Regardless of if and how you continue with these videos, rest assured that all the great content you've produced is a huge asset for the pinball community, and I'd wager has helped thousands of people around the world get better at pinball, make repeat plays of pinball more accessible, and increase their appreciation of pinball.

Thanks again!

This is a good video. Much more in depth than I've seen on the topic previously.

I have been talking with local competitive players lately. You mentioned a settings video and I think that would be cool.

One thing that is still lacking in my mind is a standard tilt setting for modern games. I mean like literal... "the cone should be cleaned and it should be above the 50% mark" and it should be tested and working". Sounds obvious but I swear, it's a free for all out there.

I mean why do we most often NOT play extra balls in a league/tournament? It's essentially to shorten the ball times on a game. If that is true, should we be looking for more ways to shorten the lengths of all competitive games since the collective whole of all people playing in tournaments is constantly getting larger and better? I'm not really talking about removing posts or rubbers on the outlanes because that is definitely a strategy for reducing ball times as well, it's just not really possible to make that a "standard" because not all games have those things.

Also consider tilt forums, which discusses these things much more often... I suppose in some ways that is a better forum for a specific competitive video guide, if you do choose to make one.

I realize there are the IFPA rules and they do cover some of this: https://www.ifpapinball.com/wp/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/PAPA_IFPA-Complete-Competition-Rules-1.pdf

It's obviously up to a TD to decide and execute these things but... STANDARDS and helpful tips are distinct from RULES.

A tournament standard is "most of the time EBs are off". A rule is "plunge all extra balls" if you happen to get one. They are different and there is really no set of standards outside of the "IFPA rules". Good TDs only come with experience.

Maybe a short guide would help those that occasionally want to host a tournament (be a TD) or play competitively with a list of things to consider and set up on games ahead of time?

Some possible considerations... should there be a standard # of tilt warnings, should there be a tilt at all, should you use rubber casters to minimize sliding the machine, should extra balls always be turned off for all games, should a game be in tournament/competitive mode if available, how level or steep should a game be, are you allowed to change tilts/leveling after a tournament has started, what about unintentional bouncebacks, withdrawing, disqualification rules, outbursts and rage tilts, stuck balls during multiball, game malfunctions, tilt through situations, if a player is up, how long do they have to show up or plunge (shot clock), list here is very long.

The suggestions I have are:
1. Leave your potential tournament game on overnight, then the next day play it 3 times and confirm it's still working great.
2. Invite good players to "test" games and measure a few ball times or game times. (Most modern games even have ball time lengths) and set a standard average of 2 minutes? or less. If one game sticks out as taking forever, you want to come up with a way to shorten the ball times or, just remove it from the event.
3. Make sure the tilt is working and the game is in Tourn/Comp mode when possible.

Seems like it would be a given but games constantly have problems and if you've never hosted an event before, these 3 things are easy to overlook.

Good news! Such a video on all things regarding the tilt bob already exists, and it's FANTASTIC.

Of special note, if you're running a tournament: install the ear plug mod in all the tilt bobs that allow it.
If you're playing in a tournament, courteously ask the TD/organizers to install ear plugs in all the tilt bobs.
Thank me later.

One of the best ways to shorten ball times by making the game more difficult, yet still "fair" in the eyes of players, is to increase the sensitivity of the slingshots. Inducing more side to side action, and making it more difficult to gain control of the ball is tried and true. And better than putting your pins on a feather tight tilt. Simply use a switch adjustment tool to narrow the gap between the blades of the sling switches -- but not too close, so that the slings don't go into repetitive "rifle" mode on a single closure.

Here is an extensive guide on Game Setup notes and recommendations from Replay Foundation / PAPA:
https://replayfoundation.org/papa/learning-center/director-guide/

I believe most, if not all, of what you've listed here is already captured in the IFPA/PAPA rules that you already referenced.
Great questions to be asking!

This is a CRUCIAL element of setting up a tourney: ensuring that the games are not only working, but working well and battle-tested. Here's a list that I've borrowed and used:
- All Lamps, switches, and coils are functioning properly
- Tilt bob is present and functioning properly
- Flippers are strong, and do not stick or flutter
- Scores for all four players are readable/functioning. For EM's please play multiple 4-player (or maximum player) games to make sure all the non-player 1 reels are working.
- Playfield is clean and waxed
- Rubbers are fresh. If a rubber looks like it may break soon, please replace it.
- Leg levelers can move freely to level the game and adjust pitch.

Setting up a machine video would be great!

I love all of your videos and want to thank you for posting them.
I seem to be terrible at microflipping when the ball doesn't have quite enough momentum for a ski jump, any additional tips for getting better at that?

Before plunging your first ball (or even every ball), quickly test each raised/activated flipper to determine how far you have to let go of each button to deactivate the flipper. This will vary game to game, and even between your L and R flipper. It's much more difficult to micro-flip on a flipper that has a switch that needs to be re-gapped, and requires a "long" button release before it deactivates. What happens in this situation is that you attempt a micro-flip, but you don't release the button far enough and in time to still be in contact with the ball.

Thanks so much for the response, and yes Ski Passing ease and ability definitely depends on the angle of the flippers. Steeper angle flippers I am less concerned with as usually simply raising the flipper, when it is steep, it will not make it up the raised flipper and simply settle into a cradle which is fine as I can gain control.

