Things Every New Pinball Player Should Know Before Competing

Thanks to @jill_grun on Instagram for sharing her "5 Things I Wish I'd Known Before My First Pinball Tournament" PRP Website - Discover some new music on the PRP playlist! - Find Local Tournaments - Find Amazing Pinball Locations - In Episode #50 of the Punk Rock Pinball Podcast, we're talking about something that comes up all the time: what should new players know before entering their first pinball tournament? Inspired by a post from competitive player Jill Grun, we break down five practical tips that can help first-time tournament players feel more comfortable and avoid common mistakes. From understanding downtime between rounds to making sure you don't accidentally play out of turn, we cover the lessons many of us learned the hard way. We also share our own tournament advice, including why comfortable shoes matter, why snacks are essential, and why every serious player should become familiar with Match Play Events before showing up to compete. Along the way, we discuss the recent expansion of Punk Rock Pinball HQ, growing the machine lineup to nearly 40 games, dream pinball themes we'd love to see become reality, and why we continue to talk so much about Stern, Spooky, Barrels of Fun, and other modern manufacturers. Expanding Punk Rock Pinball HQ in Bloomington, Illinois 5 things every new tournament player should know How Match Play Events makes tournaments easier Common mistakes that can lead to disqualifications Tournament survival tips: food, drinks, downtime, and comfort Fantasy Island as a dream pinball theme Why Twin Peaks belongs in pinball Thoughts on Stern, Spooky, Barrels of Fun, and Jersey Jack The challenges of keeping dozens of pinball machines running Whether you're thinking about playing your first tournament or you're already competing every weekend, this episode is packed with practical advice and plenty of pinball conversation.