reaction ring – catch the sticks – speed testing game *rental*
€ 469,00
The Reaction Ring is a TV-classic speed-testing game — players race to catch the falling sticks before they drop. Magnetic in every sense, it explains itself in seconds and pulls a queue of all ages, making it a guaranteed draw at events, fairs and brand activations. Plug-and-play on almost any voltage (even battery), with built-in LED lighting, upgraded mechanics, and the option to hang your own products for a branded giveaway. Available to rent per day, week or month.
Ex-VAT · EU businesses outside NL pay 0% VAT with a valid VAT number (entered in the cart).
Rentals ship from our service centre in the Netherlands. We arrange delivery and return for you — to a trade-show stand, an office, or straight to your door for a smaller event or party, anywhere in Europe. Tell us where and when and we’ll quote it. For bigger or repeat use, buying can beat rental-plus-transport — just ask for both prices.
The Reaction Ring is a TV-classic speed game that turns raw reflexes into a crowd-pulling spectacle — drop, catch, next.
You know it the moment you see it: sticks held in mid-air, a player poised, then the scramble to catch them before they fall. It is the perfect game for crowd entertainment — super easy to set up, easy to operate, and instantly understood by everyone from young to old. Want people to notice you at an event? This is the way to go.
The machine is magnetic in both senses of the word. It doesn’t just hold the sticks up — it draws people in. Visitors line up to compare their reaction speed, and the same game goes by many names: “catch the baton”, “falling sticks”, “speed sticks” or “stick catcher”. Whatever you call it, everyone instantly knows how to play, and everyone wants a try.
Why it works on the floor
High entertainment value, low-tech setup, and zero learning curve make this a reliable draw for events, fairs, parties and brand activations. Because the rules explain themselves, there’s no host needed to coax people in — the queue forms on its own, dwell time climbs as players line up to beat each other’s times, and the head-to-head challenge keeps a crowd holding around your stand. It’s the kind of moment people film and share, extending your reach well past the day itself. The same reflex-and-agility test is trusted by gyms, Formula 1 racing teams and the army for speed training — a credibility cue worth leaning on in your messaging.
Plug-and-play, and brandable
The Reaction Ring is plug-and-play ready and works on almost any voltage — 110V or 220/240V, and even on battery power — so it slots into indoor venues and outdoor stands alike with built-in LED lighting that earns attention after dark. The upgraded mechanics and coin-operated option let you run it as free-play for footfall or paid play for revenue. Best of all, you can hang your own products from it — bananas, toys, bottles and more — turning the catch into a frictionless giveaway and a piece of branded content that sticks in memory long after the event.
Also known as the “reaction ring”, “catch the baton”, “catch the sticks”, “speed sticks”, “falling sticks game” or “stick catcher”.
Available to rent per day, per week or per month. Collect it in Goirle, the Netherlands, or arrange your own courier — rent a week or more and we can also deliver it to your front door. Coin-operated and free-play running modes available as options.
This EC Declaration of Conformity (Annex II.1.A, Machinery Directive 2006/42/EC) confirms that the reaction ring - catch the sticks - speed testing game *rental*, manufactured by Made for Arcade B.V., Besterdstraat 9a, 5051HH Goirle, Nederland, complies with the relevant provisions of the Machinery Directive 2006/42/EC, EMC Directive 2014/30/EU and RoHS Directive 2011/65/EU.
Harmonised standards applied: EN ISO 12100:2010, EN IEC 61000-6-1, EN IEC 61000-6-3, EN IEC 63000. The technical file is held by the manufacturer at the address above.
The Reaction Ring is a reaction and speed game where electromagnets drop sticks at random and the player must catch them before they fall; this manual covers set-up, operation, coin training, the settings menu and maintenance.
Caution: Place the machine on a flat, stable surface and mind the moving electromagnets and falling sticks (pinch points); supervise players, and only connect it to a proper mains supply with the doors locked.
Disclaimer
Made for Arcade makes no representations or warranties with respect to this manual and, to the maximum extent permitted by law, expressly limits its liability for any failure to conform to any warranty resulting from the replacement of this manual with another. In addition, Made for Arcade reserves the right to revise this publication at any time without obligation to notify any person of the revision.
The information in this documentation contains general descriptions and/or technical characteristics of the performance of the machine mentioned in this documentation. This documentation is not intended as a substitute for, and should not be used to determine, the suitability or reliability of this machine for specific user applications.
It is the duty of such user or system integrator to carry out — in relation to the relevant specific application or use of the product — an adequate and complete risk analysis, evaluation and testing of the products.
Please note: all images used in this manual are for illustrative purposes only and may differ from the actual product. This is because the colours, dimensions and other properties of the actual product may differ from the image.
Made for Arcade and/or its affiliates or subsidiaries are not responsible or liable for any misuse of the information contained in this document. If you have any suggestions for improvements or changes, or have found any errors in this documentation, please let us know.
