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JLP Pinball Cards

Beat the Clock

Bally 1985 SS
Strategy updated: August 21, 2026

Strategy

This is a time based game, not a number of balls based game. You need to both manage the clock and score points.

To stop and add time to the clock, shoot the STOP standup targets to the right of the pops to pause the clock, then shoot the right orbit shot to make the center lane saucer to add +10 time units.

To score points, shoot right orbit for points and to build bonus and bonus X, then collect at the saucer in the upper left corner.

Skill Shot

Plunge to a lit top lane

Key Rules

Clock

  • Each player gets 1 turn with unlimited ball saves as long as there is time left on the clock when a ball drains

  • Independent of scoring, a player wants to stop the clock and add time to the clock to extend play

  • Pause the Clock:

    • Unlight all 4 STOP standup targets to the right of the pops, use the right flipper to rotate lights

    • Roll through outlane

  • Add Time to the Clock:

    • Shoot right orbit into the top center lane saucer, +10 time units

    • Land in upper left corner saucer, +5 time units

    • Unlight both inlanes, +5 or +10 time units based on machine setting

    • Complete the left drop target bank and the hit all 5 flashing standup targets behind them, +25 time units

  • Once the clock is stopped, rolling over either green star rollover, located just above the top of the slings will start the clock running again

  • The clock also restarts on a plunge when the first switch is triggered

  • ❗️Tilting has an additional penalty of decrease the clock -10 time units

Top Lanes

  • Unlight A B C D via the top lanes for (2X playfield, 3X playfield, Special), each lane scores 5K and 1 bonus advance

Right Orbit and Top Saucer

  • Hit the drop target at the entrance to the right orbit to light the top center lane saucer, shoot for the lit saucer for +10 time units

  • Each shot to the right orbit increases the top saucer value by 10K (Max: 190K) which carries over ball-to-ball and scores the following:

    • 1st shot: 10K + 2X Bonus

    • 2nd: 20K + 3X Bonus

    • 3rd: 30K + 5X Bonus

    • 4th: 40K + Special

    • 5th+: 40K

Left Drop Target Bank

  • In addition to the ability to add time to the clock, completing the left drop target bank scores 50K and increased the completion value +50K (Max: 300K)

Bonus and Bonus X

  • Base bonus is added by the top lanes, flashing STOP targets, any drop target, and the bottom 4 lanes. (Max: 395K)

  • Bonus X is built by shooting the right orbit as described above

  • Collecting the bonus and bonus X is only down at the upper left corner saucer, not on a ball drain

  • Most tournaments will have the bonus collect reset the base bonus, yet this can be changed in the game settings, if it is not reset exploit this by repeatedly shooting the collect saucer

  • Base bonus is held ball-to-ball but Bonus X is not

beat-the-clock-pf.jpg playfield
Playfield image by Ken (scottamus)
Backglass image by roccodemarco