# So, You're New To Pinball (SYNTP) - Pinball Cabinet Exterior Vocabulary **Source:** Cary Hardy **Type:** video **Published:** 2024-01-30 **Duration:** 8m 37s **Beat:** Pinball **URL:** https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=117X__9XUJs --- ## Analysis Educational video providing comprehensive vocabulary and terminology for pinball machine exterior components, aimed at newcomers to the hobby. Cary Hardy systematically covers all major cabinet elements from leg levelers to toppers, using a quiz-based review format to reinforce learning. ### Key Claims - [MEDIUM] Stern Pinball's newest systems place the power button on the back box as a cost-cutting decision rather than for convenience — _Speaker criticizes this design choice as impractical compared to traditional placement on the front cabinet_ - [HIGH] Leg levelers are typically configured with front legs all the way down and rear legs adjusted for difficulty management — _Stated as 'the most common setup' during cabinet leveling explanation_ - [HIGH] Different pinball games have different flipper button configurations—some use one button per side, others use two buttons on one side for specific flippers or mechs — _Explicitly stated: 'every game is different but traditionally these days it's usually one button on each side'_ ### Notable Quotes > "Because they sure as hell didn't do it for convenience purposes." > — **Cary Hardy**, ~0:45 > _Critical commentary on Stern's design decision to place power button on back box_ > "Now pay attention. There will be a test. No, seriously, there will be a test." > — **Cary Hardy**, ~0:10 > _Sets up the educational format and tone of the video series_ > "Without legs, your pinball machine would be resting on the ground." > — **Cary Hardy**, ~2:30 > _Basic functional explanation of machine legs_ ### Entities | Name | Type | Context | |------|------|---------| | Cary Hardy | person | Content creator and educational video host for pinball newcomers | | Stern Pinball | company | Manufacturer referenced for recent cost-cutting design decision on power button placement | ### Topics - **Primary:** Pinball cabinet exterior components, Beginner education and terminology - **Secondary:** Cabinet leveling and difficulty adjustment, Game-specific flipper configurations - **Mentioned:** Manufacturer design decisions ### Sentiment **Neutral** (0) — Video is instructional and straightforward, with light criticism of Stern's power button placement decision but overall tone remains professional and educational ### Signals - **[design_philosophy]** Stern Pinball's cost-cutting decision to place power button on back box criticized as inconvenient design choice (confidence: medium) — 'Because they sure as hell didn't do it for convenience purposes' indicates speaker believes this was a deliberate compromise on usability - **[community_signal]** Cary Hardy employing structured educational methodology with quiz-based review format to reinforce learning for pinball newcomers (confidence: high) — Video structure follows systematic component walkthrough followed by question-and-answer review section --- ## Transcript So, you're new to pinball. You have questions, but maybe you don't know how to ask them. That's okay. In this series of videos, I plan to answer some of those basic questions. Now pay attention. There will be a test. No, seriously, there will be a test. One of the most common questions asked by the new people is, where is the power button? So let's get that answered before continuing. The power button on most games will be located here. Very easy to reach down and toggle to switch on. Then on Stern Pinball's newest system, they made the cost-cutting decision to place the power button here on the backbox. Because they sure as hell didn't do it for convenience purposes. Now that the most common question is answered, let's start from the floor and work our way up. Leg Levelers. These give the owner the ability to level the game either by pitch to manage the game's difficulty, or maybe the owner is tall and doesn't want to lean over as much, or just to counter a very uneven floor. Now the most common setup for your leg levelers are the front legs all the way down and you adjust the rear legs as high as you wanted to go to adjust the difficulty accordingly. Leg. These are what keeps the pinball machine up. Without legs, your pinball machine would be resting on the ground. These legs are mounted to the machine using leg bolts. Two bolts per leg. These are bolted into the lower portion of the pinball machine called the cabinet. On the cabinet you will see the following items. Start button. This starts a game or adds a player. Coin door. This is used on locations to accept coins per play. And this is also how you will have access to the inside of the cabinet Plunger Puller rod Shooter rod Not all machines have this but some will have a launch button Some will also have a gun or a lever. But the end result is the same. It puts the ball into play. Flipper buttons. Now, not every game is created equal. Some games only have one button per side. left controls left side of the game flippers right button controls the right side of the game's flippers other games may have two buttons on one side that may control a certain flipper or a certain mech within that game every game is different but traditionally these days it's usually one button on each side side rails or armor these are to keep people from accessing under the glass with ease and protect the edges of the playfield glass. This protects the game from unwanted access and dampens the sounds that are underneath it. Lockdown bar. This keeps the glass in position and also deters unwanted access to the playfield. Some games have a button on the lockdown bar and this is called the action button. Cabinet hinge or backbox hinge. This is what allows the game to fold up or down for transport. The hinge has evolved with the cabinets over the decades and so has the locking device that keeps the backbox from easily falling. The backbox latch and this hinge connects the cabinet to the backbox. This holds a number of different things such as Translight or Backglass. An illuminated art package that shows the player the theme and the name of the game. Display. The display has evolved over the years. Numerical, Alpha Numerical D and just simply call it Display Speaker Panel This panel is what holds your speakers and everything above your backbox is called a topper all right did you get all of that let be sure it time for review so what going to happen now is i will ask these questions that identify a particular item that i have already specified in this video i will give you a few seconds to mentally or however you want to do this, spout out what the name of this particular item is. Let's see how you do. Your floor is uneven or you need to change the pitch of the entire game. What will you adjust? The answer is leg levelers. This is an illuminated art piece that typically shows you the name of the game. What is it? Back glass or trans light. This device puts the ball into play. Now this device goes by many names but we're gonna go with shooter rod. These four long pieces keep your game from touching the ground. Legs. This particular button initiates a game or even adds a player. The start button. These two items are what keeps your legs on the machine. Leg Bolts These particular buttons will activate your flippers when pressed during gameplay. Flipper Buttons This large portion on the front of your game that accepts coins is called The Coin Door This will show you a number of things but its primary goal is to show you your score Display. These are on the left and right side of your machine. These protect the edges of the glass. Side rails, or armor. Your speakers are attached to this. The speaker panel. This dampens the sound of your machine as well as keeps the ball from flying out. The playfield glass. This particular section of your machine is what holds the back glass and your display and speaker panel. the backbox this device is what allows you to raise and lower your backbox the backbox hinge and this device keeps your backbox from falling over the backbox latch or lock what is the term for anything above your backbox topper and finally this is directly in front of the player and can sometimes have an action button lockdown bar so there you have it i just went over the exterior of a traditional pinball machine did this information help you please let me know in the comment section down below this is the first episode of the so you're new to pinball series so by all means if you would like more educational information like this be sure to hit that subscribe button down below and by all means if you feel like you need to educate some of your friends about pinball then share this with them as well and until next time guys peace out _(Acquisition: youtube_groq_whisper, Enrichment: v3)_ --- *Exported from Journalist Tool on 2026-04-13 | Item ID: 96ae184b-618f-413e-b35d-0a05a9589340*