Hot Tip pinball rules and strategy
The Strategy
The center saucer in Hot Tip cycles through awards that include Double Bonus. Completing H-O-T T-I-P lights the spinner for repeatable scoring. Collect Double Bonus before building the drain bonus, then repeat the lit spinner from the right flipper while its return remains controlled.
The goal
Shoot the center saucer to light double bonus, then complete H-O-T T-I-P once. Use the left flipper for safe drops and the right flipper for the lit spinner.
Plunge the center saucer. Try to collect double bonus. Count top-switch hits because they move the lit saucer award.
- Center saucer: The lit award moves when a top switch scores. Double bonus and Light Captive Ball are the two important awards.
If double bonus is not lit, use the right flipper to shoot the spinner back to the top and try the saucer again.
Complete all six H-O-T T-I-P drops once to light the spinner; the EM then scores 1,000 per spin, while solid-state scoring differs.
From the right flipper, shoot the lit spinner. A strong shot can score many spins.
On the EM edition, take a controlled full captive-ball hit only after its 30,000 award is lit; otherwise favor the spinner.
After base bonus is full, use the left flipper for safe drop targets and the right flipper for the lit spinner.
Alternative route: Spinner route
Use this plan when the captive-ball return or left-side control is unsafe.
- From the left flipper, complete all six H-O-T T-I-P drops once.
- Move the ball to the right flipper only when the transfer is controlled.
- Repeat the lit spinner from the right flipper.
- Use spinner shots to return the ball to the center saucer until double bonus is lit.
Need to know
- Edition
- The 1,300-unit EM and 4,903-unit solid-state editions share a layout but use different scoring scales and feature values.
- Center saucer
- Top-switch hits move its lit award; collect double end-of-ball bonus before building the drain bonus.
- H-O-T T-I-P
- The first complete drop-bank cycle lights the spinner; later EM cycles raise target values and light other awards.
The center saucer in Hot Tip cycles through awards that include Double Bonus. Use spinner returns to revisit the saucer until Double Bonus is lit, complete the six drops once, then repeat the lit spinner while building base bonus. Use the captive ball only when its displayed award justifies the rebound.
The goal
Shoot the center saucer to light double bonus, then complete H-O-T T-I-P once.Use the left flipper for safe drops and the right flipper for the lit spinner.
- Plunge the center saucer. Try to collect double bonus. Count top-switch hits because they move the lit saucer award.
Center saucer setup and scoring
- Center saucer: The lit award moves when a top switch scores. Double bonus and Light Captive Ball are the two important awards.
- If double bonus is not lit, use the right flipper to shoot the spinner back to the top and try the saucer again.
- Complete all six H-O-T T-I-P drops once to light the spinner; the EM then scores 1,000 per spin, while solid-state scoring differs.
- From the right flipper, shoot the lit spinner. A strong shot can score many spins.
- On the EM edition, take a controlled full captive-ball hit only after its 30,000 award is lit; otherwise favor the spinner.
- After base bonus is full, use the left flipper for safe drop targets and the right flipper for the lit spinner.
Top-player proof
- At the NKY Open 2022 final, the field repeatedly used the lit spinner and center-saucer double bonus; Carlos Delaserda also used the captive-ball alternative when its rebound was manageable.
Builds toward: Lit spinner and doubled drain bonus
- Collect double bonus at the center saucer.
- Complete H-O-T T-I-P once to light the spinner.
- Build base bonus through controlled play, using the captive ball only on the EM when its award justifies the rebound.
- Repeat the lit spinner and preserve the doubled end-of-ball bonus.