In Unity3d how can I move a gameobject with mouse while interacting with physics engine?

I would like to develop a 3d game. An "air hockey" simulator. I would like to control the paddle with the mouse but at the same time, I would like to use the physics engine to handle collisions with the puck and the borders of the table.

I tried the following:

• If I use a Kinematic paddle I lose the property to handle the physics by the engine.
• If I use static object the same.
• If I use a dynamic rigidbody I am not able to control smoothly the paddle.

What is the best way to handle this scenario?

Thank you.

What makes a air-puck feel good is the sliding effect it has. Ofcourse it doesn't continue forever, but still feels nice.

Here is what you can do:

1. Create an Paddle & Puck
2. Create two physics materials for both.
3. Decrease the friction on the material that both feels slidey, the puck a little more than the paddle.
4. For both:
   • Freeze the x & z rotation
   • Freeze the y position

Now the part that makes the paddle use physics & RigidBody correctly. Create a new script for moving the paddle:

public class PaddleMovement : MonoBehaviour
{
	private RigidBody rb;
	
	public float speed = 5;
	public float minDist = 0;
	public float maxDist = 5;
	public LayerMask layers;
	
	void Start()
	{
		rb = GetComponent<RigidBody>();
	}
	
	void Update()
	{
		// Paddle will only move if we hold down the mouse button
		paddleGrabed = Input.GetInput(KeyCode.Mouse0);
	}
	
	void FixedUpdate()
	{
		if (paddleGrabed)
		{
			HandleMovement();
		}
	}
	
	void HandleMovement()
	{
		Ray ray = Camera.main.ScreenToWorldPoint(Input.MousePosition);
		RaycstHit hit;
		
		if (Physics.Raycast(ray, out hit, 100f, layers))
		{
			// Calculate the slow effect as paddle comes close to the point;
			float dist = Vector3.Distance
			(
				new Vector3(transform.position.x, 0 transform.position.z),
				new Vector3(hit.point.x, 0, hit.point.z)
			);
			
			dist = Mathf.Clamp(dist, minDist, maxDist);
			var slowEffect = dist / maxDist;
			
			// Now move move the rigid body appropriately
			var dir = new Vector3(hit.point.x, 0, hit.point.z) -new Vector3(transform.position.x, 0 transform.position.z);
			dir.Normalize();
			rb.MovePosition(transform.position + dir * slowEffect * speed * Time.deltaTime);
		}
	}
}

That should move the Paddle to a certain position with a bit of a lag and sliding effect.