Beer Pong

Looking for a way to add fun to your next party? Discover the ultimate "Beer Pong" guide, packed with rules, tips, and strategies to help you master this classic party game and host a memorable game night with friends.

✍️ May 2, 2024

Elevate Your Game Night with "Beer Pong": The Essential Guide

📖 Show Table of Contents 👻 Hide Table of Contents

🍺 How to Set up “Beer Pong”
🏓 How to Play “Beer Pong”
🎲 “Beer Pong” Rules
🧑‍🤝‍🧑 Best “Beer Pong” team names
🙋 FAQ about “Beer Pong”

What began as a drinking game in American colleges has developed into a world-famous party hit: “Beer Pong”. Also called “Beer Pong Beirut”, this drinking game is easy to set up and a great way to make any party unforgettable.

Whether you want to liven up your next game night with friends or impress at a college party, this ultimate guide has got you covered.

So grab your favorite beer, and let’s get started on mastering the art of “Beer Pong”!

How to Set up “Beer Pong”

“Beer Pong” is a fun and easy game to set up. To get started, here’s everything you’ll need:

A smooth playing surface
6 to 15 cups
Balls (e.g., ping pong balls/table tennis balls)
2 or 4 or more players
Normal beer, non-alcoholic beer, or other drinks, about 1 to 2 liters

Setting up this game doesn’t last more than 3 minutes, so you’ll be ready to play in no time.

The great thing about “Beer Pong” is that it has many variations. The number of players, balls, and cups is flexible. “Beer Pong” can also be played as a singles or doubles match.

1. For your “Beer Pong” game area, you can use any table, a table tennis table, or any flat surface available. Your table will be your playing field and should be approximately 4 to 8 feet with a visible dividing line in the middle. You can also play without a dividing line.

2. Place 6 cups on opposite sides of the table. The cups should be in a triangle formation (3-2-1) with 3 cups on the playing surface, whereby 3 cups should be at the back and closer to the edge of the table.

The arrangement of the cups should look like the following picture:

3. Pour the drinks: As the name “Beer Pong” implies, fill the cups with beer or an alternative drink. Feel free to get creative and choose a variety of drinks for your game.

Here’s a tip: Your beer should not exceed 50 to 100 ml per cup - unless you want to get very drunk quickly!

How to Play “Beer Pong”

Now that you’ve set up the game, it’s time to start playing! Here’s how it works:

1. “Beer Pong Beirut” can be played 1v1 or 2v2.

There are two ways to select which team will start the game:

Rock Paper Scissors: Whoever wins gets to start the “Beer Pong” game
Quick preliminary game:

One player from each team must simultaneously throw a ball into their opponent’s cup while looking at each other only.
The first player that can successfully shoot a ball into their opponent’s cup wins and will be the one to start the game.
If both players successfully shoot their balls into the other team’s cup, they need to continue throwing balls until one misses a shot.
If a player breaks eye contact while playing, the other team wins and can start the game.

2. Start the game by throwing a ping pong ball into an opponent’s cup.

Each player of one team gets to throw one ping pong ball per turn. If the ball lands in one of your opponent’s cups, they must drink that cup. The goal is to empty your opponent’s cups before they do the same to you!

👉 Suggested read: How to Play "Slap Cup" Drinking Game

Here are the three ways that you can throw your ball during a “Beer Pong” game:

1. The Arc - when you lob the ball into the cup therefore shooting a long, high, slow descent into a cup 2. The Fastball - a kind of shot where the ball goes on a straight direct line into the cup 3. Bounce - when the ball is bounced on the table once it lands in a cup it

3. Manners and fair play are essential.

There’s a strict code of conduct when playing “Beer Pong”. Some official rules include:

No blowing on the ball to alter its course
No removing or tampering with cups once they’re in play
No touching the table while a ball is still in motion
Breaking these rules will result in penalties, such as drinking extra cups or skipping a turn.

4. Keep playing until one team has successfully emptied all of the other team’s cups.

The first team to empty all the opponent’s cups wins the game!

“Beer Pong” Rules

If you want to make “Beer Pong” even more exciting, here are some additional rules you can try out during your next game. Try them out and see which rules make your game more fun:

👉 Suggested read: An Ultimate "Civil War" Drinking Game Guide

1. Double hit

If both team members successfully shoot their ball onto the opposing team’s cups, the team may throw again. You can repeat it throughout the game.

2. Same cup

If a team successfully shoots into the same cup, the team automatically wins the entire game, and the opposing team must drink all the remaining cups.

3. Rearrangement

Each team may ask the opposing team to rearrange the cups as they wish. Usually, there is only one reordering per team during a “Beer Pong”.

4. Substitute

A team can make a substitution per game, letting someone not part of the current team participate. When this happens, the team that made the substitution must drink an additional cup selected by the other team.

5. Blow and finger

This additional rule allows balls that are still rotating in the cup and have not yet touched the beer to be blown or flicked out of the cup. Once the ball touches the beer in the cup, the players can no longer try to push the ball out of the cup.

6. No-Look-Shot

If a player successfully lands a ball on the other team’s cup while their eyes are closed, the opposing team must drink a second cup. The pitcher determines the mug.

7. Behind-the-Back-Shot

If a player throws the ball behind his back and successfully shoots into the other team’s cup, the opposing team must drink a second cup. The pitcher determines the mug.

8. Psyching out the opponent

There’s nothing wrong with a bit of ribbing among friends during “Beer Pong”. Psyching out competition is a tried-and-true method used in many sports activities. You can try to intimidate them or say something surprising to throw them off their game.

9. “Beer Pong” with water

If you know that you’re not so good at “Beer Pong”, you can practice by playing with water instead of beer. This way, you can still have fun and avoid getting too drunk too quickly!

FAQ about “Beer Pong”

1. What is “Beer Pong”?

“Beer Pong” is a popular drinking game that involves throwing ping-pong balls into cups filled with beer or other drinks. It’s fun and social and is commonly played at parties, tailgates, and college events.

You aim to empty your opponent’s cups by successfully landing your ball. The first team to empty the other team’s cups wins the game.

2. How many cups for “Beer Pong”?

The standard number of cups for “Beer Pong” is 6 cups arranged in a triangle shape on each side of the table. However, you can adjust the number of cups and even change the formation to make the game more challenging.

The most common formations are the “Pyramid” (3-2-1 formation), the “Diamond” (6 cups in a diamond shape), and the “Honeycomb” (6 cups arranged in a hexagon).

3. How long is a “Beer Pong” table?

The length of a “Beer Pong” table can vary, but the average size is around 4 feet by 8 feet. This size allows for a good amount of space for players to move around and make their shots.

If you’re playing in a smaller space, you can adjust the table size or use portable “Beer Pong” tables. Just make sure that both teams have equal playing space.

4. When was “Beer Pong” invented?

The exact origins of “Beer Pong” are still being determined, but it is believed to have originated in the United States sometime in the 1950s or 1960s. However, the game’s popularity skyrocketed in the early 2000s and has become a staple at parties and college events.

Like any drinking game, it quickly became popular globally and has been adapted into different variations in different countries. “Beer Pong” Beirut, for example, is a popular name for the game in other parts of the world.

5. Who invented “Beer Pong”?

As mentioned, the exact origins of “Beer Pong” are unknown, so it isn’t easy to pinpoint who exactly invented it. However, some people credit Dartmouth College students as the game creators in the 1950s.

6. How can you play “Beer Pong” during a road trip?

“Road Trip Beer Pong” is a fun twist on the traditional game that can be played during long car rides. Here’s how to play:

Find a stable surface in the car, like a foldable tray or card table.
Set up your cups with water on each side of the surface, following one of the standard formations (pyramid, diamond, etc.).
Use ping pong balls or other lightweight objects to throw into the cups.
Take turns throwing and track scores like you would in regular “Beer Pong”.
For an added challenge, add a road trip rule such as “If you hit a bump while shooting, you must take a drink.” Just make sure the driver isn’t drinking!

7. How do you make a “Beer Pong” tournament?

To make a “Beer Pong” tournament, you will need to follow these steps:

The number of “Beer Pong” tables should be half the number of teams playing.
Set up your “Beer Pong” area. If there are many teams, make sure to set aside a separate area for the spectators.
Get a facilitator to run the tournament and observe the rules.
The championship rules should be announced before the tournament begins.
For a seeding tournament structure, assign random numbers to the teams and create tournament brackets based on these seed numbers.
Randomly assigning seed numbers will prevent teams from choosing their opponents and having an unfair advantage.
The teams in “Beer Pong” will play according to their brackets and go through elimination rounds until a final champion is reached.
Arrange an awards ceremony to give out prizes to the 1st, 2nd, 3rd place winners. You can give out plaques and trophies. If you want a fun twist, you can also hand out customized mugs or pitchers for beer!