Roundhouse Pin

The roundhouse pin shot is definitely one of the coolest shot done in the game of foosball. It is a very dynamic shot to see as well as to do. However, this type of shot is not an easy shot to do. This shot takes a lot of practice to master, but when mastered it can bring terror to a defense. The roundhouse pin is where you start out moving the ball in one direction and then reversing the direction back the other way to shoot and score all in one single motion. The idea is to get the defense moving in one direction thus leaving the area that was once covered open. This shot is perfect for when someone is using a racing-type style of defense. However, this shot is least affective when playing someone whose not very good at playing back because most the time he will just sit there and when you shoot you will some times shoot right back into coverage. Then you look pretty stupid.

This shot will come in handy when the direction you are planning to go to is covered.(see illustrations below) If that is the case, then you reverse the direction and go the other way. But most of the time you will not see too many players who use that type of defense because the straight in is usually wide open. Of course, I use this type of defense all the time. (see defense)

defensive setup for an away pin shot

defensive setup for a toward pin shot

This shot consists of about four maneuvers. First, you position the ball in a pin position. Next, you move the ball in the direction of the defense. Next, instead of hitting the ball like in a normal pin shot maneuver, you maneuver the ball in the opposite direction of the defense, and hit the ball in the open hole. This shot is usually performed very fast and in one single motion. Like I said, to do a roundhouse pin shot is not easy and to explain how to do it is even harder. Yet I will attempt to explain how nonetheless.

STEP 1

Pin the ball
First you must have the ball set in a pin position (either front or back). Make sure that you are comfortable with the degree of control before you commit yourself to the shot.

STEP 2
Look over the defense
After you have set up the ball, look over the defense to see what is there. If the hole is open for a regular (one directional) pin shot, then you should go for that shot. On the other hand, if that shot is covered, then reverse the direction of your shot and go the other way. As I briefly mention before, with this is a type of a shot you want and need to use on an advance player. When the level of the game is where you are having to out think your opponent, then this is when you want to do this type of a shot.

STEP 3

regular direction

 

reverse back to the other way and then shoot

Reverse ball direction back the other way
Now that you are ready to do the shot, move the ball as if you are going to do regular pin shot. Instead of following through with the shot, you then, depending on the initial direction of the shot, pull or push the ball back the other way to shoot and score.

STEP 4

Hitting the ball after it is in position
At this time the ball should be back where it started, except now the ball should be under the rod or slightly forward and ready to be popped into the open hole.

When properly executed this shot is done in one single motion. In order for it to work well it must be done in a single motion. The defense must believe and be convinced that you are about to do a one directional pin shot. As I mention earlier, there are several ways you can do this type of shot. You can do a back-toe-away-reverse pull, a front-toe-towards-reverse push, a back-toe-towards-reverse push, or a front-toe-away-reverse pull just to name a few. Sometimes, this kind of a shot will not work is against a split defense.

a "split defense" covers the corners but leaves the straight in open

Getting pass a Split Defense
As you can see from the illustration, a "split defense" covers both corners and leaves the middle open. This means that no matter which way you go, there is now a greater possibility that the shot might be blocked. The reason is that instead of having a completely open hole that you get in a normal defensive position, you now have a goalie man in coverage to maneuver through.

However, from a front toe position you can still score by simply doing a "snake" shot or a revolution with the man. (Remember, no Spinning!). But from a back pin position, there is no way for a revolutionary shot. You can force squeeze the shot, but a good goalie will see what you are trying to do and shift the defense to cover the middle. Another possible easier way to hit the open middle from a back toe position is to work the ball to where you can do a very short pin shot. Also, due to the type of playing surface, the amount of ball control will be a factor when doing these types of shots.

Remember that it takes a lot of skill to do these shots. Not only that, you must also know when to do them. A good time to use these types of shots is after you have established an effective threat with a regular one-directional-pin shot. The goalie will see that you are setting up to do a pin shot and sometimes will assume that you are about to do the same shot again and that is a good time to do a roundhouse pin shot.

Remember that mixing up your shots will always keep the defending goalie guessing on what you are about to do next, and that is an important part of the offensive game of foosball.