I have been playing pinball since the early 70's. I play hard and often. I play with my middle fingers, with exception of the death save or slam... As I get older (I am 58), some games have become just painful to play.
Gottlieb, especially the earlier games, can really be a challenge. For example: I have a '60 Spot a Card. It's completely rebuilt and in mint condition...and completely Gottlieb. It's a whore of a game to begin with, but the flipper buttons are so stiff that I can't play it too long before my fingers begin to ache to no end. My Bally's are better, with the exception of my Twin Win... Another finger f*cker.
I have 2 Williams games (Big Daddy, Heat Wave) that are easy on the digits on which I can play for hours without even thinking about my bird flipping fingers.
Now, I am not new to the hobby, and I have installed new buttons and contacts, springs, etc. But some games like Spot a Card, cripple me. I don't want to convert games with other manufacturers' parts.
I have tried combining my fore and middles fingers, but it freakn alien to me. Like throwing with the wrong hand.
Maybe this is an ode to the aging player and arthritic reality, but I was wondering if I am not alone in the suffrage of the middle finger blues.