“Distance from start” is a concept I learned from Dwight Sullivan’s excellent pinball blog. It’s something most pinball players are probably aware of at a subconscious level without having thought about in any great depth.

So what is “distance from start”? It’s not a simple metric that can be measured in units such as inches or seconds. Rather it’s an abstract concept that refers to how much play is likely to elapse between pressing start at the beginning of the game and achieving the feature. Thus a skill shot straight off the plunger is very close to start, a complex feature that will probably take several balls to enable is a long way from start.

The best table designs incorporate a variety of shots, features and rewards at various distances from start. Thus when you come to a table for the first time there’s at least one thing worth shooting for. As the game progresses - and as you get to know the table - then more shots and features become realistically achievable. This sort of design allows newcomers to get into the table quickly but also rewards practice and helps keep the game fresh for as long as possible.

This is definitely something I plan to try and do in my table designs, thanks to Dwight for tip.

Photo Credit: robinvanmourik (Creative Commons)