Will give you advice a shot, lifting completely off and maybe trying a mini slap.

Thanks for posting the video here. You can always lead a horse to water...

I realize most of the other resources you mentioned exist and I've help to run events for nearly 20 years... just thought a video that is well presented to the Pinside crowd could possibly help catch up the more casual competitive players thinking about hosting something.

I'm with you. I've been hosting a sunday comp for the last three years since i started in pinball, just cause we are a competitive mob.

Very casual players, but everytime i ask for help from TD's here i get very few responses and very little help.

It's like the experienced TD's are trying to keep it to themselves.

Usually along these lines, 3 posts and 2 of them mine asking for help. Probably seems simple to these guys, but everything has a learning curve.

https://pinside.com/pinball/forum/topic/group-knockout-new-director-help

I appreciate your efforts and i always point new players that are asking for help to your vids as well as doing what i can to show them skills i know exist but don't pull off very regularly

I've had feedback from new players too, to say that your vids explain things in an easy to grasp and entertaining way. I also always pick up a few things watching, even if i might already know how to pull off some of the passes and catches, there's always a tech nugget in there for me that explains things i hadn't thought about enough in what i do.

It would be a shame if you didn't keep doing it when you thought or were prompted into doing new shows occasionally. Could maybe still do it on a digital purchase content fashion, but add extra content. You could afford to replace tech when it broke and at least it would pay for itself that way even if you didn't add an income stream.

New video is excellent and all your videos are a true asset to the hobby. Thank you!

I donated a while back and would encourage everyone else to do the same.

I'm not sure if that's the kind of motivation you need/want, but I'm sure it can't hurt

I searched the thread and realized the donation link hasn't been posted here. If you've been enjoying these videos like I have (they have definitely made me a better player!), I'd encourage you to buy Abe a beer

PayPal: https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/AbeFlips
Bitcoin: 1HzDhj2N6LhnKBRGkhtdS1RFnWSHeVx3cM

Thanks for sharing this information. Nobody makes better pinball tutorial videos! The quality is top notch. I'll gladly throw some money his way to help keep him motivated and keep the videos ad free.

I've loved your videos (even as an experienced player) as I think you've really taken some great methods to explain the concepts to people and have had fantastic production value. I have some idea of what could be a cool future topic, but I'll PM you!

I had no idea how much effort it is but the results are amazing

Please reach out if you ever need help. I’m always a available and happy to help if needed.

Just discovered these. Nudging Part 2 - wicked shimmy. That cracked me the F up. Well done. Subscribed.

thanks i'll remember. It's only a small group, but i'd like to keep things interesting.

Can someone remind me of the website that has all the standard lessons depicted as simple animations? I find it to be a good supplement to Abe's great work, but I can't remember the URL.

Deadflip.

Thanks

Dude, you're famous!

Screenshot_20220726-131759 (resized).png

Well done mate.

Wow, that's great news

I just can't imagine how you felt when they contacted you.
How many times did you double/triple/... check?

Happy for you, very well deserved!

That’s amazing! Congratulations, very well deserved. I love seeing your content on their socials. Kick ass!!

Successfully did the 'Wicked Shimmy' from your nudging video #2 for the first time finally! What exhilaration in making it work!
Love the videos!

Pulling off a shimmy is the most satisfying move in pinball for me!

I find AIQ's have a very "shimmyable" right outlane. I have done it on a few other machines, but I can more consistently pull it off on AIQ.

This is awesome love your videos and can see how this will help Stern sell games. One day they will actually be on the display in attract mode they have to be!

Oh and they will make you remove the "balls" comment, but keep that on youtube.

Congrats again and well deserved!

Stern I know you read this stuff SMART move, I get sick of trying to tell newbies how to play Pinball, this is very very smart move!!!

I have seen EJS do this shimmy several times while he kicked my ass!!!

Take the tilt bob out and shimmy's become so much easier I was playing a Champion Pub in league and pretty aggressively shimmied the ball out of the left outlane with no danger, wow! Then I found out why.

Iron Maiden was one of the first games I successfully shimmied and yes it had a tilt bob. I've done it on Deadpool numerous times as well. Almost always from the left outlane I find for myself.

I’ve done it on my GZ Pre a couple of times. Both times, I was amazed to actually pull it off.

Peter Watts showed me how to do it on my Sorcerer at a show once.

I've pulled it off a couple times on Deadpool since, but it's against my nudging instincts which are usually a slap on top of the lockbar or a nudge up from the bottom edge of it.
Hard to get my hands to go from a forward nudge to a sideways nudge.

But in saying that, my brain is much too slow to use magna save on any of my machines with it.

Willy Wonka. Right outlane. Stock rubbers, tilt bob, and configuration. I was so excited!

Did the kickstarter campaign ever get launched?

Quick shout out to ABE_FLIPS

The middle school is allowing kids to choose some elective courses to explore new things over a 4 day period in February. A parent suggested I lead a course in pinball as one option. As soon as the school reached out I knew I had these videos in my back pocket to guide some skill development over the 4 days. East yes!!

Looking forward to introducing kids to pinball and using these vids. Every time I watch I’m still amazed at the production value. Just a dang nice Job on these…