Beer Pong Rules

Anthony's House Rules

16 Ounce Cups
10 Cup Triangle Setup
2 Balls, Separate Cup Returns
Eye-To-Eye Initiative Determination
Bounce Shots
Knock Over Shots
No Luck Shots (Trifectas)
Preemptive Shots
Snipe Shot Victories
No Defensive Blowing
2 Consolidations (Rearrangements)
1 Cup Overtime
Spoils of War

1 The Game

1.1 General

The game of beirut (beer pong) consists of attempting to remove all of the opposing team's cups from the table in accordance with the rules. The first team to remove all of the opposing team's cups from the table shall be declared the winner.

1.1.1 Losers Consume Remaining Beverage [Addition]: Following a team being declared the winners, the opposing team shall be declared the losers. The losing team shall subsequently be required to consume all remaining beverage contained within both their team's and the opposing team's cups.

1.2 Agreement to Waive Rules

Players may not agree to exclude the operation of any rule or to waive any penalty incurred.

1.3 Points Not Covered by the Rules

If any point not covered by the rules is under dispute during the course of the game, a decision shall be made in accordance with equity.

2 The Players

2.1 Formation of Teams: Each team shall consist of 2 players.
2.2 Substitutions: During the course of a game, no substitutions of players shall be permitted. If a player is unable to complete a game, then their team shall forfeit and the opposing team shall be declared the winners.

3 The Balls

3.1 Form and Make of Balls [Variation]: The game shall be played with 2 table tennis balls.
3.2 Ball Unfit for Play: If a ball becomes physically altered in any way including: cuts, cracks or dents, the ball shall be deemed unfit for play and must be replaced immediately. If it is ruled that a player intentionally altered a ball, then their team shall forfeit and the opposing team shall be declared the winners.

4 The Cups

4.1 Form and Make of Cups: Cups shall be plastic and have a volume of 16 ounces.
4.2 Cups Contain Beverage: The cups shall contain approximately 3 oz. to 4 oz., of a beverage that shall be determined prior to the start of the game. Prior to attempting a shot, a shooter may review the volume of beverage contained in the defending team's cups. If it is ruled that any of the defending team's cups contain a volume of beverage less than that required, the defending team must immediately fill the cups to the required volume.
4.3 Arrangement of Cups [Variation]: Each team shall defend 10 cups arranged in the shape of a triangle. The triangle shall be located 4 inches from the end of the table, equidistant from either side of the table, and with the base of the triangle parallel to the end of the table.
4.4 Cup Unfit for Play: During the course of the game, the playing characteristics of the cups shall not be altered. If it is ruled that a cup is unfit for play, a replacement cup shall be substituted immediately. The replacement cup shall be placed approximately in the altered cup's former position. If it is ruled that a player intentionally altered a cup, then their team shall forfeit and the opposing team shall be declared the winners.

5 The Table

5.1 Dimensions of Table: The table shall be a standard table tennis table 9' in length by 5' in width, and standing 2'6" in height. If a standard table tennis table is not available, a table of similar dimensions may be substituted.
5.2 Obstructions: If a player feels that any object on the surface of the table, other than cups still in play, is obstructing their shot, they may require that the object be moved at no penalty.
5.3 Beverage Hazards: If a player feels that any amount of beverage that has pooled on the surface of the table, due to knocked over cups or improper beverage distribution, may cause an unfair increase in cup movement they may require that the beverage hazard be cleaned up at no penalty. During beverage hazard clean up, the cups may be moved temporarily and then replaced to their approximate former position.

6 The Shooting Area

6.1 Definition: The shooting area shall be the area from which legal shots must be attempted. The shooting area shall consist of a rectangle projected from the end of the table and enclosed on either side by lines extended collinearly from the sides of the table. A player is deemed inside the shooting area when at least one foot is within the designated rectangle and all portions of the player's body are behind or above the end of the table with no portion of the player's body in contact with the table or objects on the surface of the table.
6.2 Irregular Tables: If a non-standard table has been substituted, the players or committee shall determine the legal shooting area prior to the start of a game.

7 Order of Play

7.1 Initiative [Variation]

Prior to the start of play, the teams shall decide who shall have the initiative by using a method of random chance. The team that is awarded the initiative shall choose whether they will start on defense or offense, or which side of the table they will defend. The opposing team shall then make the remaining choice. After both teams have assumed their positions, the team on offense shall begin play with one ball. After their turn, play shall begin with two balls following the standard shooting order.

7.2 Shooting Order [Variation]

Teams shall take turns shooting the balls alternately. Players must shoot one ball per their team's turn. When a player has legal possession of the ball during their turn to shoot, they are deemed the shooter and the opposing team deemed the defenders. The shooter may shoot at any time.

