Habitrails

A ball path made from bent steel wire, set above the normal playfield level, that guides the ball along an elevated route before returning it to the playing surface. In 1930s machines, similar wire paths were called ball elevators. Habitrails became a signature element of modern playfield design, giving the ball a dramatic aerial journey visible from every angle — the ball rolls along the wire track, curving and descending under gravity. Combined with Ramps and Vertical Up-Kickers, habitrails enabled the three-dimensional shot sequences that defined Dot Matrix Display era pinball, routing the ball through loops and returns that would be impossible on a flat surface.