By Ariane Sohrabi-Shiraz

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Claw machines are a staple part of any arcade. You might have many happy, albeit frustrated, memories from childhood , spending all your coins trying to get the item you really want. Using a joystick or buttons, players are supposed to use a claw to hover over their desired prize, before lowering it down, and hoping it will grab it, pull it up, and guide it to the exit chute. But they’re notoriously hard to win, and even if you manage to pick up the prize, more times than not the claw seems to just let go. This can be agonising, and you can end up spending lots of money on them, thinking you’ll ‘get it next time’. But according to some claw machine experts, there are things you can do to increase your chances of finally winning – and taking home that sweet prize. Katie and Spencer, claw machine experts who regularly travel to theme parks, arcades and fairs and document the process on their Winner Every Time social media channels, recently shared their tips to their TikTok. Firstly, they explained that if the “plush is stacked higher than the chute”, what you should do to get a win is “grab the plush part away from the chute to attempt to roll it in”. In the demonstrating video, the toy can be seen falling into the chute due to the angle and the weight of the claw itself. In some circumstances, you can even use the arm of the claw to “push a prize in,” say the experts. You should also avoid playing a claw machine straight after someone else has won, according to the experts. It will be unlikely that you’re able to win again so soon. Another tip is to “play for prizes that are on their own, and not too close to other prizes”. They went on to explain the “double tap feature,” which they say some claw machines have. “This will stop the claw during the drop to grab the prize,” they explained. This method involves pressing the button one more time when the claw is about to pick up the plush toy, ensuring a secure grip. However, they added: “It is not a guaranteed win! It should be used as a skill to stop the claw where you want.” While many were excited to try out these for themselves, others were understandably sceptical. One person claimed: “Not really a skill. Machines are set not to grab full strength, except after a set interval.” Another said: “For most claws in the UK this wouldn’t work.” Have you tried any of these tips? Let us know in the comment section below.