Stern’s Jaws Pinball – Beginner’s Guide

Stern’s Jaws is a deep and exciting pinball machine where you take on the role of Amity Island’s hero – rescuing swimmers, closing beaches, and ultimately hunting down the Great White shark itself. This guide will walk new players through the basic gameplay flow, primary objectives, key shots, and strategies to survive longer and score higher. We’ll cover how to start modes and multiballs, earn extra balls, and progress through the game’s narrative in a controlled, consistent way.

Game Overview and Narrative

In Jaws pinball, your mission is to protect Amity Island from shark attacks and defeat “Jaws,” the great white shark. The game is structured around several objectives that parallel the film’s storyline:

Shark Encounter Modes (Story Missions): Play through iconic scenes (like Night Swim, Beach Panic, etc.) by hitting lit shots to fend off shark attacks.
Closing the Beaches: Rescue beachgoers and close the beaches to prevent further attacks.
Bounty Hunts: Hunt smaller shark species (Mako, Hammerhead, etc.) leading up to a final confrontation with the Great White.
Multiballs: Engage in frantic multiball modes like Jaws Multiball (battling the shark with barrels) and special multiballs after closing all beaches.

All these threads come together as you progress toward final challenges (mini–wizard modes) like the 4th of July celebration and the ultimate showdown with the Great White. Don’t worry if this sounds like a lot – we’ll break it down step by step so you can focus on one goal at a time and have fun while improving.

Playfield Layout and Key Shots

The playfield of Stern’s Jaws (Pro model) is packed with thematic toys and shots. Familiarize yourself with the key features labeled on the playfield. Understanding the playfield will help you know what to shoot and why. Here are the major shots and features, and their roles in gameplay:

Bash Boat (Captive Ball): The small Orca boat in the center with a captive ball. Hitting it is critical to light Shark Encounter modes (story missions). It’s also used to “chum the water” to lure out Jaws for multiball and for scoring jackpots during modes. Be cautious: direct hits can send the ball back unpredictably, so try to hit it when the ball is under control.
Shark Fin Target: A vertical target (with a shark fin image) that pops up for timed shots. You’ll need to hit this quickly in certain situations – for example, to attach a barrel to Jaws when qualifying Jaws Multiball, or as part of a Quickshot combo (explained later). The Shark Fin is often a timed shot (it appears for a few seconds), so be ready to shoot it when you see it lit or raised.
Left Orbit “Pond” (Spinner & Fishing Reel): A left orbit shot that feeds through the pop bumpers (the “pond”). There’s a spinner here connected to a fishing reel mechanism – spinning it is how you advance and start Bounty Hunts for mini-sharks. One of the story modes (Pond Attack) also starts at this shot. A strong left orbit shot will spin the reel (indicated by on-screen “ticks”); multiple spins qualify bounty missions. This orbit usually returns the ball safely to a flipper after the pops, so it’s a relatively safe shot.
Left Ramp “Wave Ramp”: A ramp on the left side (possibly with wave artwork) that feeds back to a flipper (or an upper playfield on Premium/LE). This shot starts the Beach Panic mode. Repeated left ramps also progress certain rule features and can light Quint’s Shack rewards on Premium/LE. This ramp returns the ball reliably to your flipper, making it a safe and satisfying shot for beginners to hit repeatedly.
Center Ramp (Quint’s Dock): Up the middle is a ramp or lane often associated with Quint’s dock/boat. One of the main story modes, Scars, starts at the center ramp. It may also feed an upper mini-playfield (on Premium) or just loop back. Like other ramps, it tends to return the ball to a flipper under control.
Right Ramp (Quint’s Ramp/Shack): The right ramp is very important – it’s used to start certain modes (e.g., Raft Attack mode) and to collect gear. When “Gear” is lit, shooting the right ramp collects a piece of equipment to help you. The right ramp usually feeds the right flipper via a wireform, so it’s another safe shot. It also doubles as “Quint’s Shack” – when lit, hitting the right ramp can award miscellaneous bonuses (like lighting a bounty hunt, lighting extra ball, etc., depending on the situation).
Right Orbit (Beach/Nook): The far right orbit shot (sometimes labeled with a beach name or “Nook”) likely feeds around to the left side or into the bumpers. This shot may be one of the “beach” shots used for modes or hurry-ups. Keep an eye out if a right orbit is flashing for a mode or hurry-up.
Shark Tower Targets: A set of stand-up targets (on the left side of the playfield, marked with shark fin/lifeguard tower icons). Hitting these represents sightings of the shark and will add “Beachgoers” (swimmers) to the beaches. In game terms, each target hit lights a swimmer on one of the main shots. You’ll want to hit these targets (carefully) to start the process of closing beaches (explained later). They are risky if hit straight on (the ball can rebound unpredictably), so try to glance them with the upper flipper or when you have ball-save safety.
Chum Bucket Target: A stand-up target or small scoop (typically on the right side, possibly a yellow-painted target) labeled “Chum.” This is used during Jaws Multiball setup and in some multiballs (like Search Multiball) to raise the shark fin or add balls. Initially, hitting the chum target/captive ball “chums the water” to attract the shark. During certain multiballs, repeated hits here may add a ball or other benefits.
Upper Flipper & Harpoon Lane: Jaws features a small upper flipper (likely on the right side of the playfield). This flipper lets you shoot specific shots like a harpoon lane or the left target bank. The Harpoon lane is a quick inner loop or target fed by the upper flipper – hitting it when lit and then quickly hitting the Shark Fin target constitutes a Quickshot combo. Upper flipper shots are usually short and fast, but often crucial for features like Fish Finder and quickshots.
Action Button (Life Ring): The game has an action button (usually on the lockdown bar) that can deploy a “Life Ring” when lit. If you see an outlane lit orange, pressing the action button at that moment will throw a life ring to save your ball from draining. This is a one-time ball save (until you light it again via certain awards) – a critical feature for staying alive longer. Watch for any “Life Ring lit” indication on screen or inserts.