All relevant national, regional and local safety regulations must be followed when installing and using this machine. For safety reasons and to ensure compliance with the documented system data, the components may only be repaired by the manufacturer.
If machines are used for applications with technical safety regulations, the relevant instructions must be observed. Failure to observe this information may result in personal injury and/or damage to the machine.
This machine is intended for entertainment purposes only. It is not intended for use for profit, for the wagering or payout of money, or for gambling or games of chance. Made for Arcade makes no representation or warranty that the use, installation or operation of this machine is permitted or lawful in any particular region, country, jurisdiction or venue. It is the sole responsibility of the buyer and/or end-user to ensure that their use of the machine complies with all applicable laws, regulations and licensing or permit requirements (including any gambling, gaming or amusement regulations).
This is the English user manual (or an automatic translation thereof). Manuals in other languages may be available on request.
Power supply and surge protection
Arcade and entertainment machines are computer-controlled and contain sensitive electronics. Mains power at events, venues and even ordinary outlets is frequently unstable or “dirty” — voltage spikes, surges, sags and brown-outs, flicker, overloaded or shared circuits, generators, long extension runs and the switching of nearby equipment can all push the supply outside the machine’s safe operating range.
You must always connect the machine through a good-quality surge protector, and — wherever the supply is unreliable or the machine must not lose power unexpectedly — through an uninterruptible power supply (UPS). These sensitive machines cannot tolerate power spikes, surges, brown-outs or sudden cut-offs.
Damage, data loss or malfunction caused by power-supply problems is not covered by warranty. Failure to use adequate power protection can lead to machine malfunction and, in some cases, a risk of fire or bodily harm. If you are unsure about your power supply, consult a qualified electrician before use.
Support and service
For more information, service, technical support, ordering user manuals, or for any other questions, please contact: Made for Arcade Besterdstraat 9a, 5051HH Goirle, The Netherlands Email: [email protected] · Web: madeforarcade.com
Machine description
The Reaction Ring is a game of skill where the player steps into a ring and the machine drops sticks or other objects to be caught, in random order and at random times. It features 6 difficulty settings, 10 speed levels, 1- or 2-player modes, single or multiple simultaneous drops, and intelligent MP3 audio playback.
Intended use
The Reaction Ring is intended for entertainment use at home, at events and at venues under supervision. The minimum age for use is twelve years; underage players should only use the machine under the supervision of an adult.
Safety warnings
Follow these safety warnings to avoid injury or damage to the machine.
Stability
Always place the Reaction Ring on a stable, level surface to prevent it from falling over or being pulled off a table. The machine weighs approximately 24–30 kg and can be dangerous if it is not installed correctly.
Suffocation
Take care with small keys and other machine parts, as they may pose a choking or swallowing hazard. Keep them out of the reach of children and store them safely when not in use.
Hearing damage
The Reaction Ring can produce loud noises that may damage your hearing. Do not stand too close to the speakers and do not turn the volume up too loud.
Electrocution hazard
Take care when opening the machine doors. For your own safety, always remove the plug from the socket before opening a door — there may be exposed live parts inside that could cause electric shock, injury or death if touched. Close and lock the doors with the supplied key before inserting the plug into the socket.
Gaming addiction
Playing games can be addictive and may lead to health problems. If you experience symptoms such as fatigue, insomnia or irritability, seek professional help.
Commissioning the machine / preparation
Follow the unpacking instructions carefully to avoid damage. The Reaction Ring operates on 220/240 volts / 50 Hz. Inspect the outside and inside of the machine and the power cord for defects or damage — open all panels and doors and pay particular attention to damaged or loose connections of electrical wiring and components. Do not connect the machine if the machine, wiring, components or connection cable are damaged.
Close and lock all doors and panels with the enclosed keys. After checking, insert the supplied connection cable into the back of the machine, plug it into a proper socket, and switch on at the back. The machine then starts up automatically.
Operation of the machine
The machine offers a selection of games of varying difficulty and speed. The background music can be changed, and you can set whether to play with coins or for free.
Once the machine is running, the 10 electromagnets are activated and the sticks (poles) can be hung. Start a game with the large START button on the centre column. The countdown timer runs from 3 to 1, after which the sticks begin to fall. When the game is over the screen flashes — press the START button again to reactivate the electromagnets.
Coin training
The coin acceptor is either empty or has already been trained on Made for Arcade coins. If it is empty and the machine is not set to free play, a sample coin must first be placed in the coin acceptor:
Open the back of the machine with the corresponding key.
On the right you will see a slider with a blue sticker. Carefully lift it up.
There is a shallow slot at the bottom — slide a coin into it while holding the slider up.
With the coin in the slot, slowly and carefully lower the slider onto the coin.
Close the back of the machine again with the corresponding key.
