diff --git a/components/hud/TouchControlBar.tsx b/components/hud/TouchControlBar.tsx
index a0d97f1..0b10a45 100644
--- a/components/hud/TouchControlBar.tsx
+++ b/components/hud/TouchControlBar.tsx
@@ -25,13 +25,62 @@ function isTouchDevice(): boolean {
   return typeof window !== "undefined" && ("ontouchstart" in window || navigator.maxTouchPoints > 0);
 }
 
+function FlipperLeftIcon() {
+  return (
+    <svg viewBox="0 0 24 24" width="28" height="28" fill="none" stroke="currentColor" strokeWidth="3">
+      <polyline points="15 5 8 12 15 19" strokeLinecap="round" strokeLinejoin="round" />
+    </svg>
+  );
+}
+
+function FlipperRightIcon() {
+  return (
+    <svg viewBox="0 0 24 24" width="28" height="28" fill="none" stroke="currentColor" strokeWidth="3">
+      <polyline points="9 5 16 12 9 19" strokeLinecap="round" strokeLinejoin="round" />
+    </svg>
+  );
+}
+
+/** Eject-style glyph (triangle over a bar) for the plunger/launch control. */
+function PlungerIcon() {
+  return (
+    <svg viewBox="0 0 24 24" width="20" height="20" fill="currentColor">
+      <path d="M12 4.5 19 15H5l7-10.5Z" />
+      <rect x="5" y="17.5" width="14" height="2.5" rx="1" />
+    </svg>
+  );
+}
+
+function CoinIcon() {
+  return (
+    <svg viewBox="0 0 24 24" width="18" height="18" fill="none" stroke="currentColor" strokeWidth="1.75">
+      <circle cx="12" cy="12" r="8.5" />
+      <path
+        d="M14.5 9.3c-.4-.8-1.3-1.3-2.5-1.3-1.7 0-3 .9-3 2.1 0 2.9 5.5 1.3 5.5 4.1 0 1.2-1.3 2.1-3 2.1-1.2 0-2.1-.5-2.5-1.3M12 6.8v1.2M12 16v1.2"
+        strokeLinecap="round"
+        strokeLinejoin="round"
+      />
+    </svg>
+  );
+}
+
+function PlayIcon() {
+  return (
+    <svg viewBox="0 0 24 24" width="18" height="18" fill="currentColor">
+      <path d="M7 4.5v15l13-7.5-13-7.5Z" />
+    </svg>
+  );
+}
+
 function ControlButton({
   binding,
   label,
+  icon,
   size,
 }: {
   binding: KeyBinding;
   label: string;
+  icon: React.ReactNode;
   size: "lg" | "md" | "sm";
 }) {
   const [pressed, setPressed] = useState(false);
@@ -50,28 +99,23 @@ function ControlButton({
     dispatchKey("keyup", binding);
   }, [binding]);
 
-  const sizeClasses =
-    size === "lg"
-      ? "h-20 w-20 text-3xl"
-      : size === "md"
-        ? "h-14 w-14 text-lg"
-        : "h-12 w-14 font-mono text-[11px] tracking-widest";
+  const sizeClasses = size === "lg" ? "h-20 w-20" : size === "md" ? "h-14 w-14" : "h-12 w-12";
 
   return (
     <button
       type="button"
-      aria-label={binding.key === "Shift" ? `${label} flipper` : label}
+      aria-label={label}
       onPointerDown={onDown}
       onPointerUp={onUp}
       onPointerCancel={onUp}
       onContextMenu={(e) => e.preventDefault()}
-      className={`touch-none select-none rounded-full border-2 font-display transition ${sizeClasses} ${
+      className={`flex touch-none select-none items-center justify-center rounded-full border-2 transition ${sizeClasses} ${
         pressed
           ? "border-marquee bg-marquee/30 text-marquee shadow-[0_0_16px_rgba(255,122,41,0.5)]"
           : "border-chrome/40 bg-black/40 text-chrome"
       }`}
     >
-      {label}
+      {icon}
     </button>
   );
 }
@@ -97,17 +141,19 @@ export default function TouchControlBar({ active }: TouchControlBarProps) {
   return (
     <div
       data-hud
-      className="absolute inset-x-0 bottom-0 z-10 flex items-center justify-between gap-2 border-t border-chrome/30 bg-ash/90 px-3 pb-[max(0.75rem,env(safe-area-inset-bottom))] pt-3 backdrop-blur sm:hidden"
+      className="absolute inset-x-0 bottom-0 z-10 flex items-center justify-between border-t border-chrome/30 bg-ash/90 px-3 pb-[max(0.75rem,env(safe-area-inset-bottom))] pt-3 backdrop-blur sm:hidden"
     >
-      <ControlButton binding={LEFT_FLIPPER} label="◀" size="lg" />
+      <ControlButton binding={LEFT_FLIPPER} label="Left flipper" icon={<FlipperLeftIcon />} size="lg" />
 
-      <div className="flex shrink-0 items-center gap-2">
-        <ControlButton binding={INSERT_COIN} label="COIN" size="sm" />
-        <ControlButton binding={START_GAME} label="START" size="sm" />
-        <ControlButton binding={PLUNGER} label="⬆" size="md" />
+      {/* Positioned absolutely so it sits on the bar's true center, independent
+          of the (equal-width, so already symmetric) flipper buttons on either side. */}
+      <div className="absolute left-1/2 top-1/2 flex -translate-x-1/2 -translate-y-1/2 items-center gap-3">
+        <ControlButton binding={INSERT_COIN} label="Insert coin" icon={<CoinIcon />} size="sm" />
+        <ControlButton binding={START_GAME} label="Start game" icon={<PlayIcon />} size="sm" />
+        <ControlButton binding={PLUNGER} label="Plunger" icon={<PlungerIcon />} size="md" />
       </div>
 
-      <ControlButton binding={RIGHT_FLIPPER} label="▶" size="lg" />
+      <ControlButton binding={RIGHT_FLIPPER} label="Right flipper" icon={<FlipperRightIcon />} size="lg" />
     </div>
   );
 }