Up-Posts

A ball-saver device located in the center drain between the Flippers, made of translucent plastic, that rises up during game play to block the most common drain path. When raised, the up-post creates a physical barrier that bounces the ball back toward the flippers instead of allowing it to pass through. The post is typically activated as a reward — earned by completing objectives or during Multiball — and retracts after a set time or number of saves. Up-posts appeared on approximately 15 IPDB-cataloged machines beginning in the early 1990s and offer a visible, tangible form of ball protection.