Volley pinball rules and strategy
The Strategy
In Volley, each blue, yellow, or green top lane lights the matching drop targets for the rest of the game. Return the ball to the top until all three colors are lit, then pick off one lit drop at a time and wait for its 5,000-point count. Clearing all 15 drops resets every bank for another cycle.
The goal
Return the ball through the three colored top lanes. Then pick off A lit target scores 5,000. An unlit target scores 500. A rapid second hit can fail to score. targets one at a time. Clear all 15 targets and repeat.
Plunge for a blue or green top lane. Use a missing color on later plunges.
- Color lane: A blue, yellow, or green top lane lights the matching bumper and drop targets for the rest of the game.
Return the ball to the top until blue, yellow, and green are lit.
Before all colors are lit, shoot only drop targets of a lit color.
After all colors are lit, hit one drop target. Let its score finish. Then hit the next target.
- A lit target scores 5,000. An unlit target scores 500. A rapid second hit can fail to score.: A lit target scores 5,000. An unlit target scores 500. A rapid second hit can fail to score.
Pick off the five yellow targets first when they are open. Then clear the blue and green banks.
Clear all 15 targets to reset all three banks. Repeat the one-target rhythm.
Alternative route: Two-color drops
Use this when the third color is difficult to collect. If its switch is not registering, focus on the lit banks instead of repeatedly chasing it.
- Confirm which two colors are lit.
- Pick off only the targets in those two banks.
- Send each controlled return to the top for the missing color.
- After the third color lights, use all three target banks.
Need to know
- Main route
- Return the ball through the three colored top lanes.
- Long goal
- Return the ball through the top lanes until all three colors are lit.
- Safer fallback
- Two-color drops: Use this when the third color is difficult to collect. If its switch is not registering, focus on the lit banks instead of repeatedly chasing it.
In Volley, the three colored top lanes permanently light their matching drop banks. Return the ball to the top until all three colors are lit, then hit one standing drop at a time and wait for the 5,000-point count before shooting the next. Clear all 15 drops to reset the banks, and repeat without shooting through lowered targets or risking a full-game tilt.
The goal
Return the ball through the three colored top lanes.Then pick off A lit target scores 5,000. An unlit target scores 500. A rapid second hit can fail to score. targets one at a time.Clear all 15 targets and repeat.
- Plunge for a blue or green top lane. Use a missing color on later plunges.
Color lane rule details
- Color lane: A blue, yellow, or green top lane lights the matching bumper and drop targets for the rest of the game.
- Return the ball to the top until blue, yellow, and green are lit.
- Before all colors are lit, shoot only drop targets of a lit color.
- After all colors are lit, hit one drop target. Let its score finish. Then hit the next target.
Lit drop scoring details
- A lit target scores 5,000. An unlit target scores 500. A rapid second hit can fail to score.: A lit target scores 5,000. An unlit target scores 500. A rapid second hit can fail to score.
- Pick off the five yellow targets first when they are open. Then clear the blue and green banks.
- Clear all 15 targets to reset all three banks. Repeat the one-target rhythm.
Top-player proof
- At the 2023 IFPA North American Championship, Dalton Ely lit all three colors and cleared the drop targets one at a time before each bank reset.
Builds toward: Fresh 15-target banks
- Return the ball through the top lanes until all three colors are lit.
- Clear every drop target once.
- The game resets all 15 targets for another scoring cycle.
- The first full clear also lights Special at the blue or green top lane.