i check the factory manual for pitch setting,
i would Never use a i phone style App for bubble,
i have proven this against a Good quality digital level, can be out 1 full degree,
Would you use a phone App to build your house frame,
Never take the reading from the Glass, on the PF Only from the lower flippers to as far up is a good starting point,
then i get 4 little bubble Level Lines, put them in each corner of the PF & adjust my levelers, front start at nearly all the way in, rear 3/4 all the way out,
this process can take awhile But worth the effort,

22444_prev.jpg litt.jpg

You can get one of these

torpedo_away.jpg

I use my iPhone. I use an app, but I understand iOS7 now includes an inclinometer with the compass.

Whichever tool you choose to measure the desired angle always measure on the PLAYFIELD surface
not the Glass.

This is true for leveling as well.

A level playfield might cause the cabinet to be un-level but its the playfield that counts.

Always level a Playfield with at least two measurments.

One at the rear and one between or as close to the flippers as possible.

6.5 to 7 should be good on almost all games. Tweak to your liking.
+1 on the craftsman..... great for the pinball tool box

Most every game built in the last 20 years should be at 6.5 degree, including all your games. Most every game manual lists the recommended pitch. No need to list it on IPDB because they're all the same.

The assumption is: If you're going to take 5 minutes to properly level a game, taking another 30 seconds to remove the playfield glass shouldn't be a problem. Also, how the playfield sits in the cabinet can vary depending on where the playfield mounts were installed. Neither pitch or level should be trusted to measuring on the glass. Lastly, you always want to measure pitch on the playfield between the flippers. On some games, pitch increases slightly as you go up the playfield. When measuring pitch or level using a digital level (I swear by the Craftsman shown above), take a reading, then slide the level back and forth a little and take another reading. Tenths of a degree are very small. A bit of dust or dirt on the playfield can change your readings significantly. If you get different readings, average them and adjust accordingly.

Start by adjusting whatever is most out of spec first, then fine tune. Getting within one or two tenths of what you're shooting for is fine. No player will ever notice a game that is one or two tenths of a degree off (no noticeable lean).

It depends on the game. Some manufactures may recommend a slope.

Me personally, i generally crank games as steep as possible.

+1

Use the incline meter as a guide but set the incline so gameplay is fun for you!

old thread but seems appropriate

After really getting my ass kicked last night playing STTNG I finally got round to measuring the pitch ( after 3 months) turned out it was set at 8.5 degrees . Out of curiosity I adjusted it to the recommended 6.5

wow what a snore fest! it was like the game had turned into an old man

I guess I got used to it playing fast so promptly adjusted back to 8.5 degrees . I'll use it as motivation to improve my game and should help me cope with the arrival of Heighways Full Throttle which looks lightening fast!

Can anyone recommend a good quality digital inclinometer small enough to use at the bottom and top of the playfield?

I use an app on my phone, but I measure and then turn the phone 180 degrees and measure again. I then take the average of the two readings to account for any asymmetry in the phone/case.

I have a craftsman torpedo level.
Works perfect

Thanks for the quick responses in a six year old thread!

Don't forget to level side to side too! You'd be amazed how far out they can be.

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.plaincode.clinometer&hl=en

You don't need a known level surface to calibrate it.

I never trust a phone/app, mine was always off. I bought this one at amazon and like it for compactness and accuracy.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001NPJGL0/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o02_s00

Simply make sure to check and adjust the front to back (left side of the pin and right side of the pin) and side to side (front and back of the pin) LEVEL, using a level on the BOTTOM of the cabinet as your reference point; and the playfield will be set at the manufacturer's recommended pitch. Adjust to taste. I worked in the industry in the late 70's.