# Episode 147 - Zipper Flippers **Source:** For Amusement Only EM and Bingo Pinball Podcast **Type:** podcast_episode **Published:** 2015-08-05 **Duration:** 5m 23s **Beat:** Pinball **URL:** https://foramusementonly.libsyn.com/episode-147-zipper-flippers --- ## Analysis Nick Baldridge explores Bally's zipper flipper innovation, a mechanism that allows two flippers to move together and close into a ball-save configuration. The feature debuted in Bizarre (1966) and was last used in Medusa (1981), with Williams also adopting a similar system on four games. The episode details how zipper flippers work mechanically and how they changed gameplay by enabling unusual backhand shots. ### Key Claims - [HIGH] The first game to use zipper flippers was Bizarre, produced in 1966 — _Nick Baldridge, stated as factual information about game history_ - [HIGH] The last game produced with zipper flippers was 1981's Medusa, which was a solid-state game with zipper flippers on the upper playfield — _Nick Baldridge, stated as historical fact_ - [MEDIUM] Ted Zale designed both Bizarre and the Flipper Zipper mechanism — _Nick Baldridge; presented as historical fact but lacks independent verification in content_ - [MEDIUM] Williams used a similar flipper mechanism on four of their production games, calling it something different than 'zipper flipper' — _Nick Baldridge; stated as fact but specific game titles and alternative names not provided_ - [HIGH] The mechanism was originally called 'Flipper Zipper' by Bally but the public called them 'Zipper Flippers' — _Nick Baldridge, discussing Bally marketing terminology_ ### Notable Quotes > "The basic idea is that there is a special routed hole that runs through the entire playfield that allows the flipper to actually move physically from its normal orientation to a closed or mated orientation with its pair on the other side." > — **Nick Baldridge** > _Core technical explanation of how zipper flippers function mechanically_ > "Now, zipper flippers, their main goal in life is to act as sort of a ball save. It's a way to prevent you from draining by ramming the flippers together so that you can hit the ball without worrying about it dropping between the flippers." > — **Nick Baldridge** > _Explains the strategic purpose and player benefit of zipper flippers in gameplay_ > "Because it changes the orientation of the flippers, it changes the shots as well. It makes the flippers lay down side by side instead of being at diagonal opposites on the playfield. This means that you can hit really weird stuff backhanded that you wouldn't be able to do from the normal resting position of the flippers." > — **Nick Baldridge** > _Describes how zipper flippers fundamentally alter available shots and gameplay mechanics_ > "It moves together very quickly, and it pulls apart very quickly. Now Ted Zale designed Bizarre and he designed the Flipper Zippers but Williams actually used them on four of their production games They called it something else but it was the same thing" > — **Nick Baldridge** > _Credits original designer and notes cross-manufacturer adoption with naming differences_ ### Entities | Name | Type | Context | |------|------|---------| | Nick Baldridge | person | Host of For Amusement Only EM and Bingo Pinball Podcast; presented episode on zipper flippers | | Ted Zale | person | Designer credited with creating Bizarre and the Flipper Zipper mechanism | | Bally | company | Historical pinball manufacturer that originated and popularized zipper flipper technology | | Williams | company | Competitor manufacturer that adopted similar flipper mechanism on four production games | | Bizarre | game | First game to feature zipper flippers, produced by Bally in 1966 | | Medusa | game | Last game produced with zipper flippers, 1981 solid-state Bally game with zipper flippers on upper playfield | | For Amusement Only | organization | EM and Bingo Pinball Podcast hosted by Nick Baldridge | ### Topics - **Primary:** Zipper flipper mechanism and design, Bally innovations in pinball technology, Pinball game history and evolution, Flipper mechanics and gameplay impact - **Secondary:** Designer attribution and cross-manufacturer adoption, Ball save mechanisms in pinball ### Sentiment **Positive** (0.75) — Nick Baldridge presents zipper flippers with technical appreciation and fascination ('in practice it's quite remarkable'). The tone is educational and celebratory of Bally's engineering innovation, with a hint of humor about marketing terminology. ### Signals - **[design_innovation]** Zipper flippers represent a significant mechanical innovation allowing dual flippers to move together and create ball-save functionality while enabling new shot types (confidence: high) — Nick Baldridge detailed technical explanation of the routed hole system, interlock relay, and coil-driven mechanism that enables synchronized flipper movement - **[historical_signal]** Zipper flippers were a distinctive Bally feature from 1966 to 1981, representing a 15-year period of design innovation in electromagnetic flipper mechanisms (confidence: high) — First game Bizarre (1966) through last