Flippin' Summer School Sign up

Kickback Collective presents

Flippin'Summer School

Learn pinball from zero, build flipper skills, meet new people, and have fun doing it. A ten-week summer league for first-timers and casual players.

10 weeks 3eras of pinball Ages 16+ Pay what you can Sundays Meetups with snacks

Flippin' Sign Up →

Is this for you?

Short answer: yes. ★ Especially if you're nervous.

This is built for beginners and casual players, people who maybe looked at a machine once, or have watched someone play, and find the competitive pinball world a little intimidating. No experience required. No equipment required. You don't need to know rulesets or skill shots (it's great if you do!). We'll start at the beginning and flip, tilt, nudge, drain - together.

This isn't RadioShack (RIP) But...

You have questions? We have answers.

Where

Where does it happen?

Most weeks we meet at LEVEL Beer on NE Sandy. Three of the ten weeks are field trips to [places like Wedgehead, QuarterWorld Arcade, Back Patio] so you can play machines from each era under one roof.

The full schedule and addresses will be shared in the 'Flippin Summer School' Discord Server.

Who

Who's teaching?

Honestly? Everyone. Kickback is a community, and the community is the classroom â€” seasoned players, total beginners, and each other. There's no lone expert at the front of the room, just a roomful of people who were all new once.

Honestly? Everyone. Kickback is a community, and the community is the classroom. There'll be seasoned players, total beginners, and each other. There's no lone expert at the front of the room, just a roomful of people who were all new once.

The "curriculum" is pulled from the best of the pinball world â€” Tilt Forums, Kineticist, the legendary PAPA tutorials, leagues from around the globe, and the Twitch streamers and YouTubers who teach this game every single night.

You'll also get a study buddy: a returning player who's your person for questions, so you're never lost or alone in the room.

The 3 eras

How are you defining the "3 eras"?

Pinball has many eras, chapters and Portland has a lot of machines. Knowing none of this right now is totally okay:

1947+ The Classics — think bells, chimes, and spinning number wheels. All hands, no computers.

1977+ The Digital Age — digital scores, multiball, and machines that start talking back.

1991–now The Modern Era — video screens, missions to complete, games that gain new features over time with code updates.

What you'll do

So how does this work?

It's a "summer school" over ten weeks. Every week, you can explore the resources, which teaches something you'll keep: how to control the ball, how to aim, how to not panic when it's coming at you, and what to do when you tilt. The Sunday meetups are friendly, low-stakes play and optional "extra credit" challenges, but the competition is the seasoning, not the meal. We're here for the flippin' fun of it! Everybody graduates.

"Lessons" (history + one skill)
Community-coached practice
A friendly challenge that is totally optional
Sunday afternoon meetup with snacks, four rounds of pinball, and hanging out

A few more

The smaller stuff

What does it cost?

Pay what you can. The price should never be the reason you don't come. All the money goes to prizes, snacks, and community quarters. [Venmo @kickbackcollective]

Can I come by myself?

Yes — and most people do. Bringing friends is encouraged!

What if I miss a week?

No problem. Every week stands on its own, there's no penalty for missing one.

What should I bring?

Just yourself. Maybe some quarters. A portable fan? Silly random prize?

How old do I have to be?

16 and older.

Ready when you are

Come play pinball with us!

Spots are first-come. Sign up by June 28, and we'll add you to the Flippin' Summer School Discord. That's where you'll find the schedule, the people, and everything else.