I feel like it is a very thin protector, and the front hole is much smaller/narrower than a usual scoop hole. The side scoop doesn't deform as fast. But the ball I think is hitting the protector, then the two side tabs start bending in and stopping the ball. I don't think it is "1" thing but like ^, it is all the things together that are causing this.

Stern is smoking the good stuff if they think route operators are gonna leave the scoop on… home use, maybe? They need to make a few extra playfields for those warranty requests :-p

Stern said they weren't ready to ship out the real protector fix...but on the list...

Ya I’m excited to see/use cliffys!

From the past. Mantis from underneath didn't "stop" wear a the wood lip going into scoops..... so I'm not sure just a mantis would completely solve this rush scoop issue.

Are yours home games? It is hard to compare hundreds of plays vs thousands and tens of thousands from route. 10 years ago I always saw people putting both cliffy and mantis on scoops. The mantis would not be level with the pf so when the ball rolls over that wood edge, it would wear. Another issue with rush is the scoop is so close to the flippers, in a highly hit spot because of being in the middle and the balls always rolling into that scoop set...it is going to have to be some serious protectors to help keep it from not having issues in a higher play instance.

Glad you've had good luck with just the one protector. The mantis is good at being hidden and not seen.

good! this was all stuff that when I was getting into the hobby 10+ years ago, was a thing... I 've never had a mantis on my games, and my home games barely get played.

and mine is getting chewed up with low plays :/

I have a cliffy on order... pondered getting a mantis as well. See if one allows shots better. I get some decent rejects.

I put the ninja scoop protector on today. It kind of pulled up where the posts tightened down, but otherwise seems very flat. Played the monthly tourney afterward and no one even noticed or said anything. I had a little indent in the wood on the right of the front scoop, not sure this will protect super hard hit balls? but i'm just glad to have something on the wood for a route game.

Cliffy is shipping his now! Nice.

My stern just showed up.
Metal protector for each scoop and then the bracket with two black nubs.

Seems so weird they would turn that scoop into a harder to hit however, the right side of the scoop, with "mylar" on it has been dented pretty bad. I may end up going to the stern one while on route and then convert to ninja when the game is brought home.

I have installed the RUSH v2 ninja protector. You can for sure see upgrades they did to the original. Looks nice. I also added the stern U fork w/ rubber nubs to the front scoop to further protect the right side of the front scoop being beat the hell.

Once this game goes home, i'll remove the stern U/fork thing.

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I think they posted about it in their thread. Early units ripped between the two scoops. Also since I had had a tiny bit of art/clear coming up, they made another with extended pf side to cover that.

you will need to reach out to ninja camp mods.

Hopefully bringing my Rush home so i can check out the scoops and protectors.... that scoop area...uffff.