Beer pong is a classic game designed by college students looking to get a quick buzz. Since then, it has evolved into a sport of sorts, being played in other places besides a college dorm. Restaurants and bars are adding beer pong to a late evening of fun to help entice people inside. So while some are offering trivia, others have decided to set up a table of beer pong. How to play beer pong is pretty simple and there are at home game kits that you can buy to make it even easier.

If you don’t know how to play beer pong or you want to create your own version, you can. The rules change from table to table. You don’t need any special kind of beer. You can go with a cheap can or wheel in a keg to keep filling the shot glasses. It all comes down to needing 2 paddles, a ping pong ball and a few shot glasses. The more beer and the more shot glasses you have, the longer the game can go on. After that, the rules are up to you.

How you start

You’ll start the game on a table or other flat surface. If this is something you envision playing often, there are stores that sell beer pong tables. You’ll set up shot glasses filled ¼ of the way with beer on both sides of the table in the shape of a pyramid (four cups on the farthest row, then 3, then 2, then 1). You will establish the house rules of how to play beer pong. These rules will include how the ball can be thrown (underhand, bounce, arc, etc.) and if someone has to drink if they bounce the ball off of the table.

Two teams will be formed. The first team that goes will have one player go up to the table and bounce the ball. If the player gets the ball into a shot glass, the other team must drink a shot and remove the glass from the table. The teams continue alternating turns until one side of the table has no glasses left. That team is the losing team and then must typically do the shots remaining on the other team’s side. So now you know how to play beer pong. Whether you stick to these rules or create your own now is up to you. Just know that wherever you go, house rules may differ slightly.

Different version of beer pong

Versions of how to play beer pong are popping up everywhere. There are actually books available that detail how to play, rules of the game, score sheets, and variations. It’s a sport that anyone can play and if you’re not any good at it, keep drinking as the skill improves with the more you drink. Don’t like beer? You can always substitute rum or tequila, and for the sophisticated crowd – wine. Even if you don’t want to drink and want to practice your game, it can easily be set up with soda or water, too. Just don’t tell anyone!