Slap Stick

Slap Stick is a rare electro-mechanical pinball machine from Bally Manufacturing Corporation, designed by Jim Patla and released in 1975, with only 85 units confirmed produced. It holds a notable place in pinball history as the last 1-player EM pinball machine Bally ever made, representing the twilight of the company's electro-mechanical era just before the shift to solid-state technology.

The gameplay on Slap Stick is as colorful as it is challenging. With four flippers, two pop bumpers, and a pair of mushroom bumpers, players must employ strategic timing to navigate the ball through a mesmerizing array of eight standup targets, four flip flags, and two kick-out holes. The end-of-ball bonus adds an extra layer of excitement, rewarding skilled players. What sets Slap Stick apart from its contemporaries is its whimsical theme, evoking the joy and spectacle of a circus or carnival, captured through Dick White's vibrant artwork.

Little is documented about designer Jim Patla's background or inspirations behind Slap Stick. Its historical position as Bally's final single-player EM release, combined with its low production numbers, has made it a notable find among collectors interested in the mechanical-to-solid-state transition of the mid-1970s.