Almost all the foosball tables on the market today do not provide this option, but Kick-off does . Playing rods and how easily they can be handled during fast-paced playing are the single most important factor determining whether or how much fun a foosball table can offer the end user. This is mostly decided at the drawing board. Good playing rods should be mobilized easily by the player and closely follow his or her hand motion to pass the ball and make or block shots. If the rods can not be moved fast enough to catch the ball or to make a planned shot, it is the most frustrating feeling in the world.
Some people resort to spinning the rods to strike the ball at random.
There is no fun playing this way. 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.