Yes, beer pong is a sport and a popular drinking game that has gained immense popularity over the years. Beer pong is a sport where skilled players from all over the world meet yearly at the World Series of Beer Pong to see who is the best.
Beer Pong is often played at college parties and bars and is a favorite pastime for many young adults.
In this article, we will explore the evolution of beer pong from a game to a sport. We will also describe the beer pong table, explain how to play the game, and mention and explain all beer pong rules.
The Evolution of Beer Pong
Beer pong originated at house parties in the United States, where players improvised a long beer pong table by laying plywood on dining tables. Participants preferred red and blue solo cups, and the beer used was whatever was in the fridge.
The beer pong rules depended on the house’s owner, with the winning player or team getting bragging rights.
Beer pong moved from house parties to bars, where weekly tournaments were formed. So, players got more than bragging rights amongst their friends but the entire hometown.
Once beer pong went public in bars across the United States, regulations started coming in, so the beer pong rules became more universal. This made it easy for participants to know what to expect. However, each bar used a different type of table, attracting different types of beer pong players and fans.
Now, beer pong events are popular in bars across the US, with tournament prize money ranging from $100 to $3000.
The World Series of Beer Pong: The Rise of Professional Beer Pong
The World Series of Beer Pong, created by BPong, turned beer pong from a game into a professional sport. The company runs and organizes the World Series of Beer Pong every year in Las Vegas, giving out $75,000 in cash and prizes. The winning team receives $50,000, while the other teams split the remaining $25,000 evenly.
The World Series of Beer Pong is unlike local pubs or campus beer pong because everything is regulated. The organization regulates the rules, tables, circumference, and weight of the beer pong ball. WSOBP features athletes from all over the world competing to prove they are the best in the sport.
Besides WSOBP, there are other beer pong tournaments, and they include:
- East Cost vs. West Coast tournament
- Coed tournament
- Female singles tournament
- Male singles tournament
- International team tournament
How to Play Beer Pong
Beer pong is a simple game that can be played with two or more players. To play the game, the players stand on either side of the table and take turns throwing ping pong balls into the cups on the other end of the table. The game’s objective is to sink all the cups on the other side of the table before the other team.
Here’s how to play beer pong:
Set up a table: To begin the game, each team sets up ten cups in a triangle formation on their side of the table. The cups are filled with equal amounts of beer, and each cup represents a point.
Determine who goes first: Teams can play rock-paper-scissors, flip a coin, or use any method that determines who goes first.
Start the game: The first team takes turns throwing a beer pong ball at the other team’s cups. If the ball lands in a cup, the opposing team must drink the beer from the cup and remove it from the table.
Keep playing: The game continues until one team has sunk all the cups on the other side of the table.
Losers and winners: The winning team is the one that sinks all of the cups first, while the losing team drinks the cups of beer until there are none left. If both teams sink their cups in the same turn, the game goes into overtime, and the first team to sink a cup wins the game.
Beer Pong Table
The beer pong table is an essential component of the game. It is a rectangular table that is usually made of wood or plastic. The standard dimensions of a beer pong table are 8 feet long, 2 feet wide, and 27.5 inches tall. However, there are custom beer pong tables that are smaller or larger than the standard size.
The table is divided into two halves, each with ten cups arranged in a triangular formation.
There are different types of beer pong tables, including inflatable, foldable, and customized tables. The customized tables can be different sizes and shapes, and they may have special features like LED lights or logos of a team.
Beer Pong Rules
Beer pong has several rules that must be followed for the game to be played fairly. Here are some of the essential rules:
- Each team has two players, and each player takes turns throwing the ball.
- Since beer pong is a drinking game, participants must be of legal drinking age, and players must drink responsibly.
- The ball must be thrown from behind the table and cannot touch the ground before landing in a cup.
- The cups must be arranged in a triangular formation, with the tip of the triangle facing the opposing team.
- Each team can have their own rules regarding how much beer to use, what type of beer to use, and other variations.
- Re-racks can be called after certain points in the game. This involves rearranging the cups into different formations.
- Bouncing the ball into a cup is considered a “trick shot,“ resulting in two cups being removed from the table.
- Depending on what teams agree, some games allow “redemption shots“, giving both teams an equal chance of going to overtime. If a team makes the final cup, the other team gets the chance to make the cup.
Wrap Up
Beer pong is a game that anyone can enjoy, but it has also become a recognized sport in some circles. The game is played with two or more players, and the objective is to sink all the cups on the other side of the table before the other team.
There are several beer pong rules that must be followed, which ensure that the game is played fairly. Whether you consider beer pong a sport or just a fun drinking game, it is undoubtedly a game that will provide lots of fun.
Daniel has a passion for staying active and participating in various athletic activities. He also loves writing and sharing his thoughts and experiences through this blog. Daniel writes about his personal experiences playing sports, his insights on various teams or players, and his opinion on current sporting events. He also enjoys reading and interacting with other sports bloggers and sports enthusiasts.
