Gridiron / Pro-Football pinball rules and strategy

The Strategy

Gridiron and Pro-Football use the center spinner and top lanes to advance yardage toward each 100-yard Touchdown. Repeat that safe route with the paired upper flippers, and shoot the vari-target only when a full hit and its rebound are controlled.

The goal

On Gridiron, repeat the center spinner into the top lanes, use the upper flippers for controlled returns, and attack a vari-target only when a full hit and rebound are safe.

  1. Press the right flipper to launch the ball. Watch the center return before you choose a shot.

  2. Use a lower flipper to shoot through the center spinner. Favor a clean spinner pass over a partial vari-target hit.

  3. Use the upper flippers to return the ball to the bumper and top-lane area.

    • The center and outside top lanes award the best listed yardage. Bumpers can move the ball between them.: The center and outside top lanes award the best listed yardage. Bumpers can move the ball between them.
    • Both editions award one after each 100 yards; Gridiron does not award partial yardage from its vari-targets.: Both editions award one after each 100 yards; Gridiron does not award partial yardage from its vari-targets.
  4. Repeat the spinner and top return. Move the cabinet briefly so the playfield shifts under the ball, changing its speed or path after contact with a post, rubber, or wall. only after you learn the outer return paths.

  5. Test one vari-target only when the flipper can push it fully back and the rebound stays in play.

  6. Use the vari-target route when its full hit is repeatable. Return to the spinner when the hit is shallow or uncontrolled.

Alternative route: Upper-flipper top return

Use this when the spinner gap is unreliable or a spinner miss reaches the outlanes.

  1. Use either upper flipper to send the ball into the bumper area.
  2. Guide the ball toward a 50-yard top lane when the movement is safe.
  3. Collect yardage until the next Both editions award one after each 100 yards; Gridiron does not award partial yardage from its vari-targets..
  4. Return to the center spinner after the lower-flipper feed becomes controlled.
Need to know
Center spinner
The spinner advances yardage; Gridiron scores 1,000 per spin while Pro-Football scores one tenth as much.
Touchdown
Both editions award a Both editions award one after each 100 yards; Gridiron does not award partial yardage from its vari-targets. at 100 yards, but only Pro-Football gives partial vari-target yardage.
Vari-target
A deeper hit scores more points; Pro-Football adds up to 50 yards, while a full Gridiron hit awards a Both editions award one after each 100 yards; Gridiron does not award partial yardage from its vari-targets..

Machine setup

  • Identify 1973 Pro-Football or 1977 Gridiron; spinner, lane, and vari-target yardage values differ substantially.
  • Test the right-button autolaunch, all four flippers, spinner strength, vari-target depth, top-lane lamps, and both outer return paths.
  • Confirm ball count, tilt, Touchdown scoring, and whether side-drain Touchdowns or replay awards receive tournament value.
Sources and references6 source links and outbound references.
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Gridiron / Pro-Football playfield

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