With 2024 Free Play Florida approaching this weekend and with so many players new to competitive pinball, I wanted to share my thoughts on FPF as a whole as well as some specific tips and strategies for both new and even experienced players especially since I’ve been asked whether they should attend and how to approach the tournaments. First, I would say ask yourself this: WHY. What is YOUR why (to go)? The show itself (not the tournaments) is a great show. There’s a lot of different things to see and experience from the video games and pinball, to the guests, to seeing all your fellow pinball peeps, the cool vendors, the party and more including my favorite which is the Retro Computer & Console area (thanks Hammy!). In terms of pinball tournaments in Florida, this weekend provides the single biggest opportunity for WPPR points so if you are trying to increase your world ranking or your Florida ranking, there’s that, but it is a practical necessity that most competitive players attend if they want to make the top 24 in the state and therefore qualify for the Florida SCS (State Championship Series) in January and/or be one of the top 16 women to qualify for the Womens Championship. Because there’s so many points available, even if you don’t do all that well in any of the events, it can make or break you qualifying for the state championship let alone your seeding and even the opportunity to get a bye in the SCS. The people who haven’t attended FPF before don’t realize there are numerous out of state players who attend, often top 250 if not top 100 players because FPF is a Stern Circuit event (of which there are only 20 each year), so some players fly down to help them qualify for the Circuit championship. If you are a player who feels this year isn’t their year to make the state Championship but wants to make a run at it next year, there’s benefit to attending FPF now, so you can get your feet wet. Knowing what to expect and then being able to take any lessons you learn into next year’s FPF can potentially be a difference maker in your chances next year. My belief though, is that most any player who really wants to make the cut to qualify for the state championship can do so. It’s just like George McFly said, “If you put your mind to it, you can accomplish anything” so if you set that goal for next year, you can probably do it. For those interested, I wrote an article on how to qualify for State Championship last January.
How To Approach FPF Tournaments
There’s a fair bit to unpack here, as you have the Main, the Classics, and the Womens. As most of you know, these are all “herb style” aka “pump and dump” tournaments. If you’ve played in the Pinball Asylum’s Point Monsters, you have a decent idea already of how FPF will work. There’s also the “last chance” type events if you will, on Sunday, where if you don’t make the finals for the primary tournaments, you can squeeze in some more pinball and get additional WPPRs before heading home. I go into detail of each type below.
Herb Style (Main & Classics)
I classify the players who attend FPF into one of three categories:
1) Those focused on making the finals,
2) those focused on placing as high as they can to get maximum WPPRs but feel making the finals may be a long shot for them so they won’t get too stressed out about it and
3) those there just to have fun or play without any significant goal or expectation.
Depending on what group you fall into, your approach will be different. Group 3, the “for fun” players, I recommend having a budget if applicable, dedicate some time to all the applicable tournaments, make sure you also spend time on the show floor and enjoy that. No need to arrive too early or stay late at the tournament. Consider one or both of the last chance events on Sunday if you are still around otherwise head home Saturday night. For Group 2, similar advice as Group 3 but dedicate more time and money to the tournament. Read my next tips for Group 1 and see what resonates with you and your goals. For Group 1, it’s hardcore pinball and a take no prisoners approach for most of us. Remember, some top-250 ranked players fly down and are in the mix vying for the finals so it’s not just your fellow Florida players to beat even though there are more Florida players than out of staters. There are 2 finals, the A and the B. The A finals is the top 24 (if there are 80+ players which there always is) and the B finals consists of qualifiers 25 to 40 (the next 16 players). Even if you bomb out of the finals in the first round of A finals you’re likely to get 15+ WPPRs and about 6.5 WPPRs for a bad B finals showing. Do better, get more points. Many Florida tournaments don’t give that many points to the winner and winning any tournament isn’t easy so FPF is a great chance to get some decent points. For the Classics, going out last in finals should yield you 8+ WPRRs. Also keep in mind that for this year, it will take about 110 WPPRs to make the cut for the Florida championship and 30 & 40 WPPRs respectively for the Womens open/women-womens. Therefore, the points from FPF can make or break anyone on the bubble and if you do really well, you can catapult into a comfortable position for qualifying for the state championship as now your talking 30, 40, 50++ points from just one event depending on where you finish, for example, Dr Frank scored 86 WPPRs when he won the Classics last year.
