The first commercially successful pinball game, Baffle Ball, was made by Gottlieb in 1931. Over the years many games have been made by several manufacturers requiring different types of play balls. The standard pinball is a steel ball 1 1/16" (1.0625") (mm27.0) in diameter and is used in most games.

Carbon Steel Pinballs

---

OEM carbon steel pinballs are manufactured with a BRF (bright finish). These soft core (case hardened) standard carbon steel balls can be used in all machines and must be be used in machines with magnets.

When carbon steel standard pinballs should be used

Some tables feature electrically operated magnets below the playfield to affect the ball's speed and/or trajectory. This may be done to make the ball's movement unpredictable, to temporarily halt the ball (as a "ball saver", for example), or to otherwise control the ball by non-mechanical means. Electromagnets may also be used in above-playfield elements (often as part of the playfield "toys") to grab the ball and move it elsewhere (up onto a mini-playfield, for example). The Williams machine The Twilight Zone, featured a mini-playfield that used electromagnets controlled by the flipper buttons, allowing the player to "flip" the ball on the mini-playfield, essentially working as invisible flippers

Games with electrically operated magnets

Lost World, Tales of the Arabian Nights, No Fear, High Speed 2, Theatre of, Magic, World Cup Soccer, Twilight Zone, Dr*c*l* (Bram Stoker's Dracula), Last Action Hero, The Addams Family, Dr. Dude, Rollergames, Black Knight 2000, Black Knight, Guns N' Roses

Chrome Steel Pinballs

---

These highly polished grade 25 chrome steel pinballs are harder and more finely polished than standard BRF (bright finish) OEM carbon steel pinballs. The finer finish will add to the life of your playfield by causing less abrasion and will last longer in play due to their extra hardness. Chrome steel pinballs are more corrosion resistant than standard pinballs. Pinballs should be replaced when they lose their glossy finish to prevent damage the play field. (Rockwell C 67 hardness 1.0 micro inch "RA" finish) Not recommended for use in machines with magnets. Thru hardened balls will become slightly magnetized over time. Soft core (case hardened) standard carbon steel pinballs should be used in machines with magnets.

Specialty balls:

---

Twilight Zone Powerball

---

The Powerball is a standard size ceramic pinball that is lighter than a standard steel pinball. The powerball moves faster than the regular balls and makes the game very exciting and difficult. In addition to the sheer speed of the powerball, other game features distracts the player. A loud demanding voice and dazzling flash lamp bursts make it hard to keep the powerball in play.

Nylon balls for Gun and Rifle Games

---

11/16" dia. nylon balls are used in most Gun and Rifle Games.

Gun and Rifle Games

Bally Space Gunner Bally Marksman Bally SharpShooter (12 balls) Midway Bazooka Midway Shooting Gallery Midway Deluxe Shooting Gallery Midway Rifle Gallery Midway Rifle Range Midway Rifle Champ Midway Trophy Gun Midway Space Gun

Pitch and Bat balls

---

3/4" dia steel balls Williams part #20-6520 Williams: Base Hit - Slugfest - Line drive Upper Deck - Pennant Fever Millionaire roulette wheel Jungle Lord upper - playing field Hyperball (Requires 55 balls) Gottlieb: Monte Carlo roulette wheel Bally: Speakeasy roulette wheel

Bally Bingo flipperless pinballs

---

Bally Bingo flipperless pinball games require eight 1 1/8" dia steel balls United Bingo games use standard 1 1/16" pinballs ToolSupply has the largest selection of bearing balls on eBay