Coach Dad speaking.
Tip #1
Jason will write plenty of these. The first one's mine, because the first thing I ever taught him about pinball wasn't a flipper skill. It was a habit, and it's the same habit I'd teach you if you were standing next to me:
Look at the machine before you touch it.
It's easy to walk up, hit Start and plunge. But even 30 seconds of looking first can give you useful information before the ball moves.
If someone else is playing, take advantage of that time. Watch how the machine behaves. If you're up first, check what you can before starting, then fill in the gaps as you play.
Here's what to look for:
The flippers. Watch someone else play if you can. Are the flippers making the shots players are attempting, or are balls repeatedly falling short? A weak flipper can change which shots are worth attempting. If you haven't had a chance to watch, pay attention to how your own shots behave early in the game.
Ball speed and outlanes. Watch how quickly the ball rolls around and look at how open the outlanes are. Before you've played a ball, you may already see places that could be dangerous that need your extra attention (like being ready to shimmy a ball out of an outlane, or keep it out of there in the first place).
The playfield and display. Look at the shots and read the writing on the playfield (such as "Lock", "Multiball Start", etc.). During play, pay attention to the lit inserts and the instructions on the display. They can help you understand what's available and what to shoot next.
Other players' drains. Notice where and how they happen. If balls keep draining from the same shot (or area of the playfield), ask yourself what you could do differently.
For example, say you watch several attempts at a ramp and the ball makes it only halfway, and then comes screaming down toward the middle. You were planning to shoot that ramp. Now you have a reason to reconsider: is there another shot you can make instead for a similar outcome? If you still need the ramp, at least you know to watch for that return and be ready with, say, a slap save. Also watch any saucer and scoop kickouts to see where they send the ball. The point is to use what you notice to make a decision.
None of this requires Jason's flipper fingers. It requires observation and the discipline to pause before starting. You won't learn everything in 30 seconds, but you can give yourself a better starting point.
I taught this to a kid who couldn't see over the glass. He still does it before every game, including on his way to three consecutive World Championships and a Pinburgh threepeat.
His game has changed quite a bit over the years. That habit never did.
Try it next time: Before you start, pick out one thing you noticed and decide how it will affect your play.
A note from Jason
My dad asked me to say hello before his first email went out. He really did teach me to always look at the machine before touching it, and that is still something I do before every game I play.
The next email will be from me. I'll be talking about my hands, and why sometimes the best thing you can do with them is nothing at all. That might sound a little strange at first, but it'll make a lot more sense when you see a ball bounce off a flipper that isn’t moving.
I'll explain what to look for and how to try it yourself, whatever your skill level.
Still in the shooter lane
We'll also be getting into ways to save balls that appear unsaveable, how Jason approaches qualifying, and how we manage our energy through long tournament days.
There's no fixed schedule. Each issue will go out when it's ready.
Warm up. Look. Then plunge.
- Steve and Jason