Generally: annually with your batteries +/- depending on the number of plays.

Inspect them every time your glass is off.

Why? To prevent PF wear.

Indeed surprising--the post clearly stated generally and +/- depending on the number of plays--and to inspect them every time your glass if off.

BTW, it's what Terry at Pinball Life recommends.

The recommendation is based on two things:

1. Erring on the side of caution. (The prudence of the advice makes even more sense when you consider you're talking about a $3-$6 precaution here.)

2. Convenience. If you change them out every Jan 1st with your batteries, it's one less thing to keep track of (again generally, +/- depending on the number of plays).

Point being: preventative maintenance at a set, easy-to-remember interval--like not waiting till acid appears before replacing your batteries.

You must be new to the hobby or something if you're implying that about Terry.

Terry at PBL is someone who's very highly-regarded and known for telling it like it is.

He's someone I trust--and respect his opinion.

In fact if you ask him this question, he'll tell you to just buy his cheaper balls for $1 vs. the shiny ones for $1.50--because the only difference is the cosmetics--and the cheaper ones qualify for his volume discounts.

Too late you already did.

Sounds like you're now implying there's a nefarious PBL Get-Rich-Quick ball conspiracy going on here--all at a whopping $1 a piece (LOL).

Yeah, that's his secret to success: ball churning (LOL).

Thanks.

It's really a bit surprising when you consider the fact we're talking here about an investment of $5 a year. All to err on the side of caution--in the name of protecting valuable games; or like Vid said:

But aside from that, I also clearly put a disclaimer on the annual number cited in my original post that said:

Meaning if you only play your game 30 times a year, of COURSE forget about it--and then use your judgment. Or if you play your game 3000 times a year, obviously change them a lot more often.

Myself, I like hang out in the Tech Forum and try to offer tech advice whenever I can be helpful--also generally try to pass along good ideas if I can.

To that end, I thought passing along this tip was a good idea because number one, the investment is so low--and number two, because it came from such a highly-respected member of the Pinball community--a person WHO CLEARLY HAS NO AGENDA at a whopping $1 a ball (when he could have easily decreed the Glossy balls to be far superior at $1.50 a ball).

The man was just clearly trying to be helpful (as always)--clearly no ulterior motive.

Personally, I don't think you can ever be too careful when protecting your playfield--especially when the investment is literally nothing.

I really can't believe I'm having to write all this over $5 a year!

Oh well, happy flippin' to all.

Get this: Propaganda has now in fact resorted to Trolling me.

He just gave me a thumbs down in this unrelated RS Topper post--for no apparent reason other than the connection to this post.

Link and screen shot below.

http://pinside.com/pinball/forum/topic/pinballtopperscom-roadshow-topper-2nd-run#post-1522042

Actually I just checked, and he went in and gave me a Thumbs Down on my last unrelated 6 posts in-a-row on other threads. Why did you stop there Propaganda?

Evidently some people have nothing to contribute to Pinside but dissention.

Propaganda.png

Dude, evidently you're holding a personal grudge against me because I didn't buy your CV a couple years ago (evidently because I effectively told you your price was too high via my offer).

Perhaps the reason behind all the thumbs downing is becoming more evident to the community.

Let it go man.

Bigger things in life to worry about.

Let's take it off the boards via PM if you want to continue this train wreck privately.

What part about this didn't you understand by responding publicly?

Pretty evident what's going on here now.

Sorry for the train wreck Pinside--but unprovoked attacks had to be met with a measured response.

Suggesting a Moderator lock here now (unfortunately).