7.2.1 Shooters Sink Both Balls During a Turn [Addition]: If during a single turn, both shooters sink a ball, then their team shall be awarded another turn. A team may continue to shoot indefinitely so long as neither shooter misses a shot. If during a single turn, the shooters sink both balls in the opposing team's final two or fewer cups, then the opposing team's turn to attempt redemption shall be cancelled.
7.2.2 Shooter Sinks First Ball in Final Cup [Addition]: If a shooter sinks the first ball of a turn in the opposing team's final cup, they may waive their team's second shot. The opposing team may then attempt redemption using only one ball, and may select either player to be the redemption shooter. Alternately, the shooting team may attempt to sink the second ball. If the second shooter successfully sinks their ball, then the opposing team's turn to attempt redemption shall be cancelled. If the second shooter misses their shot, then the opposing team may attempt redemption using both balls.

7.3 Shooting Out of Turn

If a player that has incorrectly been deemed the shooter is attempting to shoot, the defending team must immediately call for cancellation of the shot. If the defending team does not call for cancellation prior to completion of the shot, the ball shall be deemed in play. If the ball subsequently becomes sunk in a cup, the cup shall be removed.

7.4 Shooting Prior to Beverage Consumption

If a shooter attempts to shoot prior to consumption of a beverage that has been assigned to them, the defending team may require cancellation of the shot. If the defending team does not call for cancellation prior to completion of the shot, the ball shall be deemed in play. If the ball subsequently becomes sunk in a cup, the cup shall be removed.

7.5 Redemption [Variation]

When a shooter hits the opposing team's final cup, the cup shall remain on the table, and the opposing team shall be allowed an additional turn to attempt redemption, unless the turn to attempt redemption was cancelled as a result of the shooting team sinking both balls during a turn.

7.5.1 Redemption Order of Play [Variation]: During the turn of redemption, both shooters shall be allowed to shoot, unless the opposing team waived their second shoot in which case the shooting team may choose either player to be the redemption shooter. If during the turn of redemption, both shooters sink a ball, then their team shall be awarded another turn of redemption. A team may continue to shoot indefinitely so long as neither shooter misses a shot. If during a turn of redemption, the first shooter misses; their partner shall still be permitted to attempt a final shot.
7.5.2 Successful Redemption [Variation]: The redemption shooter(s) shall have achieved redemption if they successfully hit all of the opposing team's cups without one or both shooters missing a shot. Subsequently, the balls shall be returned to the team that originally hit the opposing team's final cup, and overtime shall begin.
7.5.3 Unsuccessful Redemption [Variation]: If the redemption shooter(s) fails to achieve redemption, their team's final cup shall be removed from the table.
7.5.4 Premature Removal of Final Cup: If a player intentionally or unintentionally removes their final cup from the table prior to their turn to attempt redemption, then their turn to attempt redemption shall be cancelled, and the opposing team shall be declared the winner.

7.6 Overtime

Following a successful redemption attempt, overtime shall begin. During overtime, the standard order of play shall be observed. There shall be no limit on the number of turns during overtime, or the number of overtimes that may occur.

7.6.1 Arrangement of Cups: Prior to the start of overtime, each team shall place a single cup on the table. The cups shall be located 4 inches from the ends of the table, equidistant from either side of the table.

8 Offense

8.1 Definition: A player shall have shot the ball when having been designated the shooter they propel the ball forward from a position within the shooting area with the intention of sinking it in one of the opposing team's cups. A shot may be made in any fashion as long as it is not aided by the shooter's teammate, spectators or an artificial device. A bounce shot shall be defined as shooter's attempt to shoot the ball short of the cups with the intention that it will bounce off the surface of the table into a cup. A shooter shall not be required to declare that they will be attempting a bounce shot prior to their shot and the defenders may attempt to defend the shot after first contact.
8.2 Shooting Team Loses Control of Ball: If a player on the shooting team loses control of a ball, the ball shall be deemed not in play, unless the ball slips from a shooter's grip while their hand is in a shooting motion. If the ball slips from a shooter's grip while their hand is not in a shooting motion, and the ball subsequently lands in one of shooting team's cups, the cup shall remain in play and the shooting team shall maintain possession of the ball. If the ball slips from a shooter's grip while their hand is in a shooting motion, the ball shall be deemed in play. If the ball subsequently lands in one of shooting team's cups, the cup shall remain in play and the ball shall be turned over to the defending team.
8.3 Offsides: If a player attempts to shoot while they are not with the shooting area, the defending team must immediately require the player to cancel the shot. If the defending team does not call for cancellation prior to completion of the shot, the shot from outside the shooting area is deemed legal and any cups sunk are removed.

