My battering ram seems to be registering regularly. I would say 1 of 5 doesn't register but I like the fact being that its an easy target right up front to hit that it doesn't register 100% of the time. Plus in your last picture do you now have to worry about the ball hitting the metal on the sides of the battering ram entrance? Its hard to tell but looks like now that metal is exposed for the ball to hit.

I would call Stern Tech support about the issue. Maybe it's on wrong or something is too tight, or whatever. 10% of the time is not right and that does seem to be a problem and that is not normal operation. I would say mine hits 80-90% of the time. Mine seems like its operating normal.