Steve and Jason here.
Back to nudging
Before the new tip, a follow-up to Edition 3. We want you to get really good at nudging to save the ball, so we made a game for it!
"Nudge Ninja" is a fun and free nudging drill and the second game in the Zahler Pinball Dojo. Complete with power-ups, lessons, bonus rounds, and more. Every drill we make teaches a real skill you can take to a real machine. Play Nudge Ninja.
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Tip 4
Now Follow the ball. And aim.
Jason's a very accurate shooter, and a lot of people ask him where he's looking when he makes a shot. The flipper? The ball? The playfield?
His answer: the flipper and the ball. Always. Then, right when he flips, he looks up at the area he expects to hit.
That's a core tenet of pinball: follow the ball.
Your survival is the ball!
Aim starts before your first flip.
What you see gives you clues, so you can find the shots before your first flip instead of draining balls to learn them. Three things that help:
Look at the flippers before you plunge.
Flipper slope and position matter. Remember this: The steeper the flippers (at rest), the earlier the shot. Flatter flippers? Shoot later.
Watch the speed down the inlane.
One of the first things Steve realized was the need for speed (well actually the need to pay attention to the speed of the ball coming down the inlane). Keep this in mind: The faster it comes down, the earlier you should flip. The slower, the later.
On the fly or from a "trap" (i.e. held ball)?
Jason's rule: If you're not confident in a shot on the fly (i.e. while the ball's rolling), don't even try it. Get control of the ball first (hold it with a raised flipper) then shoot. Some shots are easier and safer from a trap, and some are better on the fly. Practice teaches you the difference.
See all three drawn out on Instagram or Facebook (please remember to follow and like).
Illustrations, video demonstrations, and additional tips on social.
We'll routinely post these on Instagram and Facebook. Together with this newsletter, that's a really comprehensive pinball education.
Oh, and to keep the tips coming, we ask one thing: follow us and like the posts. It helps more players find them!
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How Zach McCarthy aims
We asked our friend Zach McCarthy (World No. 2) how he aims.
"I break up aiming into two categories: aiming from a trap or near trap situation, and aiming on the fly. For a trap or near trap situation, I generally use the distance of the ball from the tip of the flipper in order to make shots on the opposite side of the playfield. Backhands are much more timing based, I'm trying to flip at a time that 'feels right' and repeat that time consistently. On the fly situations are also entirely timing based for me."
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Dojo top 10
As promised last edition, here are the top scores on Dead Bounce Fighter as of 11/12/26. The GC and top 20 become masters in the game. Reach Black Belt and you'll fight their alter egos!
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Eyes on the ball,
Jason & Steve
P.S. Have an aiming question? Ask it in the Zahler Pinball Community Facebook group. We're both active there. You can also browse earlier editions on the site.
P.P.S. Know a player who'd like this? Forward it to them and help us grow pinball! They can sign up at zahlerpinball.com.