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Beer pong rules
We don't care how you play the game of beer pong / beirut. If your style involves
throwing bowling balls at 5 gallon buckets of beer, when can I play with you?
There are so many different versions of the game, and none of them are right/wrong or better/worse.
In fact, switching things up every now and then can make beer pong / beirut more interesting.
Therefore, we do not have a "Official Set of Rules". We've played all of the more standard
ways, and we've played variations of the college game that I would guess nobody else has ever tried.
However, we have developed this section of "Rules" more as a guideline to certain common aspects of the
game. The purpose is two-fold: (1) to give newcomers to beer pong the bare aspects of the game, and (2)
to give every beer pong enthusiast possible variations of the game that you may never have thought of or
played.
Rules Section Overview
- Definitions
- Throwing Patterns
- Possible Game Variations
Definitions: Some key words used to describe different aspects of beer pong.
| Blowing: |
A technique used to keep a ball that is rimming a cup from dropping in the cup. If you
blow the ball while it is rimming a cup, the ball will often exit the cup. This technique is sometimes
banned or reserved only for girls.
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| Formation: |
The arrangement of cups for the game. Examples may include 6-cup, 10-cup, 12-cup,
etc. Furthermore, the cups may be spaced, together (touching), or random.
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| Get Them Back: |
Used to describe a situation when the game is being played with 2 balls. If a team
hits two shots in a row with each of its balls, then they may get to have the balls back in
order to have another turn. If a team never misses, it is possible that the other
team may never get more than 1 shot.
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| "Let it ride": |
Used to describe a way of playing beer pong where you are not allowed to interfere
with a ball's chance of hitting a cup. In other words, no blowing and no swatting.
As an opposing player, you may interact with a thrown ball only after it is certain
that it will not land in a cup.
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| Not Spaced: |
A formation of the cups in which, guess what, the cups are not spaced. Instead, they
are in a formation in which they are touching each other. Contrast with spaced cups.
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| Redemption: |
An opportunity to still be in the game if all of your cups are hit. If the opposing
team hits all of your cups, having redemption would give you the opportunity to
shoot at your opponents' cups until you miss. If you end up hitting all of the
opponents' cups, you have a tie game. A tie game may be resolved in an overtime
game, or if the players involved are of the feminine kind, we suggest an all out
mud wrestling match may best resolve the issue of a tie game. (Contrast with
sudden death).
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| Reform: |
Re-arranging the formation of cups. For example, if there are only four cups left,
you may arrange them in a diamond. Three may be arranged in a triangle. Some
versions of beer pong reform, others don't. Check the House/Night/Game rules,
or make them yourself.
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| Spaced Cups: |
Cups have space between them. They may be evenly spaced (possibly just enough space
to pass a ping pong ball through) or they may be randomly spaced. Contrasted
with not spaced.
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| Sudden Death: |
The game ends when the last cup is hit, i.e., no redemption. Sudden death may also
occur when each member of a team hits a cup in order to finish off the other team's
cups. The team would get the balls back, but since there are no longer any cups
for them to throw at, the game is over.
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| Swatting: |
A technique used to keep an opponent's ball from hitting one of your cups. Essentially,
if the ball takes a bounce, you are free to swat it away. This technique if
sometimes not allowed.
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Throwing Patterns:
Describes the number of balls used, in what order you throw them, etc.
| 2 Balls: |
Each team member gets a shot. If both members hit, the team may get them back. Otherwise,
Team 2 will throw.
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| 1 Ball: |
Shots alternate one shot at a time per team between all players. For example, for a game
between Team 1 (Players A and B) and Team 2 (Players C and D), the throwing pattern may
be A-C-B-D-A-C...
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| Speed Pong: |
This variation is used with a set amount of balls (usually 2) where no throwing pattern
exists. Whoever gets the ball has the shot. Some restrictions may apply.
For example, a player may ALWAYS get the ball back if he hits a cup. However,
if a cup is missed, whoever can grab it first gets to shoot it. This method of play is
often quite physical and often leads to injuries. Would you rather say you got beat up
from a football game or an intense game of beer pong?
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Possible Game Variations:
There is no right way to play beer pong, but here are a few more
common ways of playing along with some of the more unique versions that you may not have heard of.
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6-cup
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| Formation: |
Six cups in pyramid (3-2-1), touching
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| Throwing Pattern: |
2-balls, 2 throws per team. If a team hits two cups in a turn, that team gets
two more throws until a cup is missed.
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| Reformation: |
Reform at 4, 3, 2, and 1.
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| Ending the Game: |
Redemption is allowed. However, if a team hits the opponents' last cup(s)
with both shots (either two cups with two balls or the last cup with both shots),
there is NO redemption and the game is over.
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10-cup
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| Formation: |
Ten cups in pyramid (4-3-2-1), spaced
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| Throwing Pattern: |
1 ball, 1 throw per team per turn.
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| Reformation: |
No reformation
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| Ending the Game: |
Sudden Death.
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12-cup Speed Pong
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| Formation: |
12 cups in 2 6-cup pyramids, touching
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| Throwing Pattern: |
2 balls, Game starts with each team simultaneously taking one shot (opposing players diagonally
opposite of each other). If a player hits a cup in the pyriamid directly across from him, he
continuously gets the ball back until he misses a shot. If a player hits a cup in the pyramid
that is not directly across from him, then the opposing team drinks the cup but does not return
the ball. When a shot is missed, the ball is up for grabs - whoever can get to it gets the throw.
There is no correlation between the two balls being thrown - a team may have both balls or it may
have one ball.
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| Reformation: |
Reform when there are only 6 cups left. At this point, if a player hits any cup in the pyramid
of 6 cups, he automatically gets the ball back.
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| Ending the Game: |
Sudden Death.
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