Hero Image
JLP Pinball Cards

Lightning

Stern 1981 SS
Strategy updated: July 8, 2026

Lock stealing: Balls locked in the upper saucers carry over from player to player and game to game.

Strategy

Drop targets build base bonus, rollover lanes light u-turn lane for Bonus X. Since Bonus and Bonus X carry over, build base early in the game.

Key Rules

Bonus X

  • Light all 4 rollover lanes yellow to qualify u-turn lane for Bonus X

    • 2 inlanes at the bottom of the playfield

    • 2 lanes that run under the upper playfield flippers

  • Completing any drop target bank will spot one of these lanes

  • Bonus X carries over from ball to ball unless you have it at 5X (max) it will reset to 2X on the next ball

  • Also getting to 5X lights once a center target in one of the drop banks for a red special (100K)

Drop Banks

  • There are 3 banks labelled 1, 2, and 3 from top to bottom

  • Completing a bank will spot a rollover lane for progress toward Bonus X

  • Each drop target adds to base bonus, which carries over ball-to-ball

  • One of the banks will be lit green, completing this bank will spot one of 9 standup targets around the playfield

  • Completing the banks in order in a single ball will qualify an extra ball (100K) at a center target in one of the banks

  • Completing the banks in order twice in a single ball will award a green special (100K)

Multiball

  • Lock balls in one or both saucers in the upper PF

  • Complete all 9 standup targets to release any locked balls for MB

  • The u-turn lane will be lit blue at the start of MB for a playfield multiplier

    • Each pass through the lane is +1 playfield X

    • The multiplier remains in effect when MB ends for the remainder of this ball

lightning.jpeg playfield
Playfield image by Ken (scottamus)