Free Fall pinball rules and strategy

The Strategy

In Sky Jump or Free Fall, each numbered lane permanently lights its matching drop target for 500, and a moving 10x lamp raises one matching target to 5,000. Collect the numbered lanes, hit the target carrying both lamps, and finish the bank when only one or two safer targets remain so every drop resets.

The goal

Roll through numbered lanes with controlled returns to raise their matching target values, then follow the moving 10x lamp. If add-a-balls are disabled without a point conversion, avoid completing all seven numbers because the completion award has no tournament value.

  1. Roll through numbered lanes whose returns are controlled so their matching targets rise from 50 to 500.

  2. Hit a target when both its number lamp and the moving 10x lamp are on for 5,000.

  3. Use a center-bumper hit to move the 10x lamp when the current target is down or unsafe.

  4. If add-a-ball has no conversion, leave one number uncollected and keep cycling the 5,000-point target whose return has proved controlled.

Alternative route: Numbers first

Use this when the moving 10x target is down, its rebound is unsafe, or too few numbers are lit.

  1. Send the ball up top from either flipper.
  2. Collect a new number. The number stays lit for the rest of the game.
  3. Return to the drops after several matching targets are worth 500.
Need to know
Main route
Roll through numbered lanes to raise their matching target values, then follow the moving 10x lamp.
Seven-number award
Completing all seven awards add-a-ball; avoid it when the event disables that award without points.
Target value
A target carrying both its number lamp and the moving 10x lamp scores 5,000.

Machine setup

  • Identify Gottlieb Sky Jump or Free Fall; scoring and award behavior differ.
  • Confirm ball count and test numbered lanes, drops, bumpers, and side feeds.
Sources and references6 source links and outbound references.
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Playbooks

Free Fall playfield

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