Beer pong is a table game for two teams of two, who take turns throwing a table tennis ball into the other team's 10 cups set out in a triangle. A team wins by hitting all of the opponent's cups, but the opponent then gets a chance to hit back before the game's over.
There are two rule sets here, both from BPONG, as of November 2026: its house (party) rules, which openly say every table plays a little differently, and the Official Rules of the World Series of Beer Pong, version v2018-03-001. The house page itself says it's party rules, not tournament rules, and that BPONG events use the World Series rules. I've kept the two apart so you know which one you're agreeing to. You don't need beer at all: the house rules say beer, other drinks or even water, and the official rules use water in every cup.
Party rules or tournament rules: the key differences
| House (party) rules | Official World Series rules | |
|---|---|---|
| What's in the cups | Beer, other drinks or water | Water only, one third to one half full; cups aren't for drinking |
| Cups | 18oz or 16oz | 16 oz |
| Bounce shot | That cup plus one more of the defender's choice, but only one cup when 2 remain | Counts as 2 cups; defenders choose the second; can be swatted once it's touched the table |
| Re-racks | Each team may ask twice per game, at 6, 4, 3 or 2 cups | Cups reformed at 6, 3 and 1 cups remaining |
| First shot | A shot called Eyes, then the previous winner | Team with first possession gets one shot |
Cups, table and balls
Each side has 10 cups in a pyramid shape, usually on a table about 8 ft long. Under the official rules, the table is 8 ft x 2 ft, two 40 mm table tennis balls are used, and the starting rack is a tight triangle with the rims touching, centred on the table with the back of the rack in line with the back edge.
The official rules are clear that the cups aren't for consumption and that nobody should be required or encouraged to drink because of anything in the game. If you're hosting, water in every cup is the simplest way to follow that.
Who throws first and how a turn goes
- Decide who starts. At a house party the first shot of the first game is settled by Eyes: one player from each team shoots while keeping eye contact with their opponent. After that, the winner of the previous game shoots first.
- The team with first possession gets one shot only.
- After that, each team gets two shots per turn, one per player.
- Any cup that's hit is removed from the table straight away.
- If both players on a team hit in the same turn, they get one rollback shot under the official rules, not two. Either teammate can take it, but nobody may take more than 2 consecutive rollback shots.
- Turns alternate until one side has no cups left, and then the rebuttal starts.
Under the official rules, if a player is temporarily away, there's no substitute: that team gets only one shot per turn until the player comes back.
Bounce shots and racking the cups
A bounce shot is a ball that hits the table before landing in a cup. In house rules, that cup and one more of the defending team's choice come off, though with only 2 cups left a bounce counts as just one. In the official rules, a bounce counts as 2 cups with the defenders choosing the second, and the defending team may swat a bounce once it's touched the table.
Racking is limited in both sets, just differently. House rules let each team ask for a re-rack twice per game, when 6, 4, 3 or 2 cups remain. The official rules re-rack automatically at 6, 3 and 1 cups, flush with the back edge of the table and centred.
Elbows, interference and balls on the rim
- Elbow rule (house): keep your elbows behind the edge of the table when you shoot. If you make the shot with an elbow over, it doesn't count, but you get to re-shoot.
- Interference: if a player touches a ball before it hits a cup, there's a one-cup penalty and the shooter picks which cup comes off.
- Ball on top of the cups: under the official rules, a ball that lands and stays on top counts as a miss.
- Getting a ball out of a cup by finger or by blowing only counts if everyone agreed it at the start. Under the official rules the ball can't be interfered with while it's inside a cup.
- Time: the official rules generally set no shot clock, but say 45 seconds is reasonable for both players to shoot in one possession, and 15 seconds for a rollback once a limit is in force.
Rebuttal and the 3-cup overtime
Here's the rule that catches people out: hitting the last cup doesn't end the game. The losing team gets a rebuttal, also called redemption. Under the official rules, with two or more cups left, either player can shoot first and the ball keeps coming back until someone misses, and players must alternate if they keep hitting. The first miss ends the game.
If the rebuttal clears every remaining cup, the game goes to a 3-cup overtime, set as a tight triangle at the back centre of the table. The team that would have won shoots first and gets the first 2 shots.
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How I'd set up a fair game
I'd agree three things out loud before the first throw: which rule set you're using, how bounces count, and when re-racks are allowed. Those are the three that start arguments, and they're also the ones that differ most between house and official rules. I'd fill the cups with water, which keeps the focus on the throwing.
I'd skip the timing guidance and the finer rollback limits unless you're entering an organised event. For a calmer garden game with the same throw-and-score feel, cornhole works for all ages, and bunco is a good dice game for a bigger crowd indoors.
Frequently asked questions
How many cups do you use in beer pong?
Each side has 10 cups arranged in a pyramid or tight triangle. Overtime uses 3 cups.
How many players are on a beer pong team?
Two. The usual format is 2 v 2.
What is a bounce shot in beer pong?
A shot that hits the table before landing in a cup. In house rules the cup and a second cup of the defender's choice are removed; in the official rules it counts as 2 cups.
What is the rebuttal in beer pong?
After the last cup is hit, the losing team shoots until they miss. If they hit all the remaining cups, the game goes to a 3-cup overtime.
Do you have to use beer in beer pong?
No. House rules say you can use beer, other drinks or water, and the official World Series rules use water in every cup.
