The Pyramid Defence in Air Hockey is a very commonly used defence strategy. Why? Well, it’s got a high rate of success. It works because the premise on which it operates deals with defending straight shots using a single outward mallet position.
Stopping straight shots is an effective defence strategy. This is because it makes executing banks very difficult for the offence. In other words, it is resistant to the natural offensive strategies used by the opponent.
Understanding the Pyramid Defence
The Pyramid Defence is fairly easy to make sense of. But, it has its drawbacks. For instance, you cannot use it to charge at straights or move back when these straight shots are taken. But, the biggest drawback is that the strategy does not enjoy a proper positioning, which is at the centre of the player’s goal and the puck. This is referred to as “re-centering”. Improper re-centering leaves out a lot of room for goals.
What Needs to be Done
If you’re a defensive player, you must recentre according to where your opponent hits the puck on the Air Hockey table. At the same time, avoid overcompensating according to the puck’s direction of movement. Also, the re-centering needs to be constant and must be done before the offensive side takes the hit.
Your re-centering range should be limited at 2 or 3 inches to the right or left of the puck’s location. This will ensure that your mallet is right in the middle of the puck’s centre and the goal’s centre. Re-centering moves are minor, but very important. Not making these moves can easily cause a goal to be scored.
On the other hand, if you are an offensive player, you must ensure that you use moves that prevent the defence from re-centering properly or re-centering at all. For example, you can move the puck to the left or right of the centre. When the puck moves through the table’s centre, you must fake a cut shot. This will stupefy the defence, allowing you to execute a shot from the left of centre by moving the puck to the left.