Beer Pong rules, from setup to redemption
Beer Pong is played by two teams of one or two at either end of a table, each with ten cups set in a triangle. Teams take turns throwing ping pong balls at the other side's cups; a ball that lands in a cup means that cup is removed and its contents drunk. The team that clears the other side's cups first wins, though the losing team usually gets a last chance called redemption.
What you need
- A long table, ideally 2.4 m (8 ft)
- 20 plastic cups (plus two for rinsing balls)
- Two ping pong balls
- Water for the cups, and your own drinks
Setup
Each team sets ten cups in a tight triangle at its end of the table: four at the back, then three, two and one, point facing the other team. Put a little water in each (see the tip below), and a rinse cup of water at each end for the balls.
Decide who goes first with a quick throw-off: one player from each team shoots at the same time while looking each other in the eye. The first to sink a cup chooses.
How a turn works
- Both players on a team throw one ball each (in 1v1, the one player throws both).
- A ball that lands in a cup counts. The other team removes that cup and drinks.
- If both players make a cup in the same turn, it is balls back: both cups come off and you throw again.
- Then it is the other team’s turn.
The first team to clear all of the other side’s cups wins.
The rules people argue about
| Rule | The common version |
|---|---|
| Elbows | Your elbow stays behind the table edge when you throw. Over it, the shot does not count. |
| Bounce shots | A ball that bounces on the table first and goes in counts as two cups, but the defending team may swat a bounced ball away. |
| Re-racks | Each team may ask for its remaining cups to be re-arranged twice per game, usually at six and three cups. |
| Same cup | Both balls in the same cup: three cups come off (the cup plus two more chosen by the shooters). Not every group plays this. |
| Spinning | A ball spinning round the rim can be blown or flicked out by the defending team. Pick one and use it for everyone. |
| Redemption | When your last cup goes, you get one more turn, and keep shooting until you miss. Clear the other side’s cups and the game goes to overtime with three cups each. |
Agree on these before the first throw. Every argument at a beer pong table is about a rule nobody agreed on.
Water cups, own drink
Putting your drink in the table cups means drinking whatever was on the ball, and a ten-cup game can mean a lot of drinking. The widely used fix: fill the table cups with water, and every time a cup is hit, the defending player takes one sip of their own drink instead. The game plays exactly the same.
Formats for bigger groups
- Winner stays on: the winning team keeps the table, the next pair challenges. Simple and fair.
- Tournament: write the teams on a board, single elimination, final at midnight. Great for a bachelor party or a college house party.
- Everyone else: while two teams play, the rest can run Flip Cup at a second table, or play a phone game in the kitchen.
Keep it a game
Use water cups, sip your own drink, and take breaks between games. Anyone can play with a soft drink, and the game is just as good. More on our responsible drinking page.
Questions people ask
How many cups are in Beer Pong?
Ten per side, set in a triangle of four, three, two and one, with the point facing the other team. Some groups play six cups per side for shorter games.
What is the elbow rule in Beer Pong?
When you throw, your elbow must stay behind the edge of the table. A shot made with your elbow over the edge does not count, and you throw again.
What happens if both players make a cup in the same turn?
That is 'balls back': both cups come off, and your team gets both balls back for another turn straight away.
Do you have to drink from the cups in Beer Pong?
No, and many groups don't. Fill the table cups with water and have each player take a sip from their own drink when a cup is hit. It is more hygienic, and much easier on the night.
Who's gettingwrecked tonight?
Wrecked turns all of this into one game on one phone: 1,800+ cards, rules that stack, chaos every 5 cards and a personal roast for everyone at the end.
