DO NOT add metal, or any hard, washers. It will only push the pooling out further. If there is pooling, then put silicone washers from Pinball Life or Titan under all the posts subject to ball strikes or under tension from rubbers. They stop the posts from "digging into" the soft clear and from slipping. If there is pooling anywhere then you should protect the whole playfield.

Level game, keep game clean (wax), play game, enjoy game with family. If you hunt for an issue you will more than likely find something. Your family selected a really fun game.

On the latest Stern games like TMNT, you'll notice Stern has removed artwork around almost* all of the posts in the playfield and now you'll see a wood toned circle around the posts. The pooling you mentioned (it's really blistering) used to occur in the artwork under all the posts in the playfield. With no art under the posts, you won't get any pooling under them, so don't worry about that.

You might see a little pooling in all the areas that the stainless steel ball guides are fastened to the playfield, but it seems to be minor compared to the pooling that used the occur around the posts. Well, minor that is unless it chips off a small piece of the blistered art. Some people have loosened all the ball guide mounting points and have put tiny washers under them to lift them off the playfield surface. That's a lot of work, for something you'll probably never notice.

*ah, the asterisk: For whatever reason, it does not look like Stern removed the art under the TMNT outlane posts, so you'll probably see a little pooling there.

Bottom line, TMNT is a great game. Re-read Yelobird's post above and just do what he says. More fun, less worry.

IF there are signs of pooling under posts or guides, then you can spend a little time to protect it by raising the guides and/or installing silicone washers or just hope it doesn't chip. People are different - I wouldn't hesitate to spend a little time to keep the game looking it's best, and protect its resale value. Haven't seen many pins with even minor chipping flying off the Pinside Marketplace shelves without a good discount.

amen!