How to play beer pong

How To Play Beer Pong

Beer Pong (Beirut) is a new and exciting drinking game to play with a group of friends, or even at parties. The game originated in the 1980’s in Beirut, Lebanon. Over the years the game has evolved into a favorite past time of young adults around the world. It involves four people, teams of two, where a ping pong ball is propelled across a table aiming at one of the opponents cups. The cups are shaped in a triangle on the other side of the table. When a cup is made the players from the team scored upon have to drink its contents. Once all of a teams cups are made the game is won.

*Warning: Players should be extremely careful to avoid over-consumption and alcohol poisoning.*

Materials

I.   1-A ping pong table (or any table big enough)
II.   2-ping pong balls
III.   12-22 cups (depending on formation)
IV.   Lots of cold beer

The Setup

The Table
The game originated on an actual ping pong table, but can be played on any flat surface with enough surface space to hold the two cup formations a minimum of 6’ apart. In official beer pong games a 4’x 8’ table is used.

The Cups
Solo or Dixie 16 ounce cups are the cup of choice for most beer pong players. These cups have rigid-lines, which can assist in precisely measuring the amount of beer (or other alcoholic beverage) in the cups. Fill each of the cups a quarter of the way full, which is approximately 2-3 beers (12 Ounce). In situations where the table is shorter, lower, or the teams are unevenly matched smaller cups may be used.

The Cup Formation
An equilateral triangle formation is assembled on each side of the table, with the convergence point focusing on the other team. Different variations of the game allow for different amounts of cups, but ten cup (4-3-2-1) and six cup (3-2-1) are the most commonly played.

Offense

The two different basic options a beer pong player has on offense are the standard shot and the bounce shot. Both players from one of the teams are given a ping pong ball to shoot and may do so simultaneously. Both players from each team must have taken a shot before the other team can shoot. The standard shot is comprised of the player tossing the ball across the table and into an opponent’s cup. The bounce shot is performed by bouncing the ball off the table and into the opponent’s cups. The ball can bounce many times then go into the cup, but should be avoided because of the bounce shot may be swatted away by your opponent’s hands. This shot is a little more difficult than the others, so it is worth two cups. The one in which it landed is pulled, then an additional cup is chosen by the team that was scored upon.
The center of the cup formation is used as a common boundary, particularly when playing on a lower or shorter table. This can be a real advantage for taller players to outstretch across the table. This rule is commonly known as the elbow rule. When the rule is broken the shooter will be forced to retake the shot, and any cups scored on during this infraction will not count. (If confused of this line refer the diagram of the table in the setup section.)

Shot technique

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beer_Pong

The Arc Shot
   The most common throwing technique is to throw the ball with player's good hand at a high arc. Wrist movement may also occur in an effort to create a greater arc. A good player may also push off with the knees as they throw to create an upward arcing motion. The arc motion allows one to put enough force on the ball to get it to the other side of the table. While conserving the speed and slowing it down so that it is not as likely to bounce off the rim of the cup but gently roll into the cup.

The Fastball
   Some players prefer to use the fastball style throw, which is named for its speed. Unlike the arc shot, this shot uses a hard chopping motion to send the ball on a more direct line to the intended target cup. Taller players especially prefer the fastball approach, because it is easier to throw from a higher position. Due to the straighter path the ball follows, the player may feel more confident in hitting the desired cup. As note above, the higher velocity of the ball will also cause less precise shots to bounce of the rim rather than gently bounce into the cup.

The bounce shot
   If the ball was intentionally bounced and hit only the table and the cup in which it landed, it will count for two cups. This shot style can be more effectively used if the ball is bounced simultaneously while the player's partner is performing a traditional shot. This creates an element of surprise and is also harder to defend against, as the player does not want to commit goaltending on the pitched shot. Bounce shots are much harder to accurately throw. The best time to use a bounce is when the opposing team is not paying attention to the game, as the risk of deflection is zero. Since the bounce shot counts for two cups, the other team is allowed to swat the ball out of the court. The current rack must be taken into consideration as well. There is obviously a much higher chance of sinking a bounce on an unspoiled ten cup rack than on an inconsistent rack which is all over the table. Serious defenders should also always keep one player on alert for bounce shots to their cups.

Determining initial possession
The typical way initial possession is determined is by shooting eye to eye with an opposing player. This is when a player from each team shoots simultaneously while keeping eye contact with each other. Shooting while not being able to look at the cups makes it a greater difficulty. This process is repeated, switching teammates every time until only one of the shooters makes a cup.

ReRacking

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beer_Pong

Reracking refers to when the arrangement of the cups is changed after a shot is made. Each team is given only one rerack and may not be used until at least two cups have been made. Strategy should be used to pick the right time for a rerack during the game. A rerack may not be used during the middle of a round of throwing. Only after both players have taken there turn at throwing may it be called.

Defense

Ball Blocking
   A player should be designated to watch over the cups at all times during and opposing teams turn of shooting. As explained before a bounce shot may be swatted, but the swatting player must be careful not to knock over any of his own cups or goal tend on a standard shot. If a player knocks over one of his own cups while trying to swat at the ball that cups is removed from the game. It may be a teams strategy to bounce and shoot at the same time to confuse the defense, a standard shot may not be swatted or that is goal-tending. When goaltending occurs the shooter is given the ball back to retake the shot.
Psychological defense
   Getting under the opponent’s skin, or “shit talking,” is a very effective way to get them off of their game. Women have been known to use their sexuality to throw off male players by standing in provocative posses. Any form of this is accepted as long as it does not breach the opponents view of the cups.
Fingering and Blowing
   Sometimes when a shot is made into a cup it doesn’t go directly down into the cup. It first spins around the edge of the cup. When this occurs females are allowed to blow the ball off its path and out of the cup. If she is successful, the made cup does not count. Just like women can blow at the cups men have the right to try and finger the ball out using their index finger. Both techniques are very difficult and have to been done very quick, because the ball doesn’t spin around the edge very long.

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