Never hit both flippers. One of the first mistakes most amateurs make is that they can’t help but slap both buttons compulsively. The gap between the flippers when they are both raised is 62mm wide but when a single flipper is raised that gap is shortened to 56.6mm. So you minimize the room for error as well as gain more control because your actions are deliberate.

TILT. When a machine issues a penalty that blinks “TILT!” in big red letters that means the player has physically tilted the machine in a way that constitutes cheating. But some tilting is allowed and it’s up to the player to learn where the sweet spot is. Typically this acceptable form of the technique is called nudging. If executed correctly a little tilting can rack up a lot of points by keeping the ball in a scoring position. An important detail: tilt sensitivity can be calibrated by the owner of the machine. How much a player can tilt will vary depending on the owner's preference.

Every game is different. There are almost always a number of rules, levels and modes to achieve the highest score possible on a machine. Some games even have a narrative story that the player moves along with accomplishments.In this day and age just Google the machine you’re playing. If you aren’t connected to the internet there are still options. For newer games watch the dot matrix display and do everything that it says. Similarly, many older machines have a small card on the bottom left of the glass that explains all the different ways to earn points.

Every machine is different. Yes. There could be two of the exact same machine but each will offer radically different playing experiences. Choose one machine to master and stick with it.

Cradle the ball. Ball control is everything. As chaotic as the ball’s movement may seem, it can be tightly manipulated. Cradling the ball is simply the act of holding up a single flipper until the ball rests and ready to be shot in the players preferred direction. Focus and choose where you want it to go. Learn to target specific elements on the playfield.

Tap Pass. Once you’ve mastered cradling the ball you can move on to what’s known as the tap pass. When the ball is secured let it drift down to the center of the flipper and just give a tiny little tap. Presto! The ball is gently passed to the other flipper and ready to be aimed at your jackpot. You can see an example here.

Watch others play. This should go without saying but the best way to learn is to surround yourself with people that are better than you. For an IRL experience, you could join a local league. If you want to slowly make your way in without embarrassing yourself there are lots of videos online. The Professional & Amateur Pinball Association has a lot of great resources.

Get used to drinking a lot of [well] whiskey and/or Miller High Life alone. Most pinball machines reside in bars these days so drinking is a major part of the culture. But if you want to master your game, try not to socialize too much. Drink and play the game. Those drink holsters equipped to the pinball machines are there for a reason.