Pinball
Physical arcade coin-op game — steel ball propelled through PLAYFIELD by SPRING-LOADED PLUNGER + controlled by FLIPPERS. Score points by hitting BUMPERS, TARGETS, RAMPS, HOLES. Origins in 18th century French BAGATELLE; modern electromechanical pinball 1930s USA. Golden age 1970s-90s. IFPA (International Flipper Pinball Association) competitive scene. Machines are ICONIC ART FORMS.
What is Pinball?
Pinball is PHYSICAL ARCADE COIN-OPERATED game — STEEL BALL propelled through PLAYFIELD by SPRING-LOADED PLUNGER + controlled by 2 FLIPPERS at bottom of playfield. Score points by hitting BUMPERS (pop bumpers), TARGETS (drop targets, standup targets), RAMPS, HOLES (scoop, pop-up hole), LOOPS, EJECTS, MULTIBALL scenarios. Origin in 18th CENTURY FRENCH BAGATELLE (English adaptations added spring plunger in 1800s). MODERN ELECTROMECHANICAL PINBALL born 1930s USA — 'BAFFLE BALL' (1931), 'BALLY HOO' (1931) first commercial hits. FLIPPERS invented 1947 (Gottlieb HUMPTY DUMPTY). SOLID-STATE ELECTRONICS 1977. NEW YORK CITY BANNED PINBALL 1942 as 'game of chance' (gambling concern); ban lifted only 1976 when player ROGER SHARPE demonstrated skill (pointed to ball trajectory before shooting). GOLDEN AGE OF PINBALL: 1970s-90s — WILLIAMS, BALLY, GOTTLIEB, DATA EAST, SEGA, STERN produced iconic tables. FAMOUS MACHINES: THE ADDAMS FAMILY 1992 (best-selling ever, 20,270 units), THE TWILIGHT ZONE, MEDIEVAL MADNESS, ATTACK FROM MARS, FUNHOUSE, PIN BOT, TRON LEGACY. Every table has unique THEME, RULES, SOUNDS, LIGHTS — art form as much as game. DECLINE: 1990s video game industry killed most pinball companies; STERN PINBALL sole surviving major (still produces new tables 2020s+). MODERN REVIVAL: independent shops (JJP, American Pinball). COMPETITIVE SCENE: IFPA (International Flipper Pinball Association) ranks 60,000+ players; WORLD PINBALL CHAMPIONSHIP annual $100K+ prize. Tournaments PAPA (Professional Amateur Pinball Association) + IFPA events. HOME OWNERSHIP has grown massively — machines $5000-15000+.
Quick facts
Category
Video Games
Type
Individual
Players
1–4
Duration
~10 min
Where played
indoor
Field / court
pinball playfield (~50cm × 80cm)
Country of origin
🇫🇷 France
Estimated origin
18th century French Bagatelle; modern coin-op pinball 1931 USA; flippers invented 1947; IFPA founded 2005
Olympic
No
Popularity
regional
How it works
Objective
Maximize score by hitting targets, completing modes, keeping ball(s) in play.
Rules
Basic rules
Insert coin/credit; press start
1-4 players available.
Launch ball with SPRING-LOADED PLUNGER at right
Sometimes launched into skill shot area for bonus.
Use LEFT + RIGHT FLIPPERS at bottom to hit ball
Flippers only tool for keeping ball in play.
Score points by hitting BUMPERS, TARGETS, RAMPS, HOLES
Each table has unique layout + scoring.
Ball DRAINS between/outside flippers = ball lost
Standard game = 3 or 5 balls.
MULTIBALL modes = 2-6 balls in play simultaneously
High-scoring opportunities.
MODES + JACKPOTS + WIZARD MODE (final challenge) per table
Depth of rules varies per machine.
TILT — pushing machine too hard triggers tilt sensor = penalty
Anti-cheat mechanism.
Scoring
Maximize point total. Modern machines score billions of points; classic 1970s machines score millions.
| Action | Points |
|---|---|
| Bumper hit | 100-1000 typical |
| Ramp shot | 1M-100M (modern) |
| Jackpot (during mode) | 10M-1B+ |
| Super Jackpot / Wizard Mode | 100M-10B+ |
| Extra ball earned (bonus) | Extra ball |
| Replay (free game) at score threshold | Free game |
Win condition · Highest score across balls; competitive tournament: highest score in playoff series.
Playing area
Called
pinball playfield (~50cm × 80cm)
Dimensions
playfield inclined ~6°; various themed layouts
Wooden/glass playfield with obstacles, ramps, targets, flippers.
Equipment
Pinball machine (home ownership $5000-15000+)
Stern, JJP, American Pinball, vintage Williams/Bally
Arcade rental cheaper — $0.50-1 per game
Barcades + arcades
Virtual pinball (video game versions)
Pinball FX, Pinball Arcade — €20-40
Strategies
LEARN TABLE RULES — every machine has unique mode/jackpot structure
Elite play knows exactly how to score maximum per table.
