Weird .. I definitely do not get air balls like that. I know on mine the shuttle ramp posts are angled downwards toward the playfield. Without that, when they are struck, they would bend backwards forming a ramp to launch the ball into the air. Might try bending them forward a bit. Same goes for Q and the posts. Another thing to check is the foam on the back of these targets -- if it's in bad shape or missing, that could be causing them to flex more than is desirable.

As an aside, I feel this game plays better at an angle steeper than 6.5 degrees -- less side to side ball movement, and therefore slightly fewer side drains. I don't have any trouble at all hitting any ramps and mine is set pretty steep.

I never get airballs when I play mine.

Are the flipper rubbers installed correctly? Are the flippers at the correct height? Either one of those might sometimes cause air balls.

I get the same thing on mine but I have only had it since last Thursday. Comes off those same posts and sometimes hits the launch ramp.

I get air balls off both shuttle targets. The ball bounces off them and hits the loop from which the ball is served. I have an Enterprise ship mounted near there, where it gets hit occasionally. The wire form is loose enough that the ship bounces back into place without any damage. Other than that, no problems. I live with it because it's no big deal.

Same, haven't really looked at it much. I stuffed an extra foam pad behind my TZ clock target to fix that doing the same thing.

Do you have a pic? Sounds cool... Does it block your view?

i mean ... it's up to personal preference. mine is set to 7 degrees (just went down and measured). give 7.5 degrees a try, it'd probably be pretty fun and even less drainy, as long as the launcher can make the top hole, and the flippers can make the beta and delta quadrant ramps (by the way, delta failures with the third flipper are rarely a problem with flipper power, even though players really want to think that! )

again, just make sure these are bent forwards a bit, and the foam is in good shape, and that should reduce airballs off of those targets.

haha. it happens. the game is brutal. good luck!

Upon reading your post, I've tried to upload pics, however, the uploader will not open. To answer your second question, at the angle to which I have it adjusted the Enterprise doesn't block my view. It can be placed in any direction of my choosing. The armature is a thin piece of stainless wire I bought at the local hardware store. The gauge of the wire allows it to act as a nice, springy shock absorber. Works great! I will try the uploader later.

My Enterprise is mounted in front of the left VUK. Does not obstruct the view. Also, each time a ball is released there it makes the Enteprise transport noise as it flashes so it makes sense (to me)

image.jpg

Airballs from target hits, check pinball resource for reinforced targets. I've got them on TZ clock target, slot target and on TOM center ramp targets. That are a must. If STTNG needs them pinball resource has most likely made them.

Ah, the upload works! Here are some pics.IMG_1265.JPGIMG_1266.JPG

I have had my STTNG machine for about 4 weeks now and the "airball" issue has been pretty much as the OP describes. I have thought it had to do with the foam behind the targets but wasn't sure what can be done to fix that. Do they sell just the foam or do the entire target switches need to be replaced? I have had some hit the shuttle target next to the beta quadrant ramp launch balls over the habitrail, into the right side track, into the right cannon, I have had them go left into the command hole, the left side track or actually fly over the flippers into the drain lanes. Don't remember seeing this much "airtime" when playing this table in the bars. Thanks for letting me add my observations and hope for a solution. Was very happy to see this post and hope for any answers.

Put some of these on...
http://www.pinballlife.com/index.php?p=product&id=410

Interesting, I'd never heard of these till now:
http://www.pbresource.com/pfswitch.htm#pbre

Doesn't look like there's a red one that would color match STTNG but perhaps a blue one would work.
I don't normally get insane airballs though like has been described here, but some definitely off of the left 2x shuttle target.

My Getaway has played like a champ for long time but recently started getting lots of air balls off targets. Same problem - foam wore out. I plan on buying a bunch to replace them all and having a bunch of extras.

My machine was suffering from too many air balls as well. After replacing all the targets and rubbers there hasn't been a single one. The targets were bent out of whack and the post rubbers were old and hard.