Get Keith Elwin’s awesome DVD “Pinball 101” and leave it playing on a loop. They’ll enjoy playing much more once they pick up some basic skills. And if they’re new to pinball, a tournament might not be the best idea. Unless it’s something like leaving the highest score for the night.

3 strikes tournaments are fun. 2 player games and loser gets a strike. Get 3 strikes and you're out. You can use the Matchplay online software.

Split flipper (zen) tournament is a blast. That's where one person has one flipper button and another person has the other. You can just do single elimination bracket.

Dollar games. 4 people throw $1.00 on the game and the winner gets all the money. You keep playing until your friends are broke or pissed off at you.

#1 feedback I get from my “non-pinball” friends that don’t have fun is that they didn’t enjoy playing because they don’t know what they’re doing. Anything you can do to explain the rules and a few basic skills will help with that.

Group match play - so that everybody gets to play in every round. With Strike tournaments, the lesser players wash out early and that's not as much fun.

Use matchplay.events and have it run a group mach play tournament of however many rounds you think they'd go for.

I second the Group Match Play idea. Strike tournaments are not fun for newer players.

I know because sometimes they are not fun for me when I’m playing like crap!

This explains how the Zen tournament works in a nutshell.

John

Split flipper all the way. They will be laughing their ass off.

Just tell them to press start. Since they are new, they will enjoy flipping. Act as a "mentor" and tell the players the easy part of the rules as they step up to each game. Getting them to multiball will give them an objective and once they get multiball, they'll enjoy that aspect of it.

Split flipper was a pretty big hit here in our area. In fact, the Grand Ole Gameroom Expo in Nashville (next weekend!) has a casual split flipper tournament on Friday night just to have a friendly time.

Fish Tales is the best. You can each shoot the boat ramp essentially passing the ball to the other person. Left flipper person for locks and lighting the boat. Right flipper person for monster fish and jackpots. So each person is responsible for something. Not like BoP where the person on the left does nothing.

I'll third that "Match play" remark and no strike play or you'll just have a bunch of people lose interest when they are waiting around for the others to finish. I do a monthly party that ranges from new players to tournament players. And can say no matter how good or bad you are people like to think they can win money. Even if it's just a few bucks. But you won't get many new or newer players in on that dollar a game deal. Save that for the end of the night when it's just your top players that want to keep playing. What we do. Depending on how many people show up. I get anywhere from 8 to 32 people show up. The more people you have the less rounds you want to play and the more money you will need in the pot. Here is an example. 8 to 10 people show. We all put 2 bucks in the pot. Play a 7 round match play, 4 player tourny. We then take the top 4 players and play one final playoff game. Winner takes all. If there are 12 to 16 people we each throw $3 in the pot but this time we only play 5 rounds and have top 4 in a A division playoff game and then next 4 in B division playoff. A division get 2/3 of pot and B division gets 1/3 of pot. If more people show we raise the pot another buck and add in a C division that will be the bottom 4 players. Winnings go A division 1/2 of pot, B-1/4 and C=1/4. Everyone is happy and your guest are only spending a couple bucks.

You could ask your IFPA country director ...

If you’ve only got a few buddies coming around, you’ll have plenty of time to run a few events.

As stated, split flipper is fun .. especially if you have couples. But that won’t take too long.

I’d suggest a 3 strikes tournament - with 4 player games. 4 player games have a good sense of community, and the better players can show the new guys how to play the games, and some flipper skills. Tell the better guys to coach the new guys and help them out.

Top 2 players get a “win” and bottom two get a “loss”. If you only have a few people there (say less than 10-12) you can make it 5 strikes or whatever, and make it last longer for everyone.

You can easily set that up (and other comps) on Matchplay.events

If you need any help, bang me an email.

rd

Stall Ball would be easy and fun for a party where folks mainly want to hang out. Line up everyone for a big game of stall ball and award a little prize, and those who enjoy it can play again after.

Hmmm ... would that be any good for newbies though?

Stall ball presumes that you’d have the skill to know how to “stall” a ball ... and to be able to grasp the concept of doing that.

