This just started happening to me, as well. Mine is an STLE with the latest software.

I'll be eager to hear the news from Stern. I already had the problem of the second ball sticking up there. Now, I'll shoot a ball under the Vengeance with the drop target down, and it will raise the drop target, register a ball lock, but then not release the ball until a ball search forces the target to drop. I've been too busy to spend time on it, but I expect to test the optos tomorrow.

Mine has definitely gotten worse over time. I have a group here tonight, so we'll see how it goes. I am going to have to warn them about the problem, obviously. Fortunately, it is not a tournament, so the game does not have to play 100% to be useable.

I checked this evening, and my bottom opto is definitely out. That might not be the sole problem, but it is definitely some part of it. Not looking forward to having to replace it, but you do what you have to do.

I replaced the lower opto, and so far things are working, but I haven't played it enough to know that it is a reliable fix. I'll post a note if it starts acting up again.

My opto was definitely shot.

Just the lower one.

Just the one on the right.

Sorry to hear that. This is one very strange problem, indeed.