By Todd Russell
I see people asking sometimes which Jaws to buy: the pro or the premium? In this article, we’ll cover an extra ball opportunity only available premium/LE. Earning more additional balls in a standard 3-ball game will get additional time to beat the game, it’s one of my play strategies to try and get further in this great game.
For those not familiar with this shot, you have to get the ball into the upper playfield then hit off the end of the small flipper up there to loop around the outside and back down below 8 times in a single game. This might sound or be easy for some really good Jaws players, but for me, this has been a serious challenge. Prior to the Humpday Wednesday Pinball stream on 4/30/2025 my best Lookout Tower shots was 6 in a single game, which I’d done several times. I’d done 4 in a single ball before.
I’ve played Jaws around 1,500 games, way more than any other Stern Pinball game, btw. Wish I could tell you exactly how many games but Stern jacked up their IC stats with their last update (see: Stern Horribly Upgrades Insider Connected – please revert!) and my overall play stat numbers for Jaws make no sense.
What do I mean? As of this writing, here’s what my total play stats for Jaws show:
Now, look a what my stats looked like over six months ago (via 2024 Ranking All 26 Spike 2 Stern Pinball Machines):
Obviously, my overall play stats haven’t gone backwards. I can’t unplay games. So, for accuracy, you see why I’m saying “about 1,500 games.” That’s probably close to the real number.
Anyway, back to the game. You can watch the entire 24+ minute run on Twitch in the following clip: https://www.twitch.tv/videos/2447472019
Recently, I’ve focused more on the upper playfield Lookout Tower in the premium/LE, trying to get more consistent with hitting that shot multiple times and overall make 8 to earn an extra ball.
Why? This would make for at least *4* extra ball opportunities in the game, if I can improve my skill on executing this shot. Having 7 balls in a 3-ball game — because I legit earned 4 extra balls — should improve my chances of beating this game someday.
Here are the 4 extra ball shots I’m targeting when playing:
- 8 beachgoers (easiest extra ball, earned maybe 75%-90% of the time I play)
- video mode (second easiest, earned maybe 10-25% of the time I play) Shark Hunter. TIP: the extra ball always comes from the upper right about 20 seconds into the game mode. Keep the right side clear of stuff and be prepared to shoot that ball when it appears.
- 7x quickshot (I get this maybe 5-10% of the times I play)
- (newest focus for me) 8x Lookout Tower in a single game (I’ve only done this one time, my record set on 4/30/2025 is 10 in a single game)
How many other extra ball opportunities exist in Jaws? Let’s talk in the comments area.