FLIPPER CONTROL — hold flipper for stationary ball control
Precise return shots vs random slaps.
NUDGE technique — subtle machine push to save ball (without tilting)
Advanced skill; tables have tilt tolerance.
MULTIBALL management — chain jackpots when multiple balls active
Highest-scoring opportunities.
SKILL SHOT (initial ball launch bonus) + WIZARD MODE (final challenge)
Highest score requires mastering both endpoints.
Terminology
- Playfield
- Inclined game surface with all obstacles + targets.
- Flipper
- Player-controlled paddle at bottom (2 flippers standard).
- Plunger
- Spring-loaded launcher for initial ball serving.
- Multiball
- Mode with 2-6 balls in play simultaneously.
- Jackpot
- High-value scoring opportunity during modes.
- Wizard Mode
- Final challenge unlocked after completing all modes.
- Tilt
- Penalty when player pushes machine too hard.
- IFPA
- International Flipper Pinball Association — global player rankings + tournaments.
Major competitions
IFPA World Pinball Championship
annual · worldwide · since 2007
PAPA World Pinball Championships (Pittsburgh, PA)
annual (historic; ended 2016 in original form) · Pittsburgh, USA · since 1991
European Pinball Championships
annual · Europe · since 2015
Various local tournaments + barcade circuits
monthly · worldwide · since 2010
Where it is played
Governing bodies
International Flipper Pinball Association (IFPA)
Founded 2005 · USA
Official site ↗Professional Amateur Pinball Association (PAPA)
Founded 1991 · USA
Stern Pinball (major manufacturer)
Founded 1986 · USA
Famous names & records
Famous athletes
- Keith Elwin (US) — Multiple World Champion + Stern Pinball game designer
- Escher Lefkoff (US) — Young prodigy, World Champion
- Roger Sharpe (US) — 1976 NYC courtroom demonstrator who legalized pinball; author 'Pinball!' book
- Bowen Kerins (US) — Multiple World Champion
- Josh Sharpe (US) — IFPA co-founder; multiple champion
Learn this sport
beginner
- 1
Find local pinball location — barcade, arcade, museum, or private club
Barcades (bar + arcade) common in cities 2015+.
- 2
Play various tables; learn flipper control
Every table teaches something.
- 3
Study rule cards or table sheets
Understanding scoring = better play.
intermediate
- 1
Join local IFPA-sanctioned league
Regular structured competition.
- 2
Buy home pinball machine ($5000-15000)
Consistent practice opportunity.
- 3
Attend regional tournaments
Compete with structured brackets.
advanced
- 1
Rise in IFPA world rankings (60,000+ ranked players)
Global ladder.
- 2
Qualify for IFPA World Pinball Championship
Top 64 in world compete.
- 3
Sponsorship + pro-am tournament path
Small but growing income for top players.
Frequently asked
What is Pinball?+
PHYSICAL ARCADE COIN-OP game — steel ball propelled through PLAYFIELD by SPRING-LOADED PLUNGER + controlled by FLIPPERS at bottom. Score by hitting BUMPERS, TARGETS, RAMPS, HOLES. Origin in 18th century French BAGATELLE; modern electromechanical pinball 1930s USA; FLIPPERS invented 1947. Golden age 1970s-90s. Every table has unique THEME, RULES, ART — art form as much as game. Modern manufacturer STERN PINBALL (main); IFPA competitive scene ranks 60,000+ players globally.
How is Pinball different from Video Games?+
PINBALL is PHYSICAL machine — steel ball with actual physics affected by gravity + machine tilt + player nudging. VIDEO GAMES are digital — simulated physics. Pinball skill involves PHYSICAL FEEL — flipper timing, ball reading, nudging. Video games skill involves button inputs + on-screen reactions. PINBALL machines are LARGE (150cm tall × 65cm wide × 130cm deep, ~140kg); require dedicated space. Video games portable/digital. PINBALL is ANALOG ART — mechanical parts wear + require maintenance; each machine is unique physical object. Pinball has SMALLER MODERN AUDIENCE but PASSIONATE HOBBYIST community with $5000-15000+ machine ownership normal.
Why was Pinball banned in New York City?+
NYC BANNED PINBALL in 1942 — Mayor FIORELLO LA GUARDIA classified it as GAMBLING (game of chance rather than skill; some machines then awarded free games as prizes). BAN LIFTED IN 1976 when player ROGER SHARPE demonstrated pinball's SKILL nature — in courtroom demo, he called ball trajectory before hitting SPECIFIC LANE with plunger. Judge ruled pinball IS SKILL-BASED. Ban was cultural/legal footnote showing pinball's stigma as 'kids' game associated with delinquency + arcades. Chicago + Los Angeles had similar restrictions historically. Post-1976 pinball became fully legal + celebrated art form + competitive sport.
Sources & provenance
- IFPA — International Flipper Pinball Association— IFPA
- Wikipedia — Pinball— Wikipedia
- Stern Pinball— Stern Pinball