LinkedIn PinpointAnswer & Solution
LinkedIn Pinpoint 577 Answer
LINKEDIN PINPOINT
November 28, 2025
Basketball
Persimmon
Pumpkin pie filling
Traffic cone
Lifejacket
Today’s LinkedIn Pinpoint puzzle was a vibrant journey through various objects that, at first glance, seem to have absolutely nothing in common. However, as we peel back the layers, a very distinct visual theme emerges. Let’s dive deep into the breakdown of these clues and see how the logic connects them all.
The Solve: A Tale of Wrong Turns
When the first clue, Basketball, popped up, my mind immediately went to sports. I was thinking about things you bounce, team games, or maybe even professional leagues like the NBA. It’s a very broad starting point, so I didn't want to commit to an answer just yet.
Then came Persimmon. This was a bit of a curveball. A basketball is a piece of sports equipment, and a persimmon is a fruit. I started looking for a physical connection. Both are generally round, right? So, my first thought was "Round things." I almost typed it in, but I hesitated because many things are round, and Pinpoint usually looks for something a bit more specific.
The third clue, Pumpkin pie filling, changed the game. Now we had a sport, a fruit, and a mushy food ingredient. "Round things" was officially out the window because pie filling is a liquid-like puree. However, I noticed a very strong visual similarity. A basketball is famously a burnt-orange color. A ripe persimmon is a deep orange. Pumpkin pie filling? Definitely orange. The "color" theory started to take the lead.
When Traffic cone appeared as the fourth clue, the "orange" theory became a near certainty. Traffic cones aren't food or sports gear; they are safety tools specifically designed to be "Safety Orange" so they are visible from a distance.
Finally, the Lifejacket clue sealed the deal. Just like the traffic cone, lifejackets are colored a very specific, bright shade of orange to ensure that someone in the water can be easily spotted by rescuers. By looking at all five items—from the court to the kitchen to the middle of the ocean—the only common thread tying them together is their iconic color. The answer had to be "Things that are orange."
Lessons Learned
One of the biggest takeaways from today is to never get too attached to the first category that pops into your head. If I had stuck with "Sports" or "Round things," I would have been stuck. You have to be willing to pivot your logic as soon as a new clue contradicts your current theory.
Another lesson is to look for "functional color." In this puzzle, two of the items (the cone and the lifejacket) are orange specifically for safety and visibility. Recognizing why an object is a certain color can often lead you to the answer faster than just looking at the object's name.
Lastly, this puzzle reminds us that Pinpoint loves to mix categories. We had a sport, two types of food, and two pieces of safety equipment. When you see such a diverse list, the connection is almost always a physical characteristic like color, texture, or a shared material rather than a functional use.
Expert Q&A
Why is the color orange so common for safety items like lifejackets and traffic cones?
Orange, specifically "Safety Orange," provides high contrast against most natural backgrounds like the blue of the ocean or the grey of a paved road. This makes it the most effective color for catching the human eye quickly in hazardous situations.
Are all persimmons orange, or can they be other colors?
While there are different varieties, the most common ones like Fuyu and Hachiya are known for their brilliant orange hue when they reach peak ripeness. Some might be more yellowish or reddish-orange, but the "orange" identity is their most defining trait.
Could "Things found in autumn" have been a valid guess for this puzzle?
While pumpkins and persimmons are definitely associated with the fall season, basketballs, traffic cones, and lifejackets are used year-round. A good Pinpoint answer must apply perfectly to every single clue provided.
How do you distinguish between a "color" answer and a "shape" answer in this game?
You have to look for the outlier. In this set, "Pumpkin pie filling" has no fixed shape, which immediately disqualifies any shape-based answers like "round" or "spherical," leaving color as the most logical connection.
Is there a specific name for the color of a basketball?
Most basketballs are a shade known as "burnt orange." This color was originally chosen in the late 1950s to make the ball more visible to both players and spectators, similar to the logic used for traffic safety gear.