Tornado vs Garlando Foosball: American Bar Style or European Precision

The short version

Tornado and Garlando are two different games that happen to share a name. Tornado builds the American coin-op table: a heavy cabinet, steel rods, a harder ball and a three-man goalie. Garlando builds the European style: telescopic rods, a lighter ball, a smoother and slightly faster feel and, as is common on European tables, a one-man goalie. Both sit in roughly the same 56 x 30 in footprint, so the choice is about how you want to play and who will be playing, not about space.

If you grew up on bar tables, buy a Tornado. If you want a table that looks like furniture, plays quick and keeps rod ends out of children's faces, look at a Garlando.

American vs European foosball, side by side

Rods: hollow, solid and telescopic

American-style tables are typically built around hollow steel rods, which keep each rod light in the hand. Tornado's listings are specific: the Sport and the Classic use chrome-plated steel rods, and the Tournament 3000 steps up to solid steel, chrome-plated rods that are heavier and stiffer.

Garlando uses telescopic rods on both of our models. A telescopic rod does not stick out of the far side of the cabinet when you push it through, so there is nothing at face height for a child standing there. If young kids will use the table, that is the strongest practical argument for the European style. The Bonzini B90, also European, lists solid steel rods instead, so read the spec rather than assuming.

Goalie and men

The American layout puts three figures on the goalie rod, which covers most of the goal mouth. European tables more often use a single goalie figure, which leaves far more of the goal open. In practice that means American games lean toward blocking and patient attack, while European games reward clean, accurate shots and quick passing. Exact player counts and rod layouts differ by model, so check the product page before you buy.

Ball, playfield and sound

The American style uses a harder ball. It travels fast, kicks off the rails and makes more noise on the playfield and in the cabinet. The European style uses a lighter ball that is easier to place on a pass and generally quieter. Our Garlando G-5000 listing puts it plainly: play is smooth and a little faster than American tables, and players who grew up on bar tables should expect to adjust for the lighter ball.

Sound matters more than people expect. A table above a neighbor's ceiling or next to a bedroom is a good reason to lean European. A basement rec room or a garage is a good place for the louder, heavier American table.

Our Tornado and Garlando models

Who should buy which

Buy a Tornado if

• You learned on bar tables and want the same feel at home.
• The table lives in a basement, garage or rec room where noise is not a concern.
• You want the lowest entry price: the Sport is $1,995 and is the model we suggest for a family room.
• You play often with people who know the game and want the Tournament 3000's heavier rods.

Buy a Garlando if

• The table sits in a living space and the cabinet has to look like furniture. The G-5000's wenge finish is dark and even.
• Small children will play, and you want telescopic rods.
• You prefer a lighter, quicker ball and a table that rewards technique. The Master Champion gives bad shots no lucky bounces.
• Noise travels through your floor and you would rather keep it down.

Where the Bonzini B90 fits

The Bonzini B90 is the third European option and the heaviest table we sell, at about 270 lb and $5,495. It is a French table with solid steel, chrome-plated rods that serious players use as a reference. It is a different purchase from the Garlandos: not a table for a casual family room, but for people who play often and want every shot to feel the same. See the Bonzini B90 if the Master Champion still feels too light.

Three questions that settle it

1. What did you learn on? People trained on bar tables usually prefer the American ball and weight. Players who started on European tables tend to find the Tornado heavy and loud.
2. Where will it stand? A basement or garage suits a Tornado. A living room, or a floor above another room, suits a Garlando.
3. Who else will use it? Young children, guests who play once a year and serious regulars all want different things. If one group dominates, buy for them.

Space, delivery and budget

All five tables need the same kind of room: about 3 ft of clearance on each long side. Run your numbers in our room size calculator or read the foosball dimensions guide before you order. If you are still comparing every table we carry, our foosball buying guide covers all seven, and the full range is on the foosball tables page.

Delivery is curbside by default, with white glove available; see shipping and returns. The Garlando prices sit at the upper end of the range, so look at financing options if you want to spread the cost.

Bottom line

Buy the Tornado Sport or Classic if you want a tough, loud, familiar bar table at a fair price. Buy the Tournament 3000 if you play often and care about rod weight. Buy the Garlando G-5000 if the table has to live in a nice room around kids, and the Master Champion if you want the fastest, most demanding table of the five. The style you pick will matter more to your enjoyment than the extra money between models.

Frequently asked questions