If you’ve ever walked away from a claw machine with nothing but regret, you’re not alone.

Most people know the feeling—watching the claw grab that perfect plush toy, lift it into the air, and then drop it for no reason just before reaching the chute. Some blame bad luck; others suspect the machine is rigged.

But one Michigan woman says there’s a simple trick to winning every time. She’s got a lemon and a hairclip to prove it.

A ‘Claw Expert’ Breaks It Down

TikTok user Amanda Atherton (@a.atherton), who describes herself as a “claw expert,” posted a now-viral video where she breaks down how to master the arcade staple. The clip has pulled in over 3.5 million views.

“Here’s the thing they don’t want you to know,” she begins.

Using a lemon and a hair clip to demonstrate, she explains why most people fail: They try to grab the toy from the top.

“That’s when it slips out,” she says, showing how the clip struggles to hold the lemon when clamped at the top.

Instead, she suggests aiming for the middle.

“The middle is where you can grab it,” she explains, shifting the clip to the center of the lemon. It holds much more securely.

Atherton also points out that most machines only have three claws, which can’t support round or odd-shaped objects if you grab them fully.

“Even if you grab the whole thing, that’s when it slips out,” she says.

Her final tip is to use your first round to test how far down the claw goes. Then choose a prize that lines up with that height—something that can be grabbed squarely in the middle.

What’s The Deal With Claw Machines And The Low Success Rate?

According to Umehara Keiji, an arcade expert featured in a Vice interview, there’s a clear reason why most people walk away from claw machines empty-handed: They’re “100 percent rigged.”

He explained that the settings inside the machines are incredibly detailed. Owners can adjust how strong the claw is at different points—on the way down, while lifting, and even as it travels over the chute. In other words, the claw might grip your prize perfectly… only to loosen up and drop it right before it gets to you.

Another TikTok creator who bought a claw machine backed this up. They said it came with documentation showing that owners can set the exact win rate by controlling the claw’s strength.

So while clever methods like the one Atherton shared might help a little, your chances are still slim if the machine isn’t programmed to let you win.

Commenters Aren’t Convinced, Either

Despite the confident demonstration, many viewers weren’t buying it.

“You say it like we have a choice,” one person commented.

“OK but we can’t control how the claw machine goes down,” another added.

A third chimed in, “Cannot believe how many of these comments think this isn’t just common sense.”

Others pointed to a more technical reason claw machines often feel rigged. “They are set to close once in a while,” one commenter said. “There was a show in the U.K. which explained this much better. You need to wait around for others to play the machine and count how many times the claws drop.”

https://www.tiktok.com/@a.atherton/video/7522290235275808013/

BroBible reached out to Atherton via TikTok messages for more information.

The post ‘This Works For Everything’: Michigan Woman Shows How To Beat The Claw Machine Every Time. Then She Demos With A Lemon And A Hairclip appeared first on BroBible.