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I´m making a pinball machine where the user has controll over the two pieces that you use to "move" the ball. You will be able to move these freely within a set area, but if you move them outside of this area, there will be a sound and lights go off and you loose. What I need help with is figuring out what sensors to use and how to code the sensors so that they will operate within the given area.  

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user has controll over the two pieces that you use to "move" the ball

"Flippers"?

What I need help with is figuring out what sensors to use

If you want to sense a pinball ball, i.e. a shiny metal ball (like a ball-bearing), how about using beams of infra-red light?  The ball could break the beam and trigger a signal on one of the Arduino's digital inputs.  You will need IR LEDs (permanently on) and IR phototransistors (connected to the Arduino).  You'll find quite a few threads on the forum that go into ways to connect IR and visible light sensors to digital inputs.