The Basics

The game can be played with one or two player teams.

Face-Off

One individual from each beer pong team simultaneously throws a ping pong ball towards the opposing team’s cups. If neither sink a shot, the other two members of each team will try to make a cup. Once a cup is made, the face-off winners will begin the beer pong game. If both teams make a shot, teams will continue to shoot until one side misses. Poolside Pong, the Inflatable version of beer pong, starts the same way.

Game On

From this point forward the teams will take turns shooting. Each member shoots one ping pong ball at the opposing team’s beer pong cups. If a shot is made, the cup is removed from play. After both shots are taken, it is the opposing teams turn. Game play continues until one team eliminates all of the opposing teams beer pong cups. Depending on house rules, the losing team may be given a redemption turn. Players will have the opportunity to shoot until they miss. If all cups are sunk the game will go into overtime. If both players miss before all cups are eliminated the opposing team wins.

Beer Pong Shots

There are two main types of shots in beer pong: the arc shot and the bounce shot. The arc shot is performed by a player holding the ping pong ball in his or her hand and extending the arm in a forward motion, releasing the ball so that it travels across the table. The bounce shot is performed by a player hitting the ping pong ball off of table, bouncing once before landing in the opposing teams beer pong cups. During a bounce shot the opposing team is allowed to swat or catch the ball before it reaches the cups. If a bounce shot is made the opposing team must remove two beer pong cups from game-play.

Miscellaneous Rules

Beer Pong rules are not static, they change by region, state, and even house-hold. It’s important to establish the beer pong ground rules before beginning game play. Rules are usually set by the house-owner or if playing outdoors with Poolside Pong, by the winning team or owner of the portable table.

The air-ball rule is usually played by experienced beer pong athletes. If a player from either team fails to make contact with the table or rim of the opposing teams beer pong cups, they must remove one of their cups from play.

The no-boggle-catch rule is also played by more experienced beer pong athletes when the air-ball rule is not in effect. If a player overshoots the table and cups, the opposing team has the opportunity to play defense and catch the ping pong ball in mid-air. The defender must catch the ball without boggling or fumbling the ping pong ball in his or her hand. If the player manages to achieve a no-boggle catch, the shooting team must remove a cup from game play.

The psych-out rule is one of the most commonly used defensive technique by beer pong players across the United States. A psych-out occurs when player(s) from the opposing team strategically attempt to distract a shooting team member. The tactics used to distract players vary significantly and include: shouting, waving arms, making jokes, turning away, pretending to shoot a ball, calling a fake time-out, using sex appeal or exposing body parts, and much more.

The no-elbows rule is also a very common rule in beer pong. The elbow of a player shooting the ball may never pass the edge of the beer pong table during the forward motion of a shot. If the players elbow passes over the tables edge, it is up to the opposing team to call the elbow rule. The legitimacy of an elbow penalty is usually judged by spectators or a referee watching the game. The shot will not count for a player found guilty of breaking the no-elbow rule and the player loses his or her turn.