First Steps

Pull the plunger to different distances (1/4, 1/2, 3/4, full) and observe where the ball lands each time.

Find the skill shot target on the machine and practice launching to hit it repeatedly.

Hold the flipper up and let the ball roll into the crook where the flipper meets the base. Keep it still.

Trap the ball, pause for 2 seconds, then shoot at a specific target. Repeat.

When a fast ball comes down on one side, hold that flipper UP to block the center and redirect the ball. Lower it again once the danger has passed — keep flippers down when not actively shielding.

For each fast return, decide whether you can make a controlled shot or whether shielding is the safer option.

Hold the flipper button DOWN, then quickly lift your hand off and tap again. The duration off the button controls the flip strength. Practice the smallest possible tap — the flipper may not even trigger, which is fine at first.

Use micro flips to redirect a slow ball toward a nearby target like an inlane or short ramp.

When the ball comes to a flipper with enough speed, resist the urge to flip. Keep the flipper down and let the ball lose energy as it crosses to the other side.

Let the ball dead bounce from one flipper to the other, then cradle it. This is one of the core ball-control combinations in pinball.

When a ball drifts toward a side drain, slap the machine with ONE hand to extend that flipper's reach by shifting the playfield under the ball. React as early as possible — timing is everything.

Practice recognizing when a ball is heading for a center drain early. The sooner you react, the better the slap save works.