Could it be that the switch under the runway isn't adjusted properly? It could be cutting magnet power too soon, or for too long.

What about mechanical possibilities? Are the ball and track clean and smooth? Are the rebound posts loose? Are the rebound rubbers in good shape? Is the ball the right size? The parts catalog calls for a 7/8" ball. A smaller one would go faster.

I'm not sure what you mean by "wasting amperage".

I've wondered about the dual Pulse relay switches. Does anyone know why they used two switches in series? I figured that they were there to distribute the wear and tear of frequent arcing and generated heat across two pairs of contacts.

I was thinking that they'd be unlikely to open at exactly the same time - one would always open just ahead of the other. In series the earlier one would take the brunt of the arcing and heat, sparing the later one since the current would have reduced or stopped by the time it opened. I suppose in parallel the earlier one would escape the damage since all the current would shunt to the later one. Neither theory holds up though unless the order in which the switches open changes periodically.