by Bernard Blvd.
“I could beat your score with one hand tied behind my back.” Is it a triple dog dare, or…. Pat Hand!
Pat Hand is a great way to play pinball. The concept is simple: Each player uses one hand per ball. You are allowed to change hands between balls. Pat Hand works the best on EM games, but you can play it on all types. It was even employed by Cayle and Eden in the finals at the last Georgetown tournament.
Pat Hand takes some time to get used to, so take baby steps. Make sure that you are watching the ball. You have to be able to anticipate which flipper the ball is going to land on, so that you can switch flippers if necessary. Nudging the machine is really useful with Pat Hand, because you can push the ball back up into the playfield, giving yourself more reaction time. Just keep that other hand occupied, because if you slip up and use it, you will be disqualified. Nobody likes losers!
So yeah, that’s it. Play with one hand. What you do with your free hand is up to you. Many people will hold their beer, or put their hand in their pocket. I put mine in my man-purse. Other suggestions: Eat a hot dog. Talk on your cell phone. High-five. Apply chapstick. Slap somebody. Drum for Def Leppard. Give the Peace sign. Count to five. The possibilities are endless.
Let’s all stick our hands in our man-purses and play some Pat Hand!