Ball Accuracy - Its all about timing. And figuring out the timing will take practice. One thing to be aware of is that if the ball is coming down the lane to the flipper as opposed to from the open playfield, try and think of your shots like this: you are holding a soft ball and you under-hand toss it to someone else being sure to let it roll off your fingers. But a lot still comes into play like how fast the ball is coming down the lane. Anyway, the larger point being practice makes semi-perfect

The leg bolts are uniforming (or should be) tightened. If a machine isnt letting your do the maneuvers you want to without tilting, the tilt may just be too sensitive. Different machines definitely weigh different amounts but there shouldn't be problem doing what you are talking about.

3 + 5 are most likely related. Its like bowling (rainbow) until a ball is going just the right speed, the spin of the ball has no effect on its path. Definitely a waxed/ polished playfield will have different effects vs a non waxed. Spinning is greatly affected by the cleanliness of the rubbers on the playfield as well as the cleanliness of the flipper rubbers. I do find that white rubbers have more grip then black ones so maybe they help eliminate some of the spinning. Sometimes a ball gets really spinning and sometimes it doesnt. You'll learn to adapt to it.

This is all just my two cents. I'm sure there are a lot of opinions on some of these things. Hope some of it helps.

Practice makes perfect, don't try and hammer the ball you should caress it with well timed shots. When using flipper control don't go crazy just slow the flipper movement down.

Good luck but its true practice makes perfect.

Tightness of the leg bolts should make no difference in being able to nudge. Carpet and those rubber leg adj. covers can make it difficult to slide save.

There is nothing you can do about spin reaction on the ball. Clean games do it. Dirty games don't.

Slap saves are a lost art. One variation I like to use is this. When the ball is coming STDM it will usually be slightly off center in one direction or the other. Try to determine which side it is closer to, then hold that flipper up. Then nudge the upheld flipper tip into the balls path. Now a quick flip of the other flipper and you will usually save the ball.

If you play enough AC/DC you will learn to nudge based on the balls trajectory towards the right inlane/outlane without actually being able to see that area. After several hundred games on AC/DC i'd say I actually lose the ball more on the left than the right.

Keep practicing. These skills take years to develop!

1) Look at the flipper while you shoot, especially if shooting from a dead ball. If you miss, you'll know the position on the flipper needs to be earlier or later, and you can adjust to a more accurate shot.

2) No idea. I have seen a location that kept its leg bolts locked in position, literally locked, so nudging was not possible.

3) Not sure, but flip at the same time as you slap.

3) You had two threes. I've never heard of rainbowing, but double rainbowing all the way.

4) You're right to move your head into a better position. Long-term you'll eventually know the nudges you need while the ball is headed there. Best is not letting the ball get to that area in the first place.

5) Happens all the time. After a live catch, a quick re-flip should cancel the spin. Be ready for tap flips. This is probably the biggest danger of live catching; drop catches don't have to worry about this.

2. All you need is a wrench and the right socket... go down there and loosen up all 8 bolts I'd say 3/4 a turn. then lift up one leg from the ground (using your body or a friend) and tighten up the two bolts with equal force on all bolts. (not much force indeed!). hold your wrench the same way - it'll be easier to measure the force you're applying. you can go from there - if you need to loosen or tighten the feel of the machine, by turning the same fraction of a turn on every bolt.
-yes I would do this on a public machine when the operator is not around!

I have placed "etched logo" star trek balls in my ST LE, which are slightly darker with the star trek insignia on them and it's great to see the spin for a change. You can trap the ball with a live catch, and watch it spin on the flipper rubber and understand what's going on. Entertains me no end.

Over time you will begin to learn to anticipate when the ball is spinning, and in what direction. Once you can do that you will be able to adjust your flipper action to suit. For example, if the ball only just glances a post on its left side, the post will slow down the left side of the ball causing it to spin counter-clockwise. If the ball has not hit anything else before it reaches your flipper, then you can expect it to shoot off to the side when it grips the flipper rubber.

Improving the accuracy of your shots (using the advice of others above) will also reduce the amount of times you have to deal with a spinning ball.

It's a lot like table tennis. A good player can read the type of spin on the ball based on how the opponent hits it, and then counteract or completely overcome that spin with their own desired spin (by adjusting the power, angle, and timing of their swing). A less experienced player would instead hit it with a flat bat and no consideration for the spin at all. They then scratch their head and wonder why their shots always go off the table at a 90degree angle