I’d suggest that’d be better for a group where the majority of people have played a little bit.

rd

I think pin golf is the way to go for new players. You can set goals on each machine and explain how to do them.

MET start sparky MB

FT collect 6 boat ramps, or start MB

HS2 get to 4th gear

I’ve never owned DM, but you get my point.

If they are really new having something specific to try for is a good way to hook them.

Crap - wife and i just visited Nashville for a couple days LAST weekend.....

For newbies anything other than playing straight pinball is too complicated.

You guys forget most people don’t even know how to play a game.

Pingolf? Requires skill and knowledge of the machine. Heck I get confused playing pingolf.

Get a grease board keep his scores and have prizes for that. Keep it very casual and don’t construct activities that force people to play. Let them enjoy it on their own terms and drink a lot of beer.

Out of 24 people you may get 3-4 that like it and want to play in the future.

How about supplying a lot of beer?

After hosting a few such parties I have to agree with this. If you do do an organized event of some kind keep it short and have optional play the rest of the time.

Group match play

I guess it depends on the audience. After some warm up games, I think anyone could understand to put the ball in the scoop or the saucer and then hand it over to the next player and go to the back of the line before draining and leaving the line.

Worse case they drain, and join everyone else that drained over on the couch.

I was going to go even simpler and say turn the games on, let people play as they please and explain a few basic goals to those that want to know more. I don't know many non-pinball people that would have the patience for a 20 person tournament and have to be committed all night. We do a Christmas party every year and only one of my other friends is really into pins. Other people will play them but I just turn everything on and let people come and go as they please. Most people seem to go "oh cool pinball!", play one or two games and then come back to the party. The less pressure the better IMO.

Cocaine, good whiskey, Asian hookers and a few good buddies with great pinball machines. One night that comes to mind was my 4 lady bikini pinball competition. Me and my friend didn't play we just kinda watched, never have I minded watching pinball so much before I can tell you. The after competition after party is stuff of legend.

Where’s the pics?

Oh I have them but there not for this site. I believe during the STLE finals tops were removed and thats when the pictures started. The stuff after that is just for me. Sorry

This all the way. If players barely understand the rules of the game (or basic techniques), adding tournament rules may not help. Explaining a few tips for players who seem eager are fine, otherwise many players may just play one game or two, and may not even want to hear the 'right way' to play. If some players do want more of a tournament kinda thing, maybe set aside one machine, so other games can be still available to other players. Keeping it loose unless they want more structure might be the best way to go. Enjoy =)

Pics or it didn't happen.

John

I hold meets for those new to pinball over here in Australia regularly primarily for those who have either purchased a machine from me or know someone who is in the market for one.

The best meets for newbies are those that are kept simple with a relaxed atmosphere with no outside rigmarole or hoops to jump through.

Have a competition of sorts on the night but don't bother getting it sanctioned externally - it just complicates matters and you lose most of your autonomy on what is at the end of the day your private property and chattels.

Just a straightforward inhouse competition using one of the simpler formats suggested above.

If you want to make it challenging then offer prize money by charging a door entry and distribute it accordingly at the end of the night.

Stump up for food/catering out of your own pocket as an act of goodwill. Attendees will appreciate it more and positive word of mouth spreads.

Try and keep the alcohol as BYO minimal or discourage it. A lot of my meets are family freindly and it isn't out of place to see wives and kids attend without the environment that excessive alcohol consumption tends to bring. On that note have at least a couple of redemption machines on hand stocked with toys on freeplay for the kids who will inevitably get bored with the pins.

Look back a few posts.

+1 on the Asian hookers!

3 strikes is fun. We did this at a get together prior to Expo. Had a blast!!

We love split flipper. One big difference between us and your pictures, the guys probably wouldn't appreciate the free hand up under the shirt thing.

We are actually pretty damn good especially with all the substance abuse at the same time. Here is our split flipper score a couple nights ago.

IMG_4786 (resized).JPG

Pinball n' booze. All you need.

High score for each game.

Someone say “booze”!