Trevor Ng
Pinball Golf, or Pin-Golf, is a variant of the traditional pinball game. It is a competitive game that can be played individually or in teams. In Pin-Golf, each machine is given a target score or goal. Once a player reaches this goal, they record their score as the number of balls it took them to get there. Akin to golf, the lower the score, the better. The IFPA (International Flipper Pinball Association) has launched the IFPA Tour of endorsed Pin-Golf events, with stricter rules for organizers to qualify for the tour.
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What You'll Learn
Pinball Golf Rules
Pinball Golf, also known as Pin-Golf or PinGolf, is a variant of the game of pinball played as a tournament or competition. It can be played either individually or in teams. The objective of the game is to keep scores as low as possible, similar to golf.
Number of Holes
Each course must consist of at least three holes, including the qualifying round and any potential playoff rounds. The IFPA Pin-Masters tournament, for example, consists of a minimum of two rounds of competition for all players, with each round consisting of nine pin-holes.
Scoring
Scoring is based strictly on the number of balls played. If a player does not reach the target score, a penalty stroke is added to the number of balls played. For example, if the game is set for three balls and the player fails to reach the target score, their score would be four. If the objective is a yes/no objective, a stroke penalty can be added.
There is another version of Pinball Golf where there is a tier of scores that determines the player's stroke. If the player does not make the score, then the stroke is determined by how close they got to the target score. For example, 80% of the target score is a 6, 60% is a 7, and so on.
Objectives
Objectives can be either score-based or objective-based. Score-based objectives are where a player must reach a certain score. Objective-based goals include things like starting multiball, solving a puzzle, or collecting a certain number of items.
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Pinball Golf Scoring
Pinball Golf, or Pin-Golf, is a format of competitive pinball endorsed by the International Flipper Pinball Association (IFPA). The IFPA launched the IFPA Tour of endorsed Pin-Golf events in 2017, enforcing stricter rules for tournament scoring.
Scoring
Pin-Golf scoring is based strictly on the number of balls played. Penalty strokes may only be added if a player does not reach the target score or objective. If a player does not reach the target score, the organiser has two options:
- Add a 1-stroke penalty to the number of balls played. For example, if the player is allowed 3 balls but fails to reach the target score, their score becomes 4.
- Incorporate the IFPA Pin-Masters scoring system, where a player is awarded a stroke value based on how close they are to the target score.
Pin-Golf Courses
Pin-Golf courses must be made up of at least 3 holes, including the qualifying round and any potential playoff rounds. Points-based and objective-based courses are both allowed, provided that the rules for an IFPA-endorsed tournament are followed.
Pin-Masters
The IFPA Pin-Masters is the World Pin-Golf Championships event, consisting of a minimum of 2 rounds of competition for all players. Each player completes 2 rounds of 9 Pin-Holes during qualifying, with each Pin-Hole consisting of a pinball machine with a target score. The number of balls it takes for the player to reach that target score represents the number of Pin-Strokes earned for that hole.
Pin-Golf Multiplier (PGM)
The WPPR points awarded for Pin-Golf events include a Pin-Golf Multiplier (PGM) adjustment, which is used to grade the difficulty of the course. This means that the value of a tournament cannot be determined until after the event is completed.
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Pinball Golf Courses
Pinball golf, also known as Pin-Golf, is a fun way to play competitively with others, either singly or in teams. It is a great way to level the playing field between pinball experts and novices.
After playing all the holes, the player adds up their scores from each hole to get their total score for the course. Just like in golf, the lower the score, the better.
Organizers of Pinball Golf courses can also incorporate the IFPA Pin-Masters scoring system, where a player is awarded a stroke value based on how close they are to the target score. This can be used instead of the standard scoring system or as a penalty for not reaching the target score or goal.
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Pinball Golf Championships
The International Flipper Pinball Association (IFPA) organises the World Pin-Golf Championships, also known as the IFPA Pin-Masters. The tournament is made up of endorsed Pin-Golf events, with stricter rules for organisers on how to score an IFPA-endorsed Pin-Golf format tournament.
Pin-Golf is a fun way to play competitive pinball with others, either singly or in teams, and it can be used to level the playing field between experts and novices. Each player or team plays on a course of at least 3 holes, and each hole consists of a pinball machine with a target score. The number of balls it takes for the player to reach that target score will represent the number of Pin-Strokes earned for that hole. If a player does not reach the target score, a stroke value will be determined based on how close they got. For example, if the target score is 10 million points, and the player only reaches 8 million points, their stroke value will be based on the 8 million points they scored.
There are two ways to score a course: points-based or objective-based. For points-based courses, the player's score is simply the number of balls it took them to reach the target score. For objective-based courses, the objective might be something like "start multiball" or "hit this shot". If the player does not reach the objective, a penalty stroke can be added to the number of balls played. For example, if the player is given 5 balls and does not start multiball, their score would be 6.
The IFPA Pin-Masters tournament consists of a minimum of 2 rounds of competition for all players, with no players eliminated until Sunday. All players compete in groups on Friday and Saturday, playing through 2 rounds of 9 Pin-Holes. The 24 players with the lowest Pin-Stroke totals after their 2 qualifying rounds will advance to the Final Round.
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Pinball Golf History
Pinball is a game with a long history, evolving from outdoor games like bocce, bowls, croquet, golf, and pall-mall, which were played by rolling balls or stones on a grass course. Over time, these games transformed into various local ground billiards games where players would hit balls with sticks, aiming for targets and navigating obstacles. The tabletop versions of these games eventually led to the creation of modern pinball.
In the context of this evolving gaming landscape, the concept of Pin-Golf emerged as a unique variant. Pin-Golf, also known as "PinGolf" or "Pingolf", combines elements of pinball and golf, offering a fun and competitive way to play pinball. It was first mentioned on Reddit in 2013, and since then, it has gained popularity among pinball enthusiasts.
In Pin-Golf, players aim to complete a course made up of at least three "holes," each consisting of a pinball machine with a target score or objective. The scoring system in Pin-Golf is similar to that of golf, with the lowest score considered the best. Players record their scores based on the number of balls it takes to reach the target, with each ball counting as one stroke. If a player fails to achieve the target score, they may receive a penalty stroke, resulting in a higher score for that hole.
Pin-Golf tournaments, such as the IFPA Pin-Golf Tour launched in 2017 by the International Flipper Pinball Association (IFPA), have contributed to the growing popularity of the sport. These tournaments enforce strict rules and criteria for course design to ensure fair competition. The IFPA Pin-Masters, also known as the World Pin-Golf Championships, is another notable event that attracts players from around the world.
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Frequently asked questions
Pinball golf, or Pin-Golf, is a variant of pinball played competitively in singles or teams. It is a points-based or objective-based game, where players aim to reach a target score or complete a specific goal in the fewest number of balls. The lower the score, the better.
Each player or team plays on a pinball machine with a set target score or objective. The number of balls it takes to reach the target score is counted as the player's strokes for that hole. If the target score is not reached, a penalty stroke is added, and the player's score is counted as one more than the number of balls allowed. For example, if the target score is not reached in 3 balls, the player's score for that hole is 4.
Some examples of objectives in pinball golf include starting multiball, collecting a super jackpot, shooting a hole-in-one, or solving a puzzle. These objectives vary in difficulty and are set by the organisers of the tournament.