Time
I view the #1 strategy for any Herb-style tournament for me is to get in as many plays as I can. How many times have you played a machine with low to mediocre scores then boom, you crush it. Since herb-style is also called “best game” format, all that matters is you getting a big score on a game just 1 time. The more “at bats” you get, the better the chance you’ll improve on your existing core, therefore good time management is KEY. Queues tend to get longer the later into the event it gets therefore arriving 30 minutes before the start to get registered allows you to be one of the first to join the queue and play before the throngs of players arrive. I recommend playing the longer playing games earlier when there are fewer people so you can requeue and get back on the game faster before it gets really busy. As the event goes on, you start to see how the scores are shaking out so it’s important to be aware of what score you need to improve your qualifying position and on what machines. If it is later in the tournament and you are playing a game where it’s next to impossible to achieve your needed score because of 2 house balls, then you should plunge and void the game to save some time. Early in the event you’ll want to play the entire game even with a bad start so as to get a feel for the shots, tilt, etc. For me, my first couple of games on each machine are dedicated completely to getting to know the machine and how it’s playing. I’m not at all trying to play for score. At some point once I’m comfortable, I then shift gears and focus on playing the game for reals. I find this approach works well for me and helps me achieve a higher score with fewer plays overall which then allows me to move on to the next machine. I always try to qualify for both the Main and Classics finals. It’s not easy to do both as doing one takes away from the other so time management becomes even more important. Making both finals is an significant accomplishment in itself.
Budget
Next, budget. You pay for entries. Each entry is a play. Each person has a different financial situation and dedication so if you have a limited budget, you’ll not likely need to worry about maximizing the games in the time allotted for qualifying. You’ll instead want to decide whether to play one of the events or all the events and how many games in the event. By putting all your eggs into 1 basket, you’re more likely to qualify higher and potentially make the finals cut. However, playing multiple events gives you WPRR’s in each which might add up to more than playing just one depending on how high you qualify. Your decision may be based on a realistic assessment of where you think your current skills and game knowledge is. Some players literally have no budget, and arrive with a wallet full of benjamins so that’s where maximizing your plays becomes important in the time you have since money is no object. Regardless, always buy the 7 entries for $20 deal to save a bit of money on each individual entry. The simple math shows that if you played 70 games during FPF, you’re looking at $200 and 140 games would be $400. At 10 minutes a game (including queue waits), over 26 hours of qualifying time, that’s about 156 games (no breaks). Therefore the most you probably could realistically spend is under $400 and more likely $300 due to breaks and queues. That excludes all the expenses of attending, including the $75 weekend show admission fee (required), any hotel, food and driving so overall it can add up but hey, this is the biggest tournament in Florida and only happens once a year so there is that. Oh, and if you do make the finals, you’ll recoup some money as they do pay out some of the entry fees back to the players. Inevitably, some will make a profit on the whole deal, while others will be in the donator column.
Studying the Games List
While obvious, in order to maximize your chances at a big score on a game as well as a higher qualifying position, knowing the games and having a strategy for each is critical but not everyone invests the time to do this. The difference between making the finals cut and not, can be super close and historically for the person on the bubble has sometimes come down to the difference between making that one important shot and not on one game or knowing that key rule or not. The game list this year was posted about a week prior to the tournament and is on The Pinball Lounge facebook page. Between rulesheets, pintips, videos and of course practicing, you can get prepared enough to hit the ground running when you get to FPF. But if you are weak on some games, use your time in the queue to observe players (at a distance of course) and see if you can pick up what they are doing. You'll also learn a lot simply by asking around especially while people are sitting in the chairs in front of the machines. You'd be surprised how helpful everyone is to one another.
In terms of focus, you don't have to play everything but personally, I like to know all the games and plan to play everything vs picking only some out to focus on. I’ve had machines I thought I’d do great on and never get that break through score and machines I didn’t have confidence with where I was one of the top qualifiers so you never know. The modern games require a lot more time to learn and it does pay off not only in qualifying but also finals should you make it. Again, this is more for Group 1, who are really trying to make the finals cut as their primary goal. For me, being comfortable on every game there sets me up in the finals to not worry as much about game choice.
The Competitors
For qualifying, all you can do is focus on getting the highest score you can on each game. But in finals, it’s natural to be a bit intimidated if you are playing a top player. Having been to all the FPFs since I started in 2019, I’ve made at least 1 of the finals each time and played many players I’ve seen on stream and numerous world champions. I’ve won some including against the best but lost more lol. But the point is, it is possible to win and advance. Remember, it’s pinball and you can blow a game up and a top player can sometimes have a bad game so try not to let who you are playing affect you, just “play your game” as they say. Win or lose, knowing you played solid is often the most important thing as sometimes they just played better (or not).
Game Difficulty
If you’ve never played in a tournament of this caliber before, be prepared to see games set harder. Last year, some games were set up the hardest I've ever played anywhere. Games set harder may mean increasing the angle by jacking up the back legs (no 2x4’s needed thanks to Jockton’s PinSteps!), removing rubbers, moving outlane posts, adjusting flipper strength, slings, etc. Reducing or eliminating ball saves for both plunge/skill shots and multiballs, tighter tilts, using the “hard difficulty” settings in machines that provide those adjustment options (think making MBs much harder to start for example) and potentially other things. Bottom line is don’t expect the machines to be all that fun, they will be challenging. If you want fun, go out onto the show floor and play those machines. But rising to the challenge and getting a great score on a tough machine can be gratifying and yes, fun but usually that fun is had only after a lot of frustration, heartbreak and talking to yourself.
