One of the easiest ways to get yourself into trouble in a pinball tournament is by watching everyone else instead of focusing on your own game.
It’s tempting. Someone on your group just put up a monster score. Another player is making every shot look effortless. Suddenly you’re thinking, “I have to catch them!”
That’s when mistakes happen.
Every machine asks something different from every player. Your job isn’t to beat the person standing next to you—it’s to play the machine in front of you as well as you can.
Stick to your game plan. Take a breath before plunging. Make the shots you know you can make. If you need to change strategy because you’re behind, do it intentionally—not because you panicked after seeing someone else’s score.
I’ve had tournaments where I thought I was completely out of it, only to watch other players struggle while I stayed patient. I’ve also chased huge scores and drained trying to force risky shots that weren’t there.
The machine doesn’t care who’s leading.
It only cares what you do with your next flip.
Shower Thought: Play the machine, not the other players. Your best chance to win starts with your own game.
All it takes is one good ball.
Your friends want to beat you too. Playing less to spare your friends’ feelings is an insult to your own abilities. Cheer each other on, but do your best. We’ll still love you and respect you even more.
Still counts. Always.
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