Now that you know the playground, let’s dive into how to tackle the game step by step.

Basic Gameplay Flow

For a beginner, it’s best to approach Jaws one objective at a time. Here’s a simple flow for each ball to help you progress consistently:

Skill Shot: At ball launch, try for a skill shot. Jaws offers a multi-level skill shot system. For example, plunging just hard enough to land in the bumpers or to reach the upper flipper can score big points and even light a Gear item. If you soft plunge to the upper mini-flipper, you can flip at a flashing drop target for a bigger skill shot (which can also light gear). Successful skill shots often add extra seconds to ball save time – very helpful! Aim for a skill shot to start each ball with a score boost and more safety.
Light a Shark Encounter Mode: One of your first goals should be to start a Shark Encounter (story mode). To do this, shoot the bash boat (captive ball) a few times until you see several major shots turn blue, indicating modes are lit. Specifically, each time you complete enough hits on the boat, one of five story modes can be started at a flashing blue shot. The first mode usually lights after 1 hit to the boat; each subsequent mode needs an additional hit (2 for the second mode, 3 for the third, etc.). Once you’ve lit a mode, you’ll see one of the “beach” shots flashing – shoot that to start the mode (e.g., Night Swim at the left spinner, Beach Panic at the left ramp, Scars at the center ramp, Raft Attack at the right ramp, Pond Attack at the left orbit/spinner).
Play the Shark Encounter Mode: During a mode, blue-lit shots are your objectives. Hit the flashing blue shots to advance the scene and rack up points. Each mode typically has multiple phases, ending with an Encounter Jackpot. Completing a Shark Encounter mode adds a permanent multiplier to certain shots (making them more valuable). Even partial progress scores points; a full completion yields a bigger reward.
Work Toward Multiball: Multiballs not only yield lots of points, they give you multiple balls (extra lives) to stay safer. The main one is Jaws Multiball, which takes several steps to start (described later). You can choose whether to start a mode first and then begin a multiball or vice versa. As a beginner, it’s often wise to get a multiball ready early, so you can safely complete modes while multiple balls are in play.
Collect Beachgoers and Close Beaches: As you’re playing, take opportunities to hit the Shark Tower targets (the stand-ups) when it’s safe. Each hit adds one beachgoer (swimmer) to a specific beach shot. You need 3 beachgoers on a shot to “close” that beach, which starts a Hurry-Up for big points. Closed beaches also score bonus points on future hits for the rest of the game. Closing all five beaches qualifies a special wizard-mode multiball (Rescue or Search), which is a huge accomplishment.
Use Quickshots and Collect Gear (Optional Power-Ups): If you find the upper flipper opportunities, go for Quickshots: shoot the harpoon lane, then quickly hit the Shark Fin target. A successful combo scores points and lights a piece of Gear at the right ramp. You can cycle through available gear with the right flipper button and then shoot the right ramp to collect the desired gear (e.g., Oxygen Tank for extra time, Shark Cage for a drain save, etc.). Three Quickshots also award an Extra Ball. Don’t worry if this is tough at first – you can focus on modes and multiballs and incorporate quickshots as you gain more control.
Rinse and Repeat: After finishing a mode or multiball, refocus on the next objective. Keep chipping away at beachgoers and gear. The game is designed so you have multiple concurrent goals, but you don’t need to do everything at once. Pick one or two things to chase each ball.

