How do people who are “good” at pinball manage to consistently avoid those random bounces that just go right down the middle out that there is no counter-play for?

Question

I have always wanted to get into pinball. But the few times I decided to really give it a go. I could do alright but most of my games seemed to end with a bounce that went straight down the middle out with nothing I can do about it.

When you watch professional pinball players. It doesnt matter what game it is they always seem to be able to avoid those shots even if its their first time on a machine.

So there has to be a method or developable skill to it. But I cant for the life of me understand it.

In: Other

Answer 1

Since I don’t see it mentioned, and everyone seems to have a rough idea but not an exact idea of how “tilt” works, it’s a plumb bob. If you shake the machine, this pendulum swings back and forth; the pendulum is metal. There is a metal ring surrounding it. If the pendulum hits the metal ring, it registers as a warning on “newer” machines. Get a couple of warnings, and the machine “tilts”. The game owner can move the pendulum up and down within the metal ring to make the game “tighter” or “looser”.

https://www.arcadexpress.com/en/pinball/540-suzo-happ-pinball-tilt-plumb-bob-assembly-pendulum-mechanism.html