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» Does it bother you when people call flippers paddles?

(Topic ID: 232816)

Does it bother you when people call flippers paddles?

By Zennmaster

5 years ago

Topic Heartbeat

Topic Stats

36 posts
31 Pinsiders participating
Latest reply 5 years ago by jackd104
Topic is favorited by 2 Pinsiders

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Topic poll

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“Does it bother you when people call flippers "paddles"?”

Yes 28 votes

28%
No 42 votes

42%
Isn't that what they're called? 7 votes

7%
Yes, but not as much as when they call them "flappers" 23 votes

23%

(100 votes)

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#1 5 years ago

ZEN

Zennmaster

Pinside member

Portland, OR

8y 46,900 392 5 15

I try not to get too worked up about stuff like this, but for some reason this one just crawls under my skin. I find myself saying things like "Paddles are for boats!" and "Oh, would you rather be kayaking?"

I recognize that it is entirely possible that this is just me, but I feel the need to find out.

Edit: I just searched Marco's for "Paddle", and most of what came back were diverter paddles, nothing associated with a flipper, so I don't think I'm completely wrong about my predicate assumption.

Post last edited 5 years ago: “Added search results.”

#2 5 years ago

EDH

TigerLaw

Pinside Moderator

Jennings, LA

14y 224K 20,100 24 240

Well, a flipper and a paddle are two different things. The flipper is the entire flipper mechanism and the paddle is simply the bat itself. That’s how I’ve always distinguished them anyway (I may be wrong).

#3 5 years ago

BAD

ImNotNorm

Pinside member

6y 143K 6,948 98

MKpgJQ1.jpg

#4 5 years ago

DNO

Pinside member

Highlands Ranch, CO

11y 73,800 1,976 45

Along with "table" "trigger" "gizmo" "slapper" "clacker" and lots of other incorrect terms.

#5 5 years ago

TDR

Who-Dey

In Memoriam

9y 117K 11,746 7 12

I got so mad one time that i smashed everything in my house including my pinball machines.

#6 5 years ago

PBP

PopBumperPete

Pinside+ Frequent

12y 103K 4,039 8

I hate it when machines are called tables

#7 5 years ago

BIL

dothedoo

Pinside member

12y 106K 7,265

Yes......it's not pongball.

#8 5 years ago

LXL

Isochronic_Frost

Saratoga Silverball

7y 221K 9,409 108 1 1

Wait... so this isn’t Tableside?

#9 5 years ago

LKD

Luckydogg420

Pinside member

Kitchener, ON

11y 115K 5,862 14

Oh, sweet. Let’s argue semantics today.

#10 5 years ago

HEP

High_End_Pins

HEP

Matthews, NC

12y 142K 12,536

I try not to be a snob about terminology not everyone is an expert.
One time does stand out though.
Had a guy stop by the shop several years ago unannounced looking for set of

“F*^king perfect brain cards!”

According to him this was for his recent rare find of a Paragon that was one of a few left on the planet and thus incredibly valuable even though it was missing said “Brain cards”
He would have loved to offer it to me but he knew I would just take the “Brain cards” out of one of the many lesser games I had sitting around and “flip it for a mint “

We started keeping the doors locked after that. I don’t know if it was the terminology or total experience that has stuck with me so long.

#11 5 years ago

BIL

dothedoo

Pinside member

12y 106K 7,265

Quoted from High_End_Pins:
“F*^king perfect brain cards!”

Maybe it was the ultra-rare Paragon that used the Bally Brain.

#12 5 years ago

KPC

Gornkleschnitzer

Pinside+ Frequent

8y 70,100 951

As far as flipper terms, don't forget "flapper." One of my co-workers uses that one!

At least nobody from my workplace has sunken to the level of "ping-pong machines."

#13 5 years ago

ESS

erico201

Pinside member

Petersfield, MB

10y 94,650 133 19 6

3B2C4CBD-0032-4EEA-A488-5AF7E2A02034 (resized).jpeg

#14 5 years ago

---

ForceFlow

Pinside Moderator

9y 238K 31,369 268 14

Quoted from Gornkleschnitzer:
As far as flipper terms, don't forget "flapper." One of my co-workers uses that one!

I hear this all the time from non-pinball folks.

"So you hit the ball with the flappers?"

Well, I guess technically the flippers flap up and down...

#15 5 years ago

KPC

Gornkleschnitzer

Pinside+ Frequent

8y 70,100 951

If your flipper is flapping around, you may need a rebuild kit.

#16 5 years ago

DRM

dmacy

Pinside+ Frequent

12y 173K 11,064 1

I’ve heard the term saying someone having nice flappers but pinball wasn’t in the conversation.

