Despite these aids, you never want to give up a ball without a fight. When you see a ball heading for the undefended area, put both flippers in the 'up' position and wait for the ball. If it is leaning towards one flipper or another, you should have enough time to lower that flipper and send the ball back up. You might also get fortunate enough to trap the ball in the elbow of a flipper, provided the arms are up. Waiting until the ball actually reaches the 'resting' flippers may be too late, so keep your fingers close to the flipper buttons at all times.
Flippers are also offensive.
This is the aspect of flipper control that every player learns the very first time they play the game. But modern machines have added features that can only be activated by aggressive and accurate offensive flipper action. Good players develop a feel for a flipper's 'sweet spots'- those areas on a flipper that will cause a ball to hit a certain ramp or drop target. Beginners tend to be more reactionary when using flippers, waiting for the ball to finish its trip around the table before finally flipping the ball at the last possible moment. Advanced players will often trap the ball with a well-timed flip while holding the arm in the up position.