Scoops

A curved piece of metal mounted above a hole or sinkhole in the playfield that catches the ball and directs it to a specific location, typically funneling it into a Kick-Out Holes beneath. Scoops became a signature feature of late-1980s and 1990s playfield design, first appearing prominently on Williams’ Cyclone (1988). They provide a smooth, visible ball capture — the ball rolls into the curved trough and drops into the mechanism below — and often serve as the entry point for mode starts, locks, and major awards. Their raised profile makes them a prominent visual element on the playfield.