Ive had this happen with non-pinheads as well!! I think they start to play,and get to a point where there not sure what to do next! Then,get interested in another pin! Ive even had folks start a 4 player game and don't understand what they did! You have to supervise the uninitiated sometimes!!!

And they always bash both flippers at the same time !

Or slam the ball launch button...

Trade me your FG. Problem solved

People who are not used to pinball think nothing of this. It is just another electronic device that they walk away from when they're bored.

I always use it as a teaching oppuortunity. When I have non-pinheads over, I explain that they should always finish a game because leaving a game pending can be bad for it, especially the older games. I also explain not to hit both flippers at the same time because it actually creates more of a gap for the ball to get through. And, most importantly, I explain that if anything falls off the playfield, they should stop playing and get me immediately.

They get it once I explain it to them.

No rule knowledge and no pinball skills.

No one knows what there doing. They don't even know rules exist.

They also think every time the ball goes near a flipper, you have to flip.

Every time I have a party, I'll close the game room up at the end and all machines have 4 players going with basically Ball 2 of Player 3 flashing.

Mike, we had the same problem.

Set all your pins on auto plung after 10-15 seconds. Then if someone walks away midgame the pin will shoot automatically and eventually end.

Yup, auto plunge is the solution if it's an option.