#17 5 years ago

JM.

catboxer

Pinside member

12y 54,300 1,865

Dingbats, Mr Snappys, Ball Police, Rubber Tuesdays, Anti-drain sticks...all perfectly acceptable terms to use when ordering flipper parts from Pinball Resource.

#18 5 years ago

j_m_

Pinside+ Frequent

11y 124K 7,590

Quoted from TigerLaw:
Well, a flipper and a paddle are two different things. The flipper is the entire flipper mechanism and the paddle is simply the bat itself. That’s how I’ve always distinguished them anyway (I may be wrong).

by that logic, shouldn't they be called flipper bats and not paddles?

#19 5 years ago

DOC

TractorDoc

DPS

Ashland, OH

7y 245K 2,923 33 106

How much Flip can a Flapper Flap if a Flipper could Flip Balls?

#20 5 years ago

DAD

Astill

Pinballrom

Collingwood, ON

11y 74,300 822 18

i get asked a lot if i still collect ping pong machines. it doesnt bother me at all , i get a chuckle out of it.

#21 5 years ago

JIG

jwilson

Pinball Art Prints

Toronto, ON

9y 106K 5,052 6 7

I’m more irritated by “table”.

#22 5 years ago

SMK

TheLaw

Pinside+ Addict

Ann Arbor, MI

12y 162K 48,071 19 30 1

I don't mind since it's usually people from other countries. Like "Playing Field."

I find non pinheads irritate me far less than "actual" pinheads

#23 5 years ago

???

jamesdeloris

Pinside member

Fayetteville, AR

11y 37,300 575 4

I think what bothers me more is when people say "I could care less" when they should be saying "I couldn't care less"!

#24 5 years ago

Darcy

Pinside member

Leduc, AB

11y 124K 6,360 17

When does 'Flipper Bats' come into play.

On a side note:
Flipper was a beloved dolphin from the 60's. She even had its own TV show, the 3 dolphins are probably dead now.

#25 5 years ago

???

silver_spinner

AR Gaming Rentals (MI)

11y 77,550 3,046

its all funny to me. i use those terms on our flyers. "big flapper contest"

#26 5 years ago

ZEN

Zennmaster

Pinside member

Portland, OR

8y 46,900 392 5 15

Quoted from jwilson:
I’m more irritated by “table”.

Unfortunately, I feel I have to give up on this one. Mr. Townshend did us no favors here.

"Even on my favorite game, he can beat my best" would have worked just fine, IMHO.

#27 5 years ago

SAD

ShootAgainDave

Pinside member

Quebec

10y 29,150 68

For years, in French, I heard a lot the word "wiper" (referring to flippers) from older people. Sounds funny!

#28 5 years ago

DEN

jibmums

Pinside member

12y 96,900 3,965 16

Next time I run across a guy who buys a pinball machine cheap and then immediately relists it for twice the price, I'll call him a "paddle".

#29 5 years ago

TIM

ralphwiggum

YouBentMyWookie

Sullivan, WI

12y 108K 5,446 6

Some people call machines "decks"... So with paddles and decks, are we now into boating?

#30 5 years ago

JM.

catboxer

Pinside member

12y 54,300 1,865

Quoted from ralphwiggum:
Some people call machines "decks"... So with paddles and decks, are we now into boating?

“I love that big deck on my Black Hole.”

#31 5 years ago

???

Mike_J

Pinside member

13y 99,550 5,400 58

Paddles, tables and decks are all cringeworthy.

I’m not certain why it bothers me as much as it does.

#32 5 years ago

TIM

Tuna_Delight

Pinside+ Frequent

14y 178K 7,264 1

Who calls flippers "paddles"?! Honestly don't recall hearing this much. Now, if you were to ask me how I feel about the term "Pinball Wizard" ...

#33 5 years ago

JON

ezelljon

Pinside member

6y 50,100 150 21

It does bother me when someone paddles me off on the freeway

#34 5 years ago

TIM

ralphwiggum

YouBentMyWookie

Sullivan, WI

12y 108K 5,446 6

Quoted from catboxer:
“I love that big deck on my Black Hole.”

Easy there, this is a family site....

#35 5 years ago

JPJ

Frippertron

Pinside member

Sparta, NJ

7y 60,800 2,301

If I'm a flapper, I prefer to be well dressed.

4607aba4f83479c58273d5700d056d18 (resized).jpg

#36 5 years ago

JDD

jackd104

Pinside+ Frequent

11y 101K 3,906 11 14 1

Be happy anyone is talking about pinball at all.

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