New Player Guide
Competitive Pinball ?!?!
That's right, competitive pinball. It's like regular pinball except way cooler with a bit more cursing. Competitive pinball has been around since the early 1990s with most tournaments being organized in partnership with the IFPA to track player and tournament statistics. There's even State, National, and World championships if you rank well enough!
So that's all great, but how do you get started playing? Well, first you're here, and that's a good start, but the next thing you need to do is find a local tournament and compete!
How To Find A Tournament
We have a handy events schedule and Facebook group that contains all the upcoming tournaments in and around the Acadiana area. You can also find a calendar of all tournaments on the IFPA website.
Pinball players playing pinball at a pinball place
Things To Know Before Your First Tournament
Here's a handy list of a few things to know before your first tournament:
- Every pinball machine has multiplayer - each player puts in their credit and you press START for the for the number of players playing on that machine.
- Three balls per game - everyone plays their first ball, then it cycles back to the first player to play their second ball until all four players have played all three of their balls then its game over.
- Speaking of balls... DON'T PLAY EXTRA BALLS - if you get an extra ball during your game, plunge it and let it drain. This keeps things fair as extra balls can sometimes be a random award.
- Ball stuck? Raise your hand - if your ball gets stuck just raise your hand and a tournament director will come and assist you.
- Yes! You can move the machine - many people think this is cheating but it is a completely valid form of play. Be mindful of the tilt bob, though!
Triangle Belles & Chimes - Photography by Bryan Regan
Whoa! There's Strategy and Skill?
Lots of new players are surprised to learn that pinball isn't a random game of chance. There's tons of options at your disposal in order to control the ball and playfield to rack up big points. Here's a short list of some important strategies that apply to every machine:
- Modes, Multipliers, and Multiball – Every machine has the Big 3. Learn what modes are most lucrative, stack them with a playfield multiplier and multiball, and blow up the machine!
- Skill Shots – Each machine has a skill shot right when you plunge the ball. Learn the skill shot(s) and rack up some valuable points right from the start.
- Dead Bounce – You don't always have to flip when the ball gets near the flipper. Learn to Dead Bounce! Here's a great tutorial by Abe Flips on how to do it.
- Nudging – You can move the machine! Push it a bit when the ball is in danger to influence the ball's trajectory. Here's a fantastic tutorial by Abe Flips on the basics of nudging.
Now, Go Play Some Pinball!
You're now ready to go play some pinball! Remember, the most important thing is to have fun and meet new people. If you have any questions about or just want to chat with other players, don't hesitate to reach out to us on our Facebook group.
Happy flipping!