Trap Door Drop Holes

A combination of a Trap Doors and a Drop Holes — a hinged cover in the playfield that opens to reveal a hole beneath, allowing the ball to drop through. When the trap door is closed, the ball rolls over the surface normally; when it opens, the ball falls in, registering a score or triggering a game event. Unlike a standard Drop Holes, the opening is concealed until activated, adding an element of surprise to the playfield. IPDB records catalog the feature on machines ranging from early bagatelle tables to mid-century designs, where the trap-door mechanism gave designers control over when and whether a drop hole was in play.