Shoot-A-Line

The Shoot-A-Line, manufactured by Bally in March 1962 as Model 682, is an electro-mechanical bingo machine designed by Don Hooker with a bowling sports theme. Bingo machines like this one are a distinct category of EM pinball-adjacent games, known for offering multiple simultaneous scoring combinations rather than the single-player objective of conventional pinball.

Gameplay on the Shoot-A-Line centers on 28 trap holes across 6 cards, letting players pursue several scoring combinations per game. Notably, the backglass does not carry the Bally logo — one of several unusual details about this release. Model 682 was the first production run of the game; a second run followed as Model 713, 'Shoot-A-Line \'63.' Together, these were the only 28-hole bingo games Bally produced.

While little else is documented about the specific design inspiration behind Shoot-A-Line, its status as one of Bally's few 28-hole bingo releases and its unbranded backglass make it a distinctive piece for collectors of vintage bingo pinball.