I've been watching a lot of video of my games in tournament play. The top tier players are amazing, obviously. They have the full complement of tools to draw from. I also see a lot of threads about getting to this wizard mode or that one. I don't consider myself a great player, but I don't think I suck either. I routinely put up some respectable scores. Yet BftK, Immolation, We're Ready to Believe You, and Enterprise Amok aren't even on my radar. The closest I've come is two modes to go for Immolation on GotG (and that's not even the final Wizard Mode).

What would you consider the biggest difference between an average player and those that get to, and defeat, wizard modes? I'm sure it's a combination of factors, but if you had to say "work on this first", what would "this" be? Know the game...wizard modes aren't about points? Nudging to get potential drains back in play? Flipper skills to get the ball where you want it for the specific shot you want? Accuracy to avoid having out of control balls in the first place? Zen...don't panic and start shaking the shit out of the machine? Etc....

I think that says something that I didn't even think of this. I find myself thinking of what a great game I'm having, or how bad it's going. I'm also often thinking about what I'm going to do next. Sounds like this could be a big obstacle to me getting to the wizards.

I wasn't thinking of tournaments in this question, just how well those guys play. In a home setting, focus is probably even harder. More distractions and the feeling of --- I can always play again.

Another area that I didn't list was multiball play. I watched the video of KE getting to 5 Year Mission on ST, and the multiball play was astounding. I don't know that that really helps get to the Wizard Modes, but it's hypnotizing to watch. That really shows all of the other skills at once...controlling all of those balls while still hitting specific shots, keeping calm and knowing when to let a ball drain rather than trying to save every one....

I'll definitely work on everything, but I think improving MB play will be my focus first. If that improves, everything in single ball play should as well.

So as a successful competitive player, with self-proclaimed questionable accuracy, how well do you play solo? Can you get to final Wizard Modes (ignore unreachable ones)? Can you beat them? Is that even something that you care about? It's definitely a goal to "beat" every one of my games.

I understand why a lot of the responses are focusing on tournaments and competitive play. I asked about the top players, and the top players compete. But I was meaning to focus on their abilities with regard to completing the final modes of games, not just winning tournaments. As chuckwurt mentioned above, I don't think you have to be able to beat the games to be able to beat other people playing them.

I thought that was implied. "Practice" is generic. In golf, you can stand on the driving range and practice bombing drives right down the middle all day. If you think that is the key to golf, your overall game will suck. What would be the most important area to practice on?

I started to do this last night -- mentally, not actually documenting. Thinking about the specific drain and the actions that led up to it. I do think that documenting this after each ball and reviewing after 5 or 10 games will be a valuable exercise. I also think that capturing every game on video and reviewing would be very beneficial. Nothing fancy, even a phone capture would do. Being able to watch the entire game for pros and cons.

I think these are my numbers 1 and 2.

From everything people have said, I think to reach wizards modes, you take the shortest route and keep the ball in play. Knowing the rules, to know what is necessary and what isn't and how to get extra balls, has to be number 1. Don't waste shots and risk losing balls on things that don't advance to the wizard mode. As for nudging, this to me is a close #2. You have to keep the ball in play. Those 3 or 4 shot "house-balls" are a killer. I really need to eliminate those. My best games are always the ones where every ball is productive. That sounds pretty obvious, but it's easier said than done!

I've posted many replies stating that the question was intended to figure out how the top players get to and complete "Wizard Modes"...not win tournaments. I even stated that in the original post. But I also understand why so many people take it to a discussion of tournament play. The way I phrased the topic title, the fact that pinball is a competitive game, and the fact that many skills translate to both all make the tournament discussion valid as well.

Simple - Yes
Easy - NO

This is one area I'm really trying to improve upon. I just completed Klingon MB on my ST Prem for the first time two weeks ago. I was controlling the balls, but more importantly, I was able to see the playfield and hit specific shots. This is a huge improvement for me. Usually (on GB for example) I'm just staring at the flippers and flailing away to keep the balls in play and hoping I'm making progress on whatever mode or objective is active.