Quoted from o-din:To a point, yes. But all shots can be made without cradling. For the most part if it is getting out of control, I will slow the ball with the flipper, but then shoot as it is rolling back down from the inlane. Rarely do I feel the need to stop the ball completely, hold the ball with the flipper and size up the shot. I know where it needs to go, and I know the sweet spot on the flipper. If I was playing for money or some kind of trophy, I might alter my style. But i play for fun, and fun is the way I play.
Stopping the ball isn't about sizing up the shot as much as having a consistent sweet spot. If you always hit on the fly, the sweet spot for the same shot changes based on the speed the ball is moving, so you're shots are less consistent. From a stop the ball rolls down the flipper at the same rate of acceleration, making the sweet spot more on target and actually larger, more forgiving.
Take the glass off and shoot a shot 50 times from a cradle & write down your success %, then play normally and try and hit same shot without stopping and have someone write down results after 50 shots. You'll be surprised at the difference.