game Medusa (1981); original designer Ted Zale credited with both Bizarre and Flipper Zipper mechanism - **[design_philosophy]** Zipper flippers were designed with explicit goal of preventing drain losses by allowing players to zip flippers together as safety mechanism, reflecting player-friendly design philosophy (confidence: high) — 'Their main goal in life is to act as sort of a ball save. It's a way to prevent you from draining by ramming the flippers together' - **[gameplay_signal]** Zipper flipper orientation change from diagonal to side-by-side creates fundamentally different shot angles and enables backhand shots impossible in standard configuration (confidence: high) — 'Because it changes the orientation of the flippers, it changes the shots as well... you can hit really weird stuff backhanded that you wouldn't be able to do from the normal resting position' - **[industry_signal]** Williams adopted similar flipper technology on four production games under a different name, indicating industry-wide recognition of zipper flipper benefits despite competitive manufacturing landscape (confidence: medium) — 'Williams actually used them on four of their production games. They called it something else but it was the same thing' - **[content_signal]** For Amusement Only podcast provides detailed technical and historical analysis of specific pinball mechanism, contributing to EM era preservation and knowledge documentation (confidence: high) — Full episode dedicated to zipper flipper history, mechanics, and design innovation with technical breakdown of coil, relay, and spring systems --- ## Transcript What's that sound? It's For Amusement Only, the EM and Bingo Pinball Podcast. Welcome back to For Amusement Only. This is Nick Baldrige. Starting today, I wanted to talk about some of Bally's innovations in the pinball realm, specifically flipper games. and some of the unique mechanisms that they designed and used in many games. For today's episode, I wanted to talk about zipper flippers, which are a fairly popular feature for those that have used them and seen them. The basic idea is that there is a special routed hole that runs through the entire playfield that allows the flipper to actually move physically from its normal orientation to a closed or mated orientation with its pair on the other side. Both flippers move at the same time and zip together The feature was actually originally called Flipper Zipper but everyone called them Zipper Flippers and that still what we call them today so take that ballet marketing The first game to use Zipper Flippers was Bizarre. It was produced in 1966. The last game produced with zipper flippers was 1981's Medusa, which was a solid-state game. It has zipper flippers on the upper playfield. Now, zipper flippers, their main goal in life is to act as sort of a ball save. It's a way to prevent you from draining by ramming the flippers together so that you can hit the ball without worrying about it dropping between the flippers. The way this would happen is, in a game, there was either a target or a sequence of targets that you had to complete in order to make the flippers zip together. Now ordinarily there was another target on the playfield perhaps one that enticingly scored quite highly that would open the flippers back up Or maybe there was a rollover button There were a variety of different things that Bally tried, and it depended on the machine. But the interesting thing about zipper flippers is because it changes the orientation of the flippers, it changes the shots as well. It makes the flippers lay down side by side instead of being at diagonal opposites on the playfield. This means that you can hit really weird stuff backhanded that you wouldn't be able to do from the normal resting position of the flippers. And now for the juicy part, the mech and how it works. So you have your typical flipper mech with all of its associated parts. Then you also have what amounts to an interlock relay. And there's a coil that pulls in a plunger and locks it in place. and there's a big, big spring that when the relay lets go, it will push those flippers apart very quickly When that coil draws in it pulls the flippers together It's pretty simple, but in practice it's quite remarkable. It moves together very quickly, and it pulls apart very quickly. Now Ted Zale designed Bizarre and he designed the Flipper Zippers but Williams actually used them on four of their production games They called it something else but it was the same thing Interesting tidbits Well thank you very much for joining me My name again is Nick Baldrige You can reach me at 4amusementonlypodcast at gmail.com, or you can call me at 724-BINGOS1 at 724-246-4671. You can listen to us on iTunes, Stitcher, Pocket Cast, via RSS, on Facebook, on Twitter, at bingopodcast. You can follow me on Instagram at nbaldridge, or you can listen to us on our website, which is 4amusementonly.libsyn.com. Thank you very much for listening, and I'll talk to you next time. _(Acquisition: groq_whisper)_ --- *Exported from Journalist Tool on 2026-04-13 | Item ID: 6584293d-7e35-4308-961a-500c6a4085bc*