Tournament Directors
Expect the TDs to enforce strict IFPA rules and when there’s a complicated situation, to rule in the most fair way they can which may not always seem fair. Yes, the dreaded “that’s pinball” and “it is a minor malfunction”. The Pinball Lounge team of Randy, Kurt, Kyndall, Ed and others are highly experienced and know that you’re in good hands. Certainly if you have any questions or game issues be sure to bring it to their attention.
Streaming
Depending on where you’ve been playing and for how long, you may have limited to no time on-stream. It can be a bit nerve wracking knowing you’re on stream and that it likely is being recorded and placed on youtube for all to see. Try not to think about it, play your game, pretend there is no stream. However, there is a stream so behave nice and oh, be sure to comb your hair before stepping up to the rig :-) This year, the team at BatCave Pinball is going to be doing the streaming, so we’re in good hands.
Stamina and Self Care
There’s a total of 26 hours of qualifying between Friday and Saturday. Then you have finals on Sunday if you make it. That’s a lot of flipping, standing, focusing, and for many players jumping, dancing, kicking, tilting and cursing. Your mind and body need to be functioning well to play your best. I have to remind myself to drink enough and also to not wait too long to eat. Once qualifying is over, I like to not linger around so I can get enough sleep. This year I chose to stay at the on-site hotel (Hyatt) which saves me a bit of time driving back and forth from an off-property hotel. This event can be a physical and mental grind. Personally, I try to play and practice as much as I can in the couple of weeks prior to the event to get in flipping shape lol.
The Last Couple Hours of Qualifying
If your goal is to make the finals, whether it be A or B, this is where the panic and stress can come in if you are on the bubble. Make sure you have some fingernails available since the last couple hours you’ll be biting them lol. It’s a weird phenomenon where in the home stretch you see more shifting in position than many hours before. I guess when the pressure is really on, some players find a way to score big. Therefore, don’t rest on your laurels. Keep fighting to the end. In some cases that means offense, trying to get a higher score. In other cases that may mean defense where you play to beat someone’s score on a machine that is not part of your aggregate score and/or you “camp out” and just keep requeuing on a machine that you have a score on that you don’t want anyone to beat so by you playing on the machine you are preventing someone else from doing so until your game is over. While most players don’t talk much about playing defense, it’s definitely a thing and it’s something you should be aware of either because it can be a useful tool for you or that you are prepared for others to be doing it. It’s nothing personal, just pinball.
The Finals
Congratulations if you made the finals! That’s an accomplishment to be sure. Now the key is to relax and not put too much pressure on yourself. Yes, easier said than done for most of us. But if you can do that, you’ll likely play better during finals. Classics finals is Saturday at 7 pm. Remember, if you are in Classics finals then you are of course busy and not playing in the Main until you’re done with Classics finals. Sometimes you’ll find when you resume your Main qualifying, your position slipped some spots so hopefully you’ve built up a bit of a position buffer to withstand the time away. For the Main finals, that’s Sunday morning a bit after 9 am and me not being a morning person, that’s not ideal. Also you really don’t have an opportunity to warm up as the show doesn’t open until 10 am so you can’t even play on those machines and the tournament games are off limits for practice. So be sure to order that double espresso with breakfast and do your best to be ready to go.
Last Chance Tournaments
Only $20 and you simply tell the tournament team you want to play and they will add you to a list and there will be a drawing/lottery to determine who plays. This is the most fair method in my opinion, because in some years past you had to get up early and wait in a line to sign up based on first come, first registered but you don’t have to do that anymore thankfully. Then there’s the Amateur tournament which is another great idea. Since this is an IFPA sanctioned event, it cannot prevent any player from participating, the general spirit of the event is to have a “anyone can win” feeling where all the players are relatively evenly matched and experienced and there’s no clear favorite to make the top 4 or win. While there are some truly humble players who are much better than they think they are, when someone gives a disapproving look about playing in the event, consider it a compliment and perhaps reconsider playing. In my opinion, players who should not play in the Amateur event include anyone who has ever qualified for a state championship, players who have won several tournaments, and those who tend to make the finals in various events relatively consistently. Personally, I love seeing a player who hasn’t made a finals or won before do so, it's good for the game, and the Amateur event was created for that purpose. In either case, these tournaments can also bring some pretty decent points. In 2023 the strikes gave about 6 points for 10th on up to about 30 points for first.
Final Words
The OG’s of Florida Tournament Pinball know most of the stuff I’ve shared here but we’ve seen such an explosion of new players in the past 1-2 years, many of which play in our tournaments in South Florida who have been asking about what to expect so I thought they could benefit from this article in terms of helping them decide to attend (some are on the fence and we’re only days away) as well as helping them to have a better experience and outcome if they have certain goals. Ultimately, whether you go to FPF or not, and play like a maniac like me or more casually, depends on what you find to be fun and what your goals are if any. Regardless, it's a great event and I feel important for us as a community to support such things. I hope to see you there.
