I actually sold my PinBot (which I otherwise actually miss!) because this damn shot was so infuriating on my machine. And I assure you I tried everything:

- adjusting the shooter housing
- replacing the housing
- replacing the shooter rod
- changing springs
- adjusting the lockdown bracket
- shimming the playfield latches
- shimming the housing
- adjusting the ramp
- ensuring pf (lane to ramp) was flat and smooth
- adjusting the rubber along the left side of lane
- new balls
...etc etc etc!

For each change it sometimes felt like I'd be getting closer... and often the ball would rocket up to the top hole so hard I thought "crap, it's gonna shatter the ramp" but then the next plunge would just clunk and not even make it to the middle. So damn frustrating! Changing one thing, changing multiple things, trying to find the right combination... nothing was ever consistent enough to feel like I was truly honing in on the problem.

I maybe could have lived with it not being "right" or "strong enough to make the top" or whatever, but it was the wholesale lack of consistency and feeling like I had no affect or control over the repair or the outcome that did me in. And it was truly disappointing to qualify the big vortex points yet have no skilled hope of achieving them. I'd love to know what/if the actual problem and fix was for that machine.

I admire and am jealous of those who track and solve this issue. I wished I had a slow-mo camera, I am sure that might have helped tremendously.