By following this cycle – skill shot, start a mode, play mode, get a multiball, close some beaches, grab gear – you’ll make steady progress through Jaws’s narrative and keep the gameplay varied. Next, let’s dive deeper into the primary objectives (modes and multiballs) and how to start them.

Shark Encounter Modes (Story Objectives)

The Shark Encounter modes are the core story missions. There are five in total, each started at a different shot (the five beach shots) once lit. To light these modes, you must hit the bash boat a certain number of times:

Lighting a Mode: The first Shark Encounter mode lights after 1 hit on the boat, the next after 2 hits, and so on. After the required hits, you’ll see all main shots start flashing, and you can choose which one to shoot to begin a specific mode (Night Swim, Beach Panic, Scars, Raft Attack, or Pond Attack).
Mode Objectives: Once in a mode, blue arrows or flashing shots will guide you. Each mode has its own theme and shot requirements, generally culminating in an Encounter Jackpot. For example,
- Night Swim has you hit several shots to build value.
- Beach Panic involves hitting multiple shots with one of them lit for 2x.
- Scars has you hit pairs of shots while avoiding certain stand-ups.
- Raft Attack requires raising the Shark Fin target via ramp shots, then hitting it.
- Pond Attack emphasizes spinner shots and quick upper flipper combos.
Rewards for Completion: Finishing a mode grants a significant points payout and increases your scoring potential (often via a permanent shot multiplier). Completing all five encounters lights a mini-wizard mode called “4th of July,” which is typically a multiball frenzy with unlimited ball save – a great payoff for experiencing all story scenes.

Beginner Tip: Modes can be stacked with multiballs, letting you safely chase mode shots while multiple balls are in play. This is a common strategy to avoid quick drains during tough modes.

Jaws Multiball (Luring & Battling the Great White)

Jaws Multiball is the signature multiball, representing the showdown with the Great White (“Bruce”). Starting it requires a few steps:

Chum the Water: Hit the captive ball (boat) to begin chumming.
Fill the Chum Line: Shoot the flashing red arrows to progress a “chum meter.”
Attach a Barrel (Timed Shot): After filling the chum line, the game will prompt a yellow shot. Hitting it causes the Shark Fin target to pop up. Hit the fin before it times out to attach a barrel to the shark.
Start Multiball: Once the barrel is attached, Jaws Multiball is lit on one of the ramps. Shoot the lit ramp to begin!

During Jaws Multiball, shoot the lit jackpot shots (often the ones related to where you attached barrels). After collecting all regular jackpots, you can typically shoot the Fin or Bash Boat for a Super Jackpot. Each successive Jaws Multiball in the same game gets harder (requiring more barrels, etc.), so relish the first one as it’s the easiest to achieve.

Pro Tip: One Gear item (Barrel Hook) gives you a one-time restart of Jaws Multiball if you drain down to one ball. This can greatly increase your scoring and is a fantastic tool for beginners trying to make the most of a multiball.

Beachgoers, Hurry-Ups, and Beach Multiballs (Rescue/Search)

A parallel objective is rescuing beachgoers and closing beaches:

Adding Beachgoers: Each Shark Tower stand-up target hit lights a swimmer on a beach shot. Three swimmers on a shot closes that beach.
Closing a Beach (Hurry-Up): Once a beach is “full” (3 swimmers), a big hurry-up starts at that shot. Hitting it quickly scores a large sum of points. Closed beaches then score additional points for the rest of the game.
Rescue & Search Multiball (Beach Wizard Modes): Closing all five beaches qualifies a special multiball. The first time you close all beaches, you choose between Rescue Multiball or Search Multiball. Each has distinct mechanics (rescuing survivors vs. hunting the shark in phases), both are lucrative and come with a ball save at the start.

Beginner advice: Even if you don’t close all beaches, the hurry-ups you do collect are great for points. Also, rescuing 8 total swimmers awards an Extra Ball, so it’s well worth hitting those tower targets.

