Bally

Strikes and Spares

Pinside Rating

This game received 74 approved Pinsider ratings and currently rates 7.335 _/10

7.335

Top 100 ranking

This game ranks #209 in the Pinside Pinball Top 100.

Score breakdown

Score breakdown in the 4 main categories:

Game Design: 7.21

Artwork: 7.972

Sounds/Music: 5.006

Other Aspects: 7.544

Pinside staff rating

This is how we, the very knowledgeable (wink wink) Pinside.com staff & moderators rate this game. 2 of us have rated this game.

6.465

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Found 38 ratings (with comment) on this game

There are 38 ratings (that include a comment) on this game.
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6.665/10

9 years ago

TAP

Trace

Inactive member

Unknown

10y 21,000 9 24

Love the artwork!

7.008/10

9 years ago

RJC

boiler2331

Inactive member

Westville, IN

9y 29,900 66 4 9

Pretty good for an older pin. Doesn't look like there is much to do until you start playing and get caught up in the action. While it will most likely not ever be part of a collection I own, it certainly is more than capable of drawing me in game after game.

6.005/10

10 years ago

TGB

Thunder424

Inactive member

Angola, IN

10y 24,150 294 1 67

A decent game to pop a quarter in, but nothing that I would want to hang on to for a while. The bowling theme is fun but it's pretty much just a 'meh' game.

7.014/10

10 years ago

DAN

BeaverBrewing

Pinside member

Beaver Falls, PA

11y 80,150 289 7 282

Is there a better backglass? Not sure. Layout is themed perfectly for bowling with the rollover "pins".

7.996/10

10 years ago

SCO

scooter

Pinside member

Louisville, KY

15y 96,900 3,615 1 205

Great older pin

8.554/10

11 years ago

DAV

wayout440

Pinside member

Berea, OH

11y 113K 11,264 3 12

The art package is almost the best in pinball. Properly set up this game is decievingly FAST. Once you start playing it you can't stop.

wayout440 has owned this game in the past.

6.090/10

11 years ago

ZUL

Caucasian2Step

Evil McBooty

12y 163K 1,455 51 1011

Strikes and Spares is a Bally table that is fortunate to have a wonderful art package and a deceivingly simple layout that hides the fact that this is a challenging control/shooter's game.

The Pros:
The redhead on the BG. I'd like to know who the model was and find her daughters. We need to make babies. The gameplay is deceptive in the fact that the bank of rollovers is something to aim for in itself. sometimes you can get lucky and the ball bouncing around can get the target you want, but this is not something to be relied upon. Lots of insert shots in a seemingly barren playfield.

The Cons:
Maybe this is just me, but that center rollover lane at the top of the PF seems to be slightly narrower and higher than the A and C lanes. It could just the game I am playing... but since that lane lights the spinner and other goodies on this deck, it is most frustrating. Once the shots are felt, the game can be a chore. Back to the top lanes and nudge/hope for the "B". The left and right orbits are all there are to shoot for on this game. Everything else is a lucky (or unlucky) bounce. 45 second games are not uncommon.

The Takeaway:
A decent game, deceptively better game than it initially seems to be. Kevin O'Connors work is perfect for the game and makes the rather stale theme of bowling sexually charged and silly at the same time. Ah, the power of misogyny. The looks of the game IS the selling point for this deck. This table also balances fun and skill quite nicely. Once you get to know it... the play is simple and it sings.

7.632/10

11 years ago

MWS

Methos

Pinside member

Lodi, WI

12y 103K 7,270 21 10 1

The backglass is a classic. Putting that aside, the game is a very early SS and it shows. All chimes, the game play isn't the best. Getting an extra ball is too easy and without drop targets - there isn't a lot to do. So in summary - a great game to have as an art piece, but not a good selection if you have a small collection.

Methos has owned this game in the past.

8.306/10

12 years ago

PHH

phh0999

Inactive member

Newport, MA

12y 25,900 2 11 31

Really am surprised at how much I like this game...The spinner on this playfield is in a great position to smack really hard on the way up to the top. A BIG premium is gained by skillfully nudging the ball through the center rollover, classic 3 pop bumper layout, it's bowling! an easy to understand theme, rolling over the stars knocks down pins....old school chimes are refreshing....These older machines need a class by themselves, I mean yea the new corvette is amazing, but so isn't the '66 in a much different way! Bottom line? this pin is fun to play and very relaxing...great entertainment!

phh0999 has owned this game in the past.

8.294/10

12 years ago

SS

Shapeshifter

Pinside member

13y 150K 10,466 8 144

Looks great. Nice open playfield and just keeps you coming back for more. Would like to pick up a mint one of these.

6.828/10

12 years ago

JWM

sanantoniopinhea

Pinside member

Austin, TX

12y 42,900 21 4 61

Backglass is one of the best. Another classic Bally. Alot of rollover's and standup targets take off some of the luster. Love the right lane with the "hard to hit" saucer. I love the chimes instead of the poor sound boards of this era.

sanantoniopinhea edited previous rating on October 22, 2011.

8.925/10

13 years ago

EMO

emo

Inactive member

Nailsea

17y 53,650 1,277 2 251

Wow what a great game. At first glance there is little to differentiate it from many other games from this period but the difference is that in addition to a balanced playfield and rule set, it has loads of targets to pick off. You have the targets on either side and all the rollovers in the center.
Once you get them there is a challenging spinner shot around the left to ramp up the scores when lit.
It is always challenging and never gets boring. I also love the real chimes and outstanding art which are a bonus!

emo edited previous rating on October 23, 2011.
emo has owned this game in the past.

8.109/10

13 years ago

DUG

ninjadoug

PGH Pinball

Pittsburgh, PA

16y 103K 1,219 137 26

As many have stated before on this game, phenomenal artwork!

The audio is your basic chimes for this era, so I can't grant or take away too many
points based on audio.

Great playfield layout for this era of machine. If Set up properly, this is a
really fast moving game one of my favorite early solid state games for sure!

ninjadoug currently owns this game.

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