A classic party game with a competitive twist, Beer Pong brings fast-paced fun and friendly rivalry to the lanes. Simple to pick up but tricky to master, it’s all about precision, confidence, and clutch shots under pressure.
The aim of the game is straightforward: land your ping pong ball into your opponent’s cups to knock them out of play. Teams take turns shooting across the table, with each successful shot removing a cup — clear them all first to claim the win.
Whether you’re here for bragging rights or just a laugh with your mates, Beer Pong is an instant crowd-pleaser.
Arrange cups in a pyramid formation, 6 on each side. Fill each of the cups with beer, or your chosen beverage, to a similar height.
Beer pong is usually played with two balls. Players on one side start with a ball each. They then throw the ball across the beer pong table, trying to land the ball in one of their opponent’s cups. When a ball lands in a cup, one player from the opposing side must drink that cup, and then remove it from the beer pong table. If both players on the same team sink a cup in the same round, they get the balls back and get to shoot again.
When a ball is sunk in the last cup on a side, the losing team has the opportunity to match (this is known as the rebuttal rule). Their team gets one or two balls depending on whether or not the winning team used both shots to sink the final cup or cups. If the losing team manages to clear all of the winning team’s cups while matching, three new cups of beer are added to each end of the table in a triangle and play continues. When a team has sunk all of their opponent’s cups and their opponent is not able to match during the rebuttal rule, that team is declared the winner. Any cups of beer left on the side of the winning team must be consumed by the losing team.
If the ball is spinning around the rim of a cup and not yet touching the liquid, players can attempt to blow the ball out of the cup before it touches the beer.
If a player is able to bounce their ball into a cup, then two cups must be consumed and removed from the table. Bouncing a ball in is harder to achieve than sinking a ball on the full because as soon as the ball touches anything, including a cup or the beer pong table, it’s fair game to be grabbed or swatted away. If a player touches the ball before it has come in contact with a cup or the beer pong table that player has fouled and must drink and remove a cup as a penalty.
Each team is able to change the formation of their opponent’s cups at any point, maximum twice throughout the game. For example, if a team has only four cups left on the table, they may ask for them to be regrouped into a diamond shape. If they have only two cups left on the table they may ask for them to be pushed together in a line. Each team only gets two re-racks so they should be used at strategic times throughout the game.
Arrange cups in a pyramid formation, 6 on each side. Fill each of the cups with beer, or your chosen beverage, to a similar height.
Beer pong is usually played with two balls. Players on one side start with a ball each. They then throw the ball across the beer pong table, trying to land the ball in one of their opponent’s cups. When a ball lands in a cup, one player from the opposing side must drink that cup, and then remove it from the beer pong table. If both players on the same team sink a cup in the same round, they get the balls back and get to shoot again.
When a ball is sunk in the last cup on a side, the losing team has the opportunity to match (this is known as the rebuttal rule). Their team gets one or two balls depending on whether or not the winning team used both shots to sink the final cup or cups. If the losing team manages to clear all of the winning team’s cups while matching, three new cups of beer are added to each end of the table in a triangle and play continues. When a team has sunk all of their opponent’s cups and their opponent is not able to match during the rebuttal rule, that team is declared the winner. Any cups of beer left on the side of the winning team must be consumed by the losing team.
If the ball is spinning around the rim of a cup and not yet touching the liquid, players can attempt to blow the ball out of the cup before it touches the beer.
If a player is able to bounce their ball into a cup, then two cups must be consumed and removed from the table. Bouncing a ball in is harder to achieve than sinking a ball on the full because as soon as the ball touches anything, including a cup or the beer pong table, it’s fair game to be grabbed or swatted away. If a player touches the ball before it has come in contact with a cup or the beer pong table that player has fouled and must drink and remove a cup as a penalty.
Each team is able to change the formation of their opponent’s cups at any point, maximum twice throughout the game. For example, if a team has only four cups left on the table, they may ask for them to be regrouped into a diamond shape. If they have only two cups left on the table they may ask for them to be pushed together in a line. Each team only gets two re-racks so they should be used at strategic times throughout the game.
Have questions about your beer pong experience? From setting up to improving your skills, we’ve got everything covered to help you make the most of your time at Star Pins. Explore the FAQs below for tips, and safety guidelines to ensure a fun and seamless night for all!
Get 50% off any second game when your first game is Ten Pin or Duck Pin Bowling.
This includes Ten Pin Bowling, Duck Pin Bowling, American Pool, Ping Pong, Batting Cage, Shuffleboard, Ice Free Curling and Karaoke.
Valid Monday-Friday until 6pm, and after 6pm on Sundays.
Excludes school and public holidays.
Offer allows for one discounted game per full price game of Ten Pin or Duck Pin purchased per person.
