Quoted from rosh:If the 'status screen' is on the marquee when you open the stage, then you will get a choice. You can use the flippers to try to get what you want on the screen before you open it. so if you know you need just one shot to open it, you can get what you want on screen (then typically shift it with the opposite flipper you are going to shoot it with), to get what you want.
You can also lock that in via the skill shot (when offered) and through the magic shop.
This is an awesome choice if you are close to multiball and haven't used the needle mode yet - rack up big points....