Ball physics

[wangho]

If one were to author a table, what determines ball speed and how a ball handles?

 

[StevOz]

Table Slope and the elasticity of the walls that make up the table. You can also directly code the ball to move, speed up or slow down, though this is usually only done for problem areas of a table where it may fly off a ramp, that kind of thing. Also things like slings, spinners and kickers of course change the action quite a bit and have fully adjustable settings as well. Finally how the table layout is designed has a major impact on the flow and feel of the ball in play.

 

[faralos]

you could make the pop bumpers stronger to sling that ball around at lightning speeds, same with any wall/target. table slope, how much stuff is actually on the playfield; can the ball travel alot before hitting something? I like to vary the speed at different areas of the table, faster between bumpers, slower near drop targets to make hitting them more of a skill shot rather than just have a super fast ball slamming into them all the time! height of ramps also comes into play here a lower ramp will of course send the ball back down at a slower rate of speed wereas a steep ramp will shoot that ball down much faster.