The Wolverine Den Blogs
TWD Beer Pong Rules
Updated October 10, 2019
Section 1 The Game
1.1 General - The game of TWD 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 will be declared the winner.
1.2 Agreement to Waive Rules - Players may agree to exclude the operation of any rule, add any rule variation, or waive any penalty incurred. At the beginning of the next game, the rules herein are in force and any variations shall be renegotiated. Previous game winners who claim rights to the table must accept all challenges under this ruleset.
Section 2 The Players
2.1 Formation of Teams - Each team consists of 2 players.
2.2 Substitutions - During the course of a game, no substitutions of players will be permitted unless there is an agreement to do so by the players. If a player, or an agreed upon substitute, is unable to complete a game, then their team shall forfeit and the opposing team will be declared the winners.
Section 3 The Balls
3.1 Form and Make of Balls - The game is 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 will be deemed unfit for play and must be removed from play. If it is ruled that a player intentionally altered a ball, then their team shall forfeit and the opposing team will be declared the winners.
Section 4 The Cups
4.1 Form and Make of Cups - The game is played with 6 plastic cups, each with a volume of 16 ounces.
4.2 Cups Contain Beverage - The cups are to contain approximately 4 oz. of a beverage that players shall determine prior to the start of the game (i.e two 12 oz. beers are divided between 6 cups).
4.3 Arrangement of Cups - Each team shall defend 6 cups arranged in the shape of a triangle. The triangle is to 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. If the table in use has a formatted area directing cup placement, said formatting will prevail in the placement of cups.
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 must 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 will be declared the winners.
Section 5 The Table
5.1 Dimensions of Table - The table is to be a standard beer pong table, 8' in length by 2' in width, and standing 2'5" in height. If a standard beer pong 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.
Section 6 The Shooting Area
6.1 Definition - The shooting area is to be the area from which legal shots must be attempted. The shooting area will 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 lower body are behind 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.
Section 7 Order of Play
7.1 Initiative - Winning teams remaining on the table for the immediately successive game will have honors to shoot first and will have choice of which side of the table to defend. For games without a team holding honors, prior to the start of play, the teams shall decide who will 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 to defend. The opposing team will then make the remaining choice. After both teams have assumed their positions, the team on offense will begin play.
7.2 Shooting Order - Teams shall take turns shooting the balls alternately. Players must shoot one ball per their team's turn and the shooting team may alter the order of players for each 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.
7.3 Shooting Out of Turn - If a player that has incorrectly been deemed the shooter has taken a shot, the defending team may call for cancellation of the shot. If the defending team does not call for cancellation prior to completion of the defending team's next shot, the ball will be deemed in play.
7.4 Shooting Ante Imbibo - If a shooter has taken a shot prior to consumption of a beverage that has been assigned to them, the defending team may call for cancellation of the shot. The shooter must consume the assigned beverage and reshoot. If the defending team does not call for cancellation prior to completion of the defending team's next shot, the ball will be deemed in play.
7.5 Redemption - When a shooter hits the opposing team's final cup, the cup shall remain on the table, and the opposing team will be allowed an additional turn to attempt redemption.
7.5.1 Redemption Order of Play - During the turn of redemption, both players will be allowed to shoot until they miss.
7.5.2 Successful Redemption - The redemption shooter(s) will have achieved redemption if they successfully hit all of the opposing team's cups. Subsequently, the balls shall be returned to the team that originally hit the redemption team's final cup, and overtime will begin.
7.5.3 Unsuccessful Redemption - If the redemption shooter(s) fails to achieve redemption, their team's final cup will be deemed hit.
7.6 Overtime - During overtime, the standard order of play shall be observed. There will be no limit on the number of turns during overtime, nor 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 cup shall be located as the center cup in the back of the original triangle.
7.7 Spoils of War - It is customary that the winning team offer their remaining unhit cups to be consumed by the losing team.
Section 8 Offense
8.1 Definition - A player will have shot the ball in play 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 influenced by the shooter's teammate, spectators, or any object not located on the surface of the table.
