That “gun” lineup is kind of ridiculous, I forgot about Dirty Harry! Are there others? JD (?)

I don’t like the launch button really; I like shooter rods because of the added precision you need, kind of adds to the game.

The worst part of the guns are the bazillion times you bang into them, OUCH!

I prefer just the regular rod type plunger with the auto shooter built in of course.

My votes regular plunger incorporated with some type of skill shot.

Although the gun is neat too because it actually means something with the game. There are definitely some games that I’m glad they went with the gun like The Shadow and IJ.

I like the old style pull plungers. The buttons on MM and AFM are fine, but I miss the pull back.

Skill Shots with push button ball launchers are laughable. Especially on games like AFM and MM. Why even bother? The Super Skill Shots are neat, and worthwhile, but not everyone knows how to activate them.

Still, push button launchers, I believe, were born out of the necessity to cut costs. Gun grips just add a cute little novelty, but they're really no different. The biggest benefit to them from a players perspective is that it allows the game to use virtual ball locks when playing multiplayer games.

Given that, I think the standard plunger with an autofire is the best combination. It autofires for ball saves and mulitballs, but still gives the player that romantic "pull back the plunger" feeling when playing.

early Bally plungers that ended in a point sucked

I'd rate this one #2.

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Don't forget desw "throttle" type launcher.

regular one is better for some skill shots, but sometimes cool looking stuff is fine. love my fish tales, but that damn fishing rod i have hit my head on way too many times

Well, I like the rod plunger because it adds another element of skill and the launch button because it adds other possibilities (like martian bombs). From an interaction point of view, gun/trigger launchers might be less fun, but they integrate very well with certain themes (like The Shadow, Indiana Jones, Dirty Harry, etc) and that's important too. I like all of them

I like the tradtional plunger with the skillshot...

I will give props to DH with how they incorporated the gun with options for skillshots

On a similar note...mod the plunger or not? I have never had a custom one and never tried one either. Any thoughts? Iron Man mask, Golem’s head, or just the standard black handle?

I like them all. However I change out all the standard ones with the ball type custom painted ones from Modfather.

Recently I bought LOTR it had Golem's head and freaked out my grandson so bad he won't go into that area in the basement. Ordered a new ball style one from Modfather getting today.

I don't care for the molded head plungers at all.

but that's just like my opinion man

God no, keep it original.

I've always wondered what people do when players launch the ball by slamming the plunger when it's a clay figurine.

I think it really depends on the game.

Are there others?

Guns n Roses

Standard old school plunger is pretty much the last vestige of the original pinball games built hundreds of years ago. They are a part of the game you can't replicate.

ONe of the smartest things Stern did was ALWAYS use a manual/auto combo plunger in their games, going back almost 30 years? (except T3 I guess?)

I can't think of any game that was improved by not having a manual plunger.

Some of the novelties like the IJ gun handle are great through.

I only like a gun plunger if it is incorporated in the actual game play, like T2. If it is used solely for launching the ball then I would rather have the "typical" plunger. The button is third on my list, but if it means I'm playing pinball I guess it'll work.

LW3, JP, BATMAN FOREVER.

It would be a joke if machines that require an accurate plunge to start each ball had one of those buttons or guns.

Nah. There are too many games where the plunge is one of the most important shots of the ball.

And where would New York City be if Roger Sharpe had hit a launch button while trying to demonstrate pinball as a game of skill in the shot that saved pinball for that city?

Nothing like a clean,crisp,smooth launching traditional plunger. Which only one of my machines has.
I would take the gun over a stiff, slow old school plunger any day. The ball launch button takes away a lot to me.

LAH

My Op buddy prefers the buttons because kids can’t hang from them.
If there is no real plunge skill shot, why bother with a plunger?
Guns are cool if they are incorporated in the game somehow.

Seriously? A proper plunge can set the tone for an entire ball, with or without skillshot.

A bad plunge can and will net an almost sure quick drain.