Beer pong is the king of party games for a reason. Two teams, two triangles of cups, and a couple of ping pong balls. Land your ball in the other team’s cup and they drink. Clear their cups first and you win. Here is exactly how to set it up and play, start to finish.
Beer pong at a glance
| What | Details |
|---|---|
| Players | 2 to 4 (1v1 or 2v2) |
| You need | Table, 22 cups, 2 balls, drinks |
| Cups per side | 10 (triangle rack) |
| Setup time | 5 minutes |
| Game length | 10 to 20 minutes |
What you need
- A long table (8 feet is the standard tournament size)
- 22 cups: 10 per side in a rack, plus 1 water cup each end for rinsing
- 2 ping pong balls
- Beer or your drink of choice, split between the cups
How to set up beer pong
- Rack the cups. Arrange 10 cups in a triangle at each end, pointing toward the middle, like bowling pins.
- Fill them. Pour a small amount of beer into each cup. Two to three cups worth of beer split across the ten is normal.
- Add a rinse cup. Put a cup of clean water at each end to rinse the ball between throws.
- Pick who starts. One player from each team shoots while looking each other in the eye. First to sink it gets the opening throw.
The rules
- Each team takes turns throwing two balls per round, one per player.
- If a ball lands in a cup, the other team removes that cup and drinks it.
- Sink both balls in a round and you get the balls back for a bonus throw (“balls back”).
- If both your balls land in the same cup, that counts as two cups.
- Bounce shots count double, but the defending team is allowed to swat a bounced ball away.
- Clear all ten of the other team’s cups to win. They usually get a redemption round to tie it up before it is official.
Re-racks
Each team can ask for a re-rack (rearranging the remaining cups into a tighter shape) a set number of times per game, usually once or twice. Common shapes are the diamond, the triangle and the straight line. Agree on how many re-racks before you start.
Pro tips
- Pick a throw and stick with it. The arc shot is the most consistent for beginners. Aim for a high, soft arc that drops straight down.
- Wet the ball, then dry it. A rinsed ball is cleaner but a wet ball skids off the rim. Give it a quick wipe.
- Attack the back cups. Clearing the back first stops the other team from re-racking into a tight cluster.
- Stay loose. A relaxed, repeatable motion beats power every time.
Frequently asked questions
How many cups do you need for beer pong?
Ten cups per side in a triangle, so 20 in play, plus a rinse cup at each end. That is 22 cups total for a standard game.
Can you bounce the ball?
Yes. A bounced ball that lands in a cup counts as two cups, but the defenders are allowed to swat it away once it bounces, so it is high risk.
What is a redemption round?
When one team clears the last cup, the other team gets a final turn to sink their remaining cups. If they clear them all, the game goes to overtime.
Need a team name before you set up the cups? See our inappropriate beer pong team names list for ideas.
