Pinball kick back play feature

A pinball machine, comprising:

• an inclined playfield for supporting a rolling ball having associated therewith at least one flipper, a drain hole, and an exit lane;
• a holding area positioned adjacent to said exit lane for accepting and storing said ball therein and for preventing said ball from traveling down said exit lane and into said drain hole;
• a kicker mechanism associated with said holding area for launching said ball from said holding area back through said exit lane;
• and
• a first switch associated with said kicker mechanism for causing said kicker mechanism to launch said ball.

A pinball machine, comprising:

• an inclined playfield for supporting a rolling ball having associated therewith at least one flipper, an exit lane, and a drain hole;
• a door mechanism having a retractable door positioned adjacent to said exit lane;
• a holding area positioned behind said door for allowing a ball to be stored therein whereby said ball is prevented from continuing down said exit lane and into said drain hole;
• a kicker mechanism associated with said holding area for launching said ball from said holding area back through said exit lane;
• a first switch positioned upon said playfield and operable through contact with said ball for causing said door to move from a first position wherein said ball is prevented from accessing said holding area to a second position wherein said ball is allowed access to said holding area;
• a second switch positioned remotely from said playfield and operable by a player of said pinball machine for causing said kicker mechanism to launch said ball from within said holding area;
• and
• a third switch associated with said holding area for detecting the presence or absence of said ball within said holding area.