I haven't played pinball competitively for around a decade until a week ago. I figured I'd enter just for fun. The night started out feeling like I was going to take last place and I was fine with that; I was just happy to be back in it again playing some new pins, seeing some new faces and some I haven't seen in awhile either. Turns out I took 3rd for the night.

If you think about it, you are either going to have laughing, or frowning, but not both. But I honestly don't see either happening. If anything you should laugh at yourself if you do well, or poorly. Most importantly, have fun, and don't care about how you do or what other people think.

Most people who really care about how they are doing in a tournament/ league will be worrying about being neck and neck with the person scoring a little better or worse than themselves. Or they are going to be thinking about...what if i nudged the game a little more or little less/ would I have done better or worse.

That way you can't lose. This can be applied outside of pinball as well.