9 Defense

9.1 Definition [Variation]: Defense is defined as a defender's attempt to prevent a legally shot ball from sinking in the cups by directly applying force to the ball using their body after first contact has occurred. First contact is defined as the initial contact between a legally shot ball with any outside agency on or off the surface of the table, the cups, or the surface of the table, excluding players and spectators. Acceptable methods of defense include, but are not limited to: catching, swatting, and hooking. Prohibited methods of defense include but are not limited to: blowing and waving.
9.2 Illegal Defense: Illegal defense is defined as an attempt at defense using a prohibited method of defense, or intentional or unintentional contact by a defender with a shot before the ball makes first contact, unless it is ruled that the ball would not have made first contact with an outside agency on the surface of the table, the cups, or the surface of the table; the defender was in the process of removing a cup that had been previously sunk; or the defender was in the process of consolidating the remaining cups on the table. If the ball does not subsequently become sunk in a cup, the shooter may declare illegal defense, and the defending team must remove a cup of the shooter's choosing from the table.
9.3 Shot Interference: Shot interference is defined as intentional or unintentional contact by a defender with the table or cups during an attempt at defense. If the ball does not subsequently become sunk in a cup, the shooter may declare shot interference, and the defending team must remove a cup of the shooter's choosing from the table.
9.4 Incidental Contact: If a legally shot ball deflects off a defender after first contact, the ball shall be deemed in play. If the ball subsequently becomes sunk in a cup, the cup shall be removed.
9.5 Ball Spinning in Cup: A ball spinning inside of the rim of a cup that has not already become sunk in the cup shall be deemed still in play, and may be defended.
9.6 Distractions: A defender may attempt to distract a shooter prior to their shot, by any method so long as all portions of the defender's body remain behind the end of the table. If while attempting to distract a shooter, a portion of the defender's body contacts, or passes over, the end of the table the shooter may shoot again.
9.7 Player Knocks Over Cup: If a player knocks over one of their own cups through direct or indirect contact, the cup shall be deemed hit and shall be removed from the table.

10 Sinking the Ball

10.1 Definition: A ball shall be deemed sunk if while it is in play it contacts the surface of the beverage contained within the cup. A cup shall be deemed hit if a ball has been sunk in it. A cup that has been deemed hit shall be removed from the table.
10.2 Cup Removal: During cup removal, all attempts shall be made to not disturb the remaining cups. Any remaining cups that move during the removal of a cup shall be replaced approximately to their former position. Immediately following the removal of a cup from the table, a defender shall be required to consume the beverage contained within the cup.
10.3 Beverage Consumption: The defending team may choose any method of determining which player shall consume the beverage contained in a cup removed from play.
10.4 Cup Consolidation (Rearrangement) [Variation]: Twice during a game each team shall be permitted to call for consolidation or rearrangement of their opponents cups. A player may only call for consolidation or rearrangement of the cups when they have been legally declared the shooter. The new arrangement may take any shape so long as every cup remains within the area of a triangle located 4 inches from the end of the table, equidistant from either side of the table, and with the base of the triangle parallel to the end of the table. This triangle shall contain an area large enough to bound either 6 or 10 cups, and shall be designated prior to the start of a game.

The following figure shows examples of legal arrangements.

The following figure shows examples of illegal arrangements.
10.5 Ball Moves Cup(s): At no point during a game shall a player be required to rearrange cups that have moved due to the force of impact from a ball, unless it is ruled that the cup movement was due to a beverage hazard.
10.6 Cup Movement Due to Beverage Hazard: If it is ruled that cup movement is due to a beverage hazard, the beverage hazard shall be cleaned up, and the cup(s) shall be replaced approximately to their former position.
10.7 Ball Knocks Over Cup [Variation]: A shot that causes a cup to be knocked over by the force of impact from a ball shall be deemed a hit, unless it is the team's last cup and it is ruled that the ball did not contact the surface of the beverage contained within the cup prior to the cup being knocked over. If the shot is ruled a miss, the cup shall be replaced approximately to its former position and filled with the required volume of beverage; the shooter may not shoot again. If the shot is ruled a hit, the cup shall be removed from the table.
10.8 Ball Settles on Top of Cups: If the ball settles on the tops of three or more cups, then the shot shall be deemed a missed shot.
10.9 Ball Fails to Contact Cups: A shot that fails to contact the opposing team's cup(s), whether on the fly or following contact with an outside agency, shall be deemed an air ball, but there shall be no penalty.
10.10 Ball Sinks in Cup Containing a Sunk Ball Prior to Removal from Play [Variation]: If a ball becomes sunk in a cup that has been hit and contains a previously sunk ball, but not yet removed from play, whether the shooter intended to hit the cup or not, then the opposing team must remove two additional cups of the shooter's choosing from the table, unless the opposing team has only two cups remaining. If the opposing team has only two cups remaining, then the opposing team must remove one additional cup of the shooter's choosing from the table. If while a defender is removing the cup that has been hit, the shooter sinks a ball in the cup being removed, then the shot shall be deemed a miss.
10.11 Ball Sinks in Cup Removed from Play Prior to Beverage Consumption [Variation]: If a ball becomes sunk in a cup that has been removed from play prior to the beverage it contains has been consumed, whether the shooter intended to hit the cup or not, then all of the defending team’s remaining cups shall be removed from the table, the defending team's turn to attempt redemption shall be cancelled and the shooting team shall be declared the winners.

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Disclaimer: Beirut (beer pong) can be played with alcoholic or non-alcoholic beverages, or no beverage at all. If you choose to play beirut (beer pong) with alcoholic beverages, you should be of legal drinking age and drink responsibly.