One could find such tables everywhere. Yes, frequent lubrication of the rods can help. Some lubricants can even become very sticky after a while to make rod handling even harder. The problem just doesn't go away. The foosball industry has recognized the need to reduce rod weight for easy handling.
Some manufacturers use hollow rods with a small hollow hole going through the center of the rods.
These hollow rods are still very heavy. They also extend outside the side walls, which can be a safety hazard. Then telescopic rod structure came with the inside rod mounted to one side wall without going through it and the outside rod being the only moving part. The outside rod is weighed a small portion of the solid rod of the same diameter beside shortened length. There is much less inertia to overcome while handling the rods, and they react quickly and easily to players' hand operation.