Finally, drop a coin of the same type through the coin slot on the side of the machine.
When a coin is inserted, the acceptor compares it with the sample coin. If they match, the coin is sent to the cash drawer and a credit is added on the user display. Only insert coins with a diameter of 18 to 25 mm and a thickness of 1.6 to 2 mm.
Quick settings via the remote control
Different game variants can be selected directly with the remote control:
“1” — starts the game in 1-player mode.
“2” — starts 1-player mode with increased difficulty.
Electrocution hazard: there is a risk of electric shock from open doors on a machine connected to the mains. Do not touch electrical wiring, plugs or connections.
The machine is programmed using the supplied remote control (the easy method), or with the large push button on the central column. Both methods are described below.
Change settings with the remote control
Aim the remote control at the display. For a better connection you can also open the back of the machine with the supplied key to reach the game controller, which carries a receiver for the remote control.
Press “MENU” on the remote control to set parameters.
Use the “+” and “-” keys to change a parameter.
Use the “RETURN” arrow to save and return.
Menu #
Function
Value
F0
Number of sticks (8, 10 or 12)
8
F1
Game mode — 1: sticks fall in a random pattern; 2: sticks fall in the order set at F2/F3; 3: sticks fall according to the factory setting
2
F2
Choose one of 10 pre-programmed drop sequences
1–10 (1)
F3
Difficulty — 1: 0.5–1.5 s between drops; 2: 0.2–1 s, two sticks at 0.2 s apart; 3: 0.2–1 s, two at 0.1 s and two at 0.2 s apart; 4: 0.1–1 s, three at 0.2 s apart; 5: 0.1–1 s, two groups with no interval; 6: double sticks fall together at 0.5–1 s apart
Hint during play (shows which stick will fall) — 1 = on, 0 = off
1
F6
Not applicable
—
F7
Volume of the sound
0–26 (20)
F8
Music while playing
1–6 (5)
F9
Automatically switch to MP3 — 1 = automatic, 2 = no
1
FA
Remote control on/off — 1 = remote control works, 2 = remote control is not read
1
FB
Coin system — 1 = play for free, 2 = scanner (not used), 3 = pay to play
1
FC
Number of coins needed to play
3
FD
Number of games given for the payment set at FC
2
Change the music or system sounds
The circuit board holds a micro SD card. Remove the card and replace the existing MP3 files as desired. File names must begin with a 3-digit number, for example “001 music”:
001 — music played while the sticks are falling.
002 — music played after the game.
003, 004 … — additional tracks.
When not playing
If no game is being played, the machine automatically plays the welcome music from the SD card after a while. The music plays 10 times, after which the machine goes into sleep mode.
Setting without the remote control
If menu setting “FA” is set to “2”, the remote control no longer works and the machine must be programmed with the large push button:
If the machine is on, turn it off and wait 10 seconds.
Start the machine while holding the START button; release it after 3 seconds.
The screen now shows menu option “F0”.
Press the START button to change the option.
If the button is not pressed, the machine automatically jumps to the next menu option after 3 seconds (“F1”, and so on).
After all menu options have been completed, the machine automatically goes into standby mode.
Tip: to re-enable the remote control, set option “FA” to “1”.
Maintenance
Keep the machine clean and inspect it regularly. Always switch off and unplug the machine before opening any door or working inside. Check the electromagnets, sticks and wiring for damage, breakage or abnormal behaviour, and make sure all parts move freely without jamming or pulling on the cables.
Taking the machine out of service
Turn off the switch on the back of the machine and remove the plug from the socket so the power supply is completely interrupted. Do not leave the machine unattended while it is connected to the power supply.
Specifications may vary or change over time. Verify all specifications prior to purchase. No rights can be derived from this information.
Questions
Can it be branded with our design?
Yes — most machines can be branded by our design department per your specifications. Simply send your artwork and our team will go to work for you, delivering a turn-key custom-branded solution.
Do you provide warranty on your machines?
Absolutely! Each machine comes standard with a 1-year full service and parts warranty at any of our service centers, no questions asked. You can extend warranty to a full 2 years by clicking the option box above (highly recommended). See our T&C for details.
Do you ship to my country?
Yes — for sales we ship worldwide; for rentals we prefer to limit shipping to Western Europe. And if you have your own carrier account (FedEx, DHL, etc.) you can always arrange to have your order picked up from our service centers.
How are products packed?
For trucking, train or air cargo, crating is needed — check the option box above to add the custom wooden protective crating the carrier requires. If you arrange your own pickup, crating is optional and may save you the cost of having a custom frame built.
Can we see it in action first?
Many machines have a demo video on this page, and you’re welcome to see one running at our Goirle service center by appointment.
Can I rent this instead of buying?
Most of our machines are available to rent for events and activations. Tell us the venue and dates and we’ll quote rental + transport, or both prices so you can compare.
