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I'm crap at Pinball

Gonzo

Gonzo

Site Supporter
5Years
Joined
Sep 2, 2019
Messages
4,521
Location
Mordor
Truly awful I'm afraid.

I can't nudge the thing to get the ball away from the side drains and I can't cushion the ball onto the flipper. (yes I've watched the YouTube tutorials)

I also can't seem to change the trajectory of the ball as it's hurtling down the playfield heading towards the chasm between the flippers. I know it's going down there yet I become paralysed by some strange force and do nothing.

When I first got the STTNG I achieved a quite remarkable high score of 2.7b. Since then I have only got as high as 2.4b despite me playing it pretty much every day.

That being said I do love it, everyone in the family (apart from the stroppy 14 year old daughter) plays it and I'm looking to add to the collection.

A poor pinball player? Yes
A happy pinball player? Absolutely
 
^^^^^^i’m the same, Mrs tells me I’m cheating if I try and nudge so we have rule in the house not to now......
 
Gonzo, on nudging, the best bit of advice I ever got was from @strobey - nudge in the direction as if you were reaching for the ball...

You will improve, you have to practice to make it happen...

Anyway, if you suck it doesn't matter, just have fun.
 
James said:
Gonzo, on nudging, the best bit of advice I ever got was from @strobey - nudge in the direction as if you were reaching for the ball...

You will improve, you have to practice to make it happen...

Anyway, if you suck it doesn't matter, just have fun.
Click to expand...
Nudging too late is another common mistake. You need to read the ball - nudging to prevent it heading to the outlane danger zone in the first place.



Sent from my D5833 using Tapatalk
 
Sgt GrizZ said:
Nudging too late is another common mistake. You need to read the ball - nudging to prevent it heading to the outlane danger zone in the first place.



Sent from my D5833 using Tapatalk
Click to expand...

Useful tips thanks! I’d call myself average different tables play differently too I lack gaming consistency! A couple of decent scores then I bomb the rest but overall my scores are improving (57 mil on CFBL)
 
James said:
Gonzo, on nudging, the best bit of advice I ever got was from @strobey - nudge in the direction as if you were reaching for the ball...

You will improve, you have to practice to make it happen...

Anyway, if you suck it doesn't matter, just have fun.
Click to expand...
I'll give that a go actually mate . . . . I am having fun though (although I have been known to shout at the pin 😬)
 
Sgt GrizZ said:
Nudging too late is another common mistake. You need to read the ball - nudging to prevent it heading to the outlane danger zone in the first place.



Sent from my D5833 using Tapatalk
Click to expand...

To be honest unlike the Popeye & Jackbot the ball doesn't seem to drift to the outlanes on the Star Trek. It seems to either be propelled there at extreme speeds or rest just under the canon and fall off in slow motion much to my disgust 😂
 
Have a game where score doesn’t matter and you just focus on one ramp or shot for the whole game.
Then have a game where you just find a way to transfer from one flipper to the other (via a post pass or a shot).
Definitely helps once you incorporate this into a normal game.
 
Andydn said:
Have a game where score doesn’t matter and you just focus on one ramp or shot for the whole game.
Then have a game where you just find a way to transfer from one flipper to the other (via a post pass or a shot).
Definitely helps once you incorporate this into a normal game.
Click to expand...

Cheers Andy. Good advice.

I can't do the flipper transfer the same on a wide-body but that's common apparently.

I do have a favoured shot though because if I can hit a ramp numerous times I get an extra ball so I've practiced that quite a lot 😎
 
Star Trek tng worst game to nudge, the outlanes are terrible and it’s a heavy widebody.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro
 
I'm a crap player no two ways about it. I've got slightly better over my 3 years of being a pinball owner though but some games it's like I've never seen or played a pinball machine in my life.

I don't care though and love my collection of videogames and pinballs to bits.
 
Pick Holder said:
Yes @Gonzo - I am one of these awful players as well.

5 ball
Easy rules

The only way I get a half decent game.

Do I care - ABSOLUTELY NOT
Do I give a stuff about competitions - NO

Pinball is FUN. I have quite a few pinpals that we play and have a laugh at the same time. Nothing better in my opinion.
Click to expand...

That's an outstanding post mate and sums things up beautifully.

I guess one of the benefits of owning a pin is being able to tweak the difficulty in numerous ways.
 
Dex-Jay said:
I'm a crap player no two ways about it. I've got slightly better over my 3 years of being a pinball owner though but some games it's like I've never seen or played a pinball machine in my life.

I don't care though and love my collection of videogames and pinballs to bits.
Click to expand...


