides evenly.
- Check that the rods move freely and the players are tight on them; loose players are the most common fault on heavily played tables.
- Keep a spare puck: they are small and easy to lose when the dome is opened.
For other games for the same room, see sports arcade machines, including basketball, boxing and air hockey, and the home arcade machine buying guide.
Quick answers
What is bubble hockey?
A two-player table hockey game played under a clear dome, where each player controls a team of hockey players with rods. It is also called dome hockey.
Who makes bubble hockey tables?
ICE (Innovative Concepts in Entertainment) makes Super Chexx, the best-known bubble hockey table; the current model is Super Chexx Pro.
How big is a bubble hockey table?
A Super Chexx Pro is 59.8 inches long, 29.9 inches wide and 53.9 inches tall, and weighs 139 lb. Allow two to three feet at each end for the players.
How much does a bubble hockey table cost?
New commercial-grade tables cost several thousand dollars; premium wood-cabinet versions cost more. Freight is extra.
What is the difference between bubble hockey and air hockey?
Bubble hockey uses rod-controlled players under a dome; air hockey has no players, and the puck floats on air and is struck with hand-held mallets.
Can you have a bubble hockey table at home?
Yes. It runs from a standard outlet and fits through most interior doors at about 30 inches wide; it needs a level floor and room at both ends for the players.
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