I've only got a 2-inch flipper EM, so a lot of the catching and passing I try to do costs me all the time. The bounce pass almost always drains down the middle on me. But the drop-catch seems to work pretty good. Unless I mis-judge it. I get natural death saves from bouncing off the bottom after it goes down the middle because the drain is so wide, but every time I try to do it myself it tilts.

Lots to learn, but my games are definitely getting better! I think controlling the ball (and the art of nudging) are what marks a good player from some guy who plays pinball. It also marks the switch from "that was cool" to "pinball is freaking awesome!"