Here's my thoughts that I want to share with everyone as a starting point. Hopefully, after reading this post, the Pick 5 lottery will now become more attractive on this forum.

4 out of 5 numbers is feasible. 5 number hits, however, are difficult to nail consistently. So yes, I agree, trapping 4 of 5 numbers is a smart route to pursue. You can hit weekly $2k payouts if you are methodical in your approach. $20,000+ is doable also, if you have the budget. Here let me elaborate some more and explain how this could occur with careful and precise planning. Hopefully, this will open eyes and possibilities to those who are fixated on the lower number lotteries.

Take the "CA Fantasy 5" lottery, for example. There are 39 numbers in this game to track. If you manage to trap a 4 number hit on one line within an 8 ticket bet, then you can assume a payout will always be between $300-$500 dollars. Lets say $300 on the low end. Assuming you played the same 8 ticket set ten times, that's an $80 dollar bet ($8 ticket set x 10). And here's the resulting payout calculation .. $80 bet x $300 lottery payout = $24,000 prize for trapping a 4 of 5 number hit. In California, that means you have 28 to 31 days to make it happen (depending on the number of days that particular month has).

Each number is assigned an alphabet letter code.

NUMBER TRACKING TEMPLATE
1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9-10-11-12-13-14-15-16-17-18-19-20-21-22-23-24-25-26-27-28-29-30-31-32-33-34-35-36-37-38-39 (1-39)

A-B-C-D-E-F-G-H-I-J-K-L-M-N-O-P-Q-R-S-T-U-V-W-X-Y-Z-AA-BB-CC-DD-EE-FF-GG-HH-II-JJ-KK-LL-MM (1-39)

Where ..

A = 1
B = 2
C = 3
D = 4
E = 5
F = 6
G = 7
H = 8
I = 9
J = 10
K = 11
L = 12
M = 13
N = 14
O = 15
P = 16
Q = 17
R = 18
S = 19
T = 20
U = 21
V = 22
W = 23
X = 24
Y = 25
Z = 26
AA = 27
BB = 28
CC = 29
DD = 30
EE = 31
FF = 32
GG = 33
HH = 34
II = 35
JJ = 36
KK = 37
LL = 38
MM = 39

5 x 8 MAGIC GRID: (Alphabet number place holders)

TICKET 1: A-B-C-D-E
TICKET 2: F-G-H-I-J
TICKET 3: K-L-M-N-O
TICKET 4: P-Q-R-S-T
TICKET 5: U-V-W-X-Y
TICKET 6: Z-AA-BB-CC-DD
TICKET 7: EE-FF-GG-HH-II
TICKET 8: JJ-KK-LL-MM-?

5 x 8 MAGIC GRID: (Swapping alphabet letter codes with numbers)

TICKET 1: 1-2-3-4-5
TICKET 2: 6-7-8-9-10
TICKET 3: 11-12-13-14-15
TICKET 4: 16-17-18-19-20
TICKET 5: 21-22-23-24-25
TICKET 6: 26-27-28-29-30
TICKET 7: 31-32-33-34-35
TICKET 8: 36-37-38-39-?

So, there you have it. Figure out a way to manifest this 4 number trap on one of the 8 ticket lines above. You will win a FANTASY 5 (4 of 5) number hit. Start with a filter and you will see that certain number lines will be eliminated down to only 3 to 5. I will not expand on this strategy. I have provided enough direction to make it simple for serious players.

*Note: All 39 numbers can be played out in 8 tickets as I have posted above. The last question mark slot will always be variable. In other words, no number could ever be assigned to that last 40th number holder slot, without it being a repeat number from 1-39 again.