Bounty Hunts (Side Missions for Shark Hunters)

Beyond the main tasks of saving swimmers and facing Jaws, you can embark on Bounty Hunts for other shark species:

Starting a Bounty Hunt: Typically lit by spinning the left orbit’s fishing reel enough times or awarded at the right ramp (Quint’s Shack). Once lit, shoot the right ramp to begin the hunt.
Hunt in the Background: Bounty hunts are untimed and run in single-ball play. You’ll have a checklist of requirements (e.g., a certain number of spinner spins, pop bumper hits, target hits) to catch that particular shark.
Bounty Hunt Multiball: Once you fulfill the tasks, the left orbit/spinner lights to “Catch” the shark, triggering a dedicated multiball. Score jackpots by hitting the indicated shots repeatedly until the shark is captured.
Progressing All Hunts: There are four smaller sharks to catch, and if you manage them all, you’ll eventually face the final Great White hunt – a major wizard mode. But as a beginner, treat these hunts as optional side quests for extra points and variety.

“Gear” Collection (Power-Ups) and Extra Balls

Throughout the game, you can collect special Gear items that grant one-time or limited-use perks:

Lighting and Collecting Gear: Gear is most commonly lit by performing Quickshots (harpoon lane + shark fin combo). It can also be lit by certain skill shots, mode boosts, or rescuing swimmers. Once Gear is lit, shoot the right ramp to collect it. You can cycle which Gear item is selected with the right flipper button before shooting the ramp.
Gear Benefits:
1. Binoculars – Doubles beachgoers added per tower hit (speeds up closing beaches).
2. Oxygen Tank – Extends ball save and mode timers for the remainder of the ball.
3. Tracker – Speeds up chum line fills (fewer shots needed for Jaws Multiball).
4. Barrel Hook – Allows a one-time extension of Jaws Multiball if you drain to a single ball.
5. Shark Cage – A one-time save from a drain (triggered by hitting the fin target).
6. Dart – Speeds up bounty hunt objectives and boosts final hunt multiplier.
Gear Strategy: Beginners often benefit most from Oxygen Tank (longer ball saver), Shark Cage (drain protection), and Binoculars (quickly close beaches for extra balls). Barrel Hook is also very powerful when you’re about to start Jaws Multiball. You can hold multiple gear items at once, and their effects activate automatically or as described. If you collect all six gear items in one game, you can sell them for a large point bonus and qualify the final hunt – but often using them to survive longer is the better choice.
Extra Balls:
- Rescue 8 Beachgoers for one.
- Make 3 Quickshots for another.
- Additional methods can include score thresholds or special awards.
  Whenever Extra Ball is lit, shoot the indicated shot (often the right ramp or a specific scoop). Securing extra balls is key to higher scores and seeing more of the game’s content.

General Tips for Staying in Control and Scoring Big

Keep the Ball Under Control: Learn to cradle the ball on a flipper, let it bounce pass, and only flip deliberately. Avoid panic flipping.
Favor Safer Shots: Ramps and orbits that feed cleanly to the flippers are less risky. Save direct hits on dangerous stand-up targets or the captive ball for when you have a ball saver running (like at the start of a multiball).
Use the Upper Flipper Wisely: Look for opportunities to hit the harpoon lane or other special targets. The upper flipper can reach valuable features (e.g., Fish Finder), and it’s key to performing Quickshots.
Nudge and Save: A gentle bump can keep the ball out of the outlanes or put it in line with a flipper. Practice nudging without tilting.
Plan Stacks and Combos: Consider starting a mode right before launching a multiball, so you can safely complete mode shots with multiple balls in play. Stacking modes, multiballs, and hurry-ups can multiply your scoring potential.
Prioritize Extra Balls and Ball Saves: Whenever you see an opportunity for an extra ball, go for it. Use gear items like Shark Cage or Oxygen Tank to extend your survival. Keep an eye out for the Life Ring lighting in the outlanes.
Focus on High-Value Shots: Mode jackpots, beach hurry-ups, and multiball jackpots (especially Super Jackpots) are huge point sources. Take advantage of any shot multipliers you’ve earned by completing modes or closing beaches.
Enjoy the Journey: Jaws is a challenging but rewarding game. Listen to the callouts, watch the display for instructions, and appreciate each milestone you reach (like finishing a mode or collecting a bounty).

Final Thoughts
Stern’s Jaws Pinball is packed with fun toys, intense modes, and rich thematic elements that bring the movie to life. This guide gives you a roadmap for approaching the game: learn the shots, pick a goal each ball (mode, multiball, beaches, or bounties), grab extra balls and gear whenever possible, and keep improving your control. In time, you’ll rescue Amity Island’s beachgoers, fight off the sharks, and maybe even conquer the ultimate Great White wizard mode. Now, step up to the machine, launch that ball, and prove you’re gonna need a bigger score! Good luck!