Funnily enough I'm considering getting one of those cabinets with 1000 + games in it.


HLD seem to have things for around £1300 but I need to do some research. I think an arcade machine will go quite nicely in the mancave!
 
depends on what you want to achieve...

Add ten balls and keep playing the way you play. if you enjoy it then who cares.

or - make the games so brutally hard it forces you to play different. This is what I've done and I'd say its been successful to some extent. Although having come to INDISC and playing games at another level of hard I'm going to be making some my games even harder.

There is a DVD called pinball 101 by Keith Elwin and his brother. Get a hold of it. There are also the PAPA pinball skills tutorials on YouTube:


I think that will work. if not google pinball 101 on youtube and you'll find a playlist.

Also the three games that have helped me play a lot bettie are : Attack from Mars, Walking Dead and Meteor. The latter enabling me to get a top ten score here at INDISC.

Neil.
 
Neil McRae said:
depends on what you want to achieve...

Add ten balls and keep playing the way you play. if you enjoy it then who cares.

or - make the games so brutally hard it forces you to play different. This is what I've done and I'd say its been successful to some extent. Although having come to INDISC and playing games at another level of hard I'm going to be making some my games even harder.

There is a DVD called pinball 101 by Keith Elwin and his brother. Get a hold of it. There are also the PAPA pinball skills tutorials on YouTube:


I think that will work. if not google pinball 101 on youtube and you'll find a playlist.

Also the three games that have helped me play a lot bettie are : Attack from Mars, Walking Dead and Meteor. The latter enabling me to get a top ten score here at INDISC.

Neil.
Click to expand...


Thanks Neil, I'll have a look at that.

I played AFM at Chief and can certainly see the appeal. I found that the central shot to attack the flying saucer more difficult than I imagined. It was almost too central to generate the necessary power from the flipper if that makes any sense? I did enjoy it though although I could do with 2 or 3 hours on freeplay to really explore it.
 
@Neil McRae - yes, some interesting points made.

It seriously (personally) does not bother me if I ever become a fantastic pinball player. I doubt I would anyhow. Pinball is something I actually love the repairing and modification along with the technology side of it.

I watch Robert Gagno and sometimes and can not believe my eyes with the skill he has.

Oh well, I can sit here and kinda have an educated guess and say that after 35 years I can play the guitar better than most on here, which is not really a competition is it? Now that is something I have worked my backside off to get better at.

Pinball is a fun release for me. We should all get what we want and need out of this hobby. If not it is time to sell those beasts on.....
 
I know i'm fairly sh*t but certain people do irritate me with their play.
The Mother in Law for example:-
1. She will double flip - all the fcuking time
2. She activates the flippers when the ball is two foot in front of the trough, timing is way out
3. Keeps hitting the start button instead of pulling the plunger when the ball drains
4. Makes girly noises when balls bouncing off the slings
5. Constantly tells me the LEDs are giving her a headache instead of marveling in the light show
Boils my p*ss :)
 
Sako-TRG said:
I know i'm fairly sh*t but certain people do irritate me with their play.
The Mother in Law for example:-
1. She will double flip - all the fcuking time
2. She activates the flippers when the ball is two foot in front of the trough, timing is way out
3. Keeps hitting the start button instead of pulling the plunger when the ball drains
4. Makes girly noises when balls bouncing off the slings
5. Constantly tells me the LEDs are giving her a headache instead of marveling in the light show
Boils my p*ss :)
Click to expand...

That made me laugh!!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
Gonzo said:
Funnily enough I'm considering getting one of those cabinets with 1000 + games in it.

HLD seem to have things for around £1300 but I need to do some research. I think an arcade machine will go quite nicely in the mancave!
Click to expand...

Defo do some research and get some advice. I had quite liked the look of this guy's machines: https://www.arcademania.co.uk/ - much cheaper and you get to pick your art, buttons etc.

But that's not a recommend!

Right now I'm wondering if the Arcade1up cabs might give a better experience but they're hard to buy over here. Argos do a couple at £300, SportsDirect do a few more at a slightly higher price, and you need to buy the risers with them too.
 
JWG9999 said:
Defo do some research and get some advice. I had quite liked the look of this guy's machines: https://www.arcademania.co.uk/ - much cheaper and you get to pick your art, buttons etc.

But that's not a recommend!

Right now I'm wondering if the Arcade1up cabs might give a better experience but they're hard to buy over here. Argos do a couple at £300, SportsDirect do a few more at a slightly higher price, and you need to buy the risers with them too.
Click to expand...


I most certainly will do thank you.
 
Gonzo said:
Thanks Neil, I'll have a look at that.

I played AFM at Chief and can certainly see the appeal. I found that the central shot to attack the flying saucer more difficult than I imagined. It was almost too central to generate the necessary power from the flipper if that makes any sense? I did enjoy it though although I could do with 2 or 3 hours on freeplay to really explore it.
Click to expand...
If that was like the left flipper on MM then they are too weak as that wouldnt make the right ramp. My original AFM can make that shot all day long easily, wish I tried it there now.
You are welcome to come play my machines anytime if you can put up with the journey anytime you want.
STtNG I think isn’t the machine to learn the ‘trade on’ , AFM is one though👍
 
M4carp said:
If that was like the left flipper on MM then they are too weak as that wouldnt make the right ramp. My original AFM can make that shot all day long easily, wish I tried it there now.
You are welcome to come play my machines anytime if you can put up with the journey anytime you want.
STtNG I think isn’t the machine to learn the ‘trade on’ , AFM is one though👍
Click to expand...


You're a good man and can certainly testify to my inability on the pins having met me.

That's very kind of you mate and I do love Wales (we try to get to Snowdonia once per year) . . . .


Hope your mum had a nice time in Ireland mate
 
a few games on Iron Man and/or Walking Dead will help. Those games require nudging - like a 3rd flipper button. You really get dropped in at the deep end - sink or swim.

I'm still **** though. It's only pinball.
 
Last edited:
Gonzo said:
Truly awful I'm afraid.

I can't nudge the thing to get the ball away from the side drains and I can't cushion the ball onto the flipper. (yes I've watched the YouTube tutorials)

I also can't seem to change the trajectory of the ball as it's hurtling down the playfield heading towards the chasm between the flippers. I know it's going down there yet I become paralysed by some strange force and do nothing.

When I first got the STTNG I achieved a quite remarkable high score of 2.7b. Since then I have only got as high as 2.4b despite me playing it pretty much every day.

That being said I do love it, everyone in the family (apart from the stroppy 14 year old daughter) plays it and I'm looking to add to the collection.

A poor pinball player? Yes
A happy pinball player? Absolutely
Click to expand...


Great post and I think the right attitude to have; enjoyment should be the main goal and like anything, will spur you on to practice.
I'd consider myself still new to the hobby, as only the past year or so I've had the opportunity to get semi-regular play on real machines after discovering Flipout and becoming a member.
I've only recently begun understanding a bit and practicing nudging and slap saves; currently fairly hopeless at nudging to avoid side drains, but better than before and as another poster suggested, will look to get better at reading a table to know when to nudge to avoid the ball entering danger areas.
I also found that getting used to drop catches(?) is a really useful tool to gain control of the ball.

Re: getting a virtual cab, I'd recommend keeping an eye out for a nice one someone has made and is selling due to upgrading, as I reckon you could get one much cheaper than a brand new one. The one I have was fairly basic when I picked it up cheap from Ebay, with a crap PF screen/pc inside/software, but I learned how to use Visual Pinball and the GameEx front end, swapped out the PF screen/pc and recently added a nudge sensor (which is huge for me as can now practice nudging, albeit in a relatively basic way). I've now got Visual Pinball and Pinball FX3 on my cab and love it - great for learning the rules of tables and very fun.
Also, as a stop-gap to forking out for a Vpin, if you learn how to set up visual pinball /install tables(fairly easy these days - there is an all in one installer), you could just rest a monitor vertically and use a keyboard/controller (or an X-arcade stick which has flipper buttons) to play.
There is also Pinball FX3 which has some williams tables now (most I'd say are better on Visual Pinball IMHO) which is great on the Nintendo switch, as you can play in tate mode.
 
Pick Holder said:
@Neil McRae - yes, some interesting points made.

It seriously (personally) does not bother me if I ever become a fantastic pinball player. I doubt I would anyhow. Pinball is something I actually love the repairing and modification along with the technology side of it.

I watch Robert Gagno and sometimes and can not believe my eyes with the skill he has.

Oh well, I can sit here and kinda have an educated guess and say that after 35 years I can play the guitar better than most on here, which is not really a competition is it? Now that is something I have worked my backside off to get better at.

Pinball is a fun release for me. We should all get what we want and need out of this hobby. If not it is time to sell those beasts on.....
Click to expand...

A fellow guitar player; nice:-) - I think I enjoy Pinball for some of the same reasons as guitar - you get out of it what you put in and getting better is down to your own hard work (although I doubt I'll ever be as proficient at pinball as I am guitar..)
 
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