How We Play Beer Pong (2002-present)
by Matthew C.
2005.08.08
(updated 2007.09.10)
(updated 2007.11.26)
(updated 2008.09.15)
(updated 2009.08.26)
(updated 2010.12.14)
ALL RULES MUST BE AGREED UPON BY ALL PLAYERS PRIOR TO THE START OF THE GAME.
The important basic differences between the way we play and the way others play:
Yeah Dogg members aren't
aaahaaa. If a shot
hits the front edge of a cup and bounces back to the shooting team, the shooting team DOES NOT get another
chance. The shooting team must surrender the "shot" ball. Players DO NOT and SHOULD NOT dive for
balls after they are thrown.
Players may bounce the ball if desired, throwing it "straight in" without the ball touching the table
is also perfectly acceptable. ONE bounce on the table is permitted, however two bounces on the table is not.
Two or more bounces are ONLY allowed if:
- The ball hits the table ONCE and then subsequently bounces off of cups.
- The ball hits a cup, hits the table only ONCE, and bounces back into a cup. . . . This situation is almost an impossibility, but we include it here to (hopefully) avoid any misunderstanding.
- The ball may hit the rim of one or more cups and then land or come to rest in a cup.
Distractions are permitted, but not frequent. INTERFERENCE IS NOT ALLOWED. Interference includes, but is not limited to:
blowing, swatting, grabbing, blocking, pushing, deflecting, hitting, batting, and contacting. (i.e. you MAY wave your hands
around, but you MAY NOT touch the cups, touch the ball, cause the ball to change course through air movement, or touch any player while the ball is in the air) These actions
shall
forfeit the game for the "violating team".
"Cups in play" should be in contact with each other upon initial placement. The cups are rearranged, by
the "defending" team, TWICE during gameplay.
- After the team has three cups left on their side, the "defending" team arranges them into a pyramid as seen in the diagram below.
- After the team has two cups left on their side, the "defending" team arranges them into a straight line parallel to the length of the table, as seen in the diagram below.
At the end of each round, each cup into which a ball has landed is removed from play. The contents of that cup must be drunk by a player on the "defending team" BEFORE they take their
shot. The "defending team" players should alternate drinking cups. This can be altered upon agreement of the players. (i.e. if someone looks like they're getting sick, their partner may
drink the cup for them.)
Beer pong table dimensions:
Beer pong cup arrangements:
### REDEMPTION ###
Once a team has landed a ball into every cup on the opposing team's side during gameplay outlined above and fundamentally won
the game, the "losing team" has the opportunity for "redemption". If the "losing team" can sink a ball
into every opposing team's cup in succession WITHOUT MISSING "redemption" is achieved and the game is not over. (The
"losing team" gets as many shots as there are cups left on the opposing side.)
Each team will then continue as if the redemption attempt had not occurred. The "losing/redemption team" shall compete with
ONE cup left. The "winning team" shall compete with the number of cups they had before the "redemption" began.
(However the cups will not need to be refilled as the "winning team" will not drink the contents of their cups during redemption.
They will only remove them from play.)
Click here for the article: "How We Play Beer Pong (2002-present)".
Click here for Beer Pong Champion Tracking.
General Beer Pong rules.
Click here for 2008 Beer Pong Tournament Trivia.
