Win at a Claw Machine

Have you ever wanted to beat one of those claw machines and get that stuffed animal? Or maybe it's a watch? The possibilities of what could be in that claw machine are endless. Whatever it is, read this How To and get your prize!

Steps

  1. Choose a claw machine that isn't totally full. In a full machine, the toys are packed tightly together, making it harder to grab one.
  2. If possible, watch someone else play. Count how many seconds they have after putting the money in. This will help you with your strategy later!
  3. Enlist the help of a friend. Ask him/her to watch the sides of the machine to see if the claw is on the toy. In other words, one person uses the control to maneuver the claw while the other person spots and guides the controller to the item's destination. This method is a time saver and that's important - many claw machines run on 15 to 30 second timers. If you don't have anyone around to help, judge the claw's position by looking at the mirror inside the claw machine. The mirror can serve as your second person.
  4. Search for the item you want before you put your money into the machine, so your time is not wasted on deciding.
  5. Consider the type of claw when you are picking a target.
    • Four pronged claws are great for grabbing around the chest area of a stuffed animal. When you use this type of claw on a stuffed animal, try to maneuver the claw so that the four prongs are positioned both above and below the arms with the central part of the claw close to the neck or high chest area.
    • Three pronged claws: For stuffed animals, instead of positioning two of the prongs above the arms, position the prongs around the left or right arm. Have the claw at an angle so that it covers the whole chest area of a stuffed animal.
  6. To get a small collectible basketball, make sure the target ball is not surrounded by any other basketballs. This might rotate the claw on its way down, causing you to miss your basketball. If this is inevitable, try to bring it straight down as much as possible.
    • For best results, aim the center of the prongs in the radius center of the basketball. This technique draws a 60 to 70 percent chance of grabbing a basketball, but it is very difficult to center the claw in the middle of the basketball. But keep in mind that balls have a way higher catch rate than stuffed animals do. This means that you have more luck with that cute Super Mario plushy than the NBA Chicago Bulls basketball.
    • If the prong picks it up with ease but then drops it at the top, try going for the one closer to the chute.
  7. Insert the money and immediately start.
    • If you have 15 seconds, spend the first 10 seconds maneuvering, then the last 5 checking all sides of the machine to make sure you're positioned well enough for a grab (if you are doing this on your own). *The claw sometimes automatically goes down after time has gone up, but sometimes it goes back over the drop area, so make sure you are perfectly over the item you want and press the button to lower the claw.
    • If you have 30 seconds, spend 10 seconds maneuvering, 10 seconds checking the boundaries of the claw (sometimes it won't go all the way to the corners) 5 seconds for perfecting, then the last 5 dropping the claw.
    • If you have 45 seconds, spend 5 seconds deciding (if you put the money in already), 10 seconds maneuvering, 10 seconds checking boundaries, 20 seconds perfecting, and 5 seconds to drop the claw



Tips

  • If possible, aim for items closer to the drop box section. This helps because if the claw drops your prize, there's a better chance it will fall into the drop box.
  • Look for prizes that are near the chute, and at the claws height before it's dropped. Most times, all it takes is a little nudge, and you can win a free prize before you even drop the claw.
  • Go for items that are just the size of the claw.
  • Some claw machines have a variable setting so that the claw grabs at full strength at intervals. It's usually 10 - meaning that every 10 tries the claw will be stronger than usual.
  • If the prizes are stacked high enough, before even dropping the claw, try to use the prongs to "rake" a prize closer to the box. See if you can get it in and drop it on another prize in the same turn!
  • Don't jerk on the controller that controls the claw. It might rock the claw and make it difficult to position. Sometimes when you jerk on the claw, it rotates it so that it will be hard to grab an item.
  • The claw may be strong enough to pick up a toy but not strong enough to unwedge it from under different toys. See Warnings below.
  • Sometimes, in the machine, when you try to get the thing you want, it won't grab it because the item is too low. Most claws will grab at a higher part because there used to be stuffed animals there, but they're gone now. You should try to go for a higher item.
  • If it is a stuffed animal (or anything else) with a large tag, try grabbing the tag, or hooking one of the claws through it.
  • If it's a jewelry chest machine, go for the chain of the necklace or band of the watch. Make sure the claw closes all the way or you won't win anything.
  • When you manage to pick up an item, on the way to the prize chute, the claw will swing back and forth. This may cause it to fall. Take a note of this.
  • It takes more skill to move a prize than to win one. Do not try this if you only have one or two plays.
  • If a Claw Machine has something like an iPod, it will probably have a string or loop attached to it to make it easier. Don't fall for that trap! Those mystery bags with the handles are way easier to grasp than the loop. So aim for the middle. The claw won't grab the loop as easily.
  • Some claws drift to the right or left. Master that drift and be aware that the claw could be on target but it could drift.
  • There is no such thing as grease on a claw to make a toy slide off a claw! This is just a myth. The claws are made of stainless steel; there are light fixtures usually built into the machine so that the light reflects off the claw giving the impression that there is grease on the claw.
  • Aim at a high up prize, this will lower the chances of the claw shaking and dropping your prize. If you do aim for a low prize, make sure it's a newer claw and it's near the drop box.

Warnings

  • Don't spend more on the item you want than it's worth. The stuffed animal you want might cost $1 at a store. If so, don't spend $5 to try to win it with the claw. Many stuffed animal machines contain animals which are worth less than the price to try your skill!
  • Many of the managers who operate a claw machine usually pack the animals tightly such as tucking in a bear's leg under other toys, thus weighing it down so that if a perfect claw drop achieves a good grip point on the bear, it will easily slide off.
  • Large claw machines are an unlikely chance. Most of the large claws are operated by the same size engine of the smaller claws. Hence, even if you cleanly grab the item, the claw may not have the strength to hold it.

Things You'll Need

  • Many quarters
  • Claw machine
  • Another person (optional)
  • Skill
  • A smart brain :)

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Sources and Citations

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