8.2 Offside - If a player attempts to shoot while they are not within the shooting area, the defending team may call for cancellation of the shot. If the defending team does not call for cancellation prior to completion of the defending team's next shot, the ball will be deemed in play.
8.3 Shooting Team Loses Control of Ball - If a player on the shooting team loses control of a ball, the ball will be deemed in play. If the ball crosses to the defending side of the table, the shooting team will forfeit one shot.
Section 9 Sinking the Ball
9.1 Definition - A ball will be deemed sunk if while it is in play it contacts the surface of the beverage contained within the cup. A cup will be deemed hit if a ball has been sunk in it. A cup that has been deemed hit is no longer in play and shall be removed from the table.
9.1.1 Ball Sinks in a Hit Cup - If a ball becomes sunk in a cup that has been hit, but not yet removed, whether the shooter intended to hit the cup or not, then the shot will be deemed a miss.
9.2 Cup Removal - During cup removal, all attempts are to be made to not disturb the remaining cups. Any remaining cups that move during the removal of a cup are to be placed to the approximate former position. Immediately following the removal of a cup, a defender shall consume the beverage contained within the sunk cup.
9.3 Beverage Consumption - The defending team may choose any method of determining which player shall consume the beverage contained in a hit cup.
9.4 Cup Consolidation - Following cup removal, the remaining cups are not to be consolidated or rearranged.
9.5 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.
9.6 Ball Knocks over Cup - A shot that causes a cup to be knocked over by the force of impact from a ball will be deemed a miss, unless it is ruled that the ball contacted 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 is to be refilled to 4 oz. and is to be placed in the approximate former position.
9.7 Ball Settles on Top of Cups - If the ball settles on the tops of three or more cups, then the shot will be deemed a miss.
9.8 Player Knocks over Cup - If a player knocks over one of their own cups through direct or indirect contact, the cup will be deemed hit.
9.9 Satellite Money Cup - Any player who leaves a beverage on the table has declared that beverage a satellite money cup. Any satellite money cup that is deemed hit shall be consumed immediately by the cup's owner. The defending team may decline consumption of the sunk satellite money cup, in which case the defending team must remove a cup of the shooter's choosing.
Section 10 Defense
10.1 Definition - Defense is defined as a defender's attempt to prevent a ball in play from sinking in a cup by using any influence from the defenders body including, but not limited to, catching and swatting. Defense is legal only after a ball in play has come into contact with, and has bounced off, any of the following: the surface of the table, any object on the surface of the table, a defending player, or the cups.
10.2 Illegal Defense - Illegal defense is defined as intentional or unintentional contact between a defender and a ball in play before or during contact with any of the following: the surface of the table, any object on the surface of the table, or the cups. Unless it is ruled that the ball would not have been deemed sunk or would not have made such contact. If any ball subject to an illegal defense does not subsequently become sunk, the shooter may declare illegal defense, and the defending team must remove a cup of the shooter's choosing.
10.2.1 Ball Spinning in Cup - A ball spinning inside of the rim of a cup that has not already become sunk will be deemed in play during contact and may not be defended. If the ball subsequently spins out of the cup, the ball will be deemed in play after contact and may be defended.
10.2.2 Removing a Hit Cup - Contact with a defender who was in the process of removing a hit cup will be deemed a no shot and the shooter shall be allowed to reshoot.
10.3 Shot Interference - Shot interference is defined as intentional or unintentional contact between a defender and the table or cups, while a ball is in play. If the ball does not subsequently become sunk, the shooter may declare shot interference, and the defending team must remove a cup of the shooter's choosing.
10.4 Distractions - A defending player may attempt to distract a shooter by any method so long as all portions of the defender's body remain on the defending side of the table with no parts of the body over the table.
10.5 Defending Team Loses Control of Ball - If a player on the defending team loses control of a ball, the ball will be deemed in play on the defending team's side of the table. If the ball subsequently becomes sunk in one of the defending team's cups, the cup will be deemed hit. The shooter's turn will not be forfeited.
Section 11 Protests
11.1 Any protests, or requests for clarification of these rules, may be made to any non-participating The Wolverine Den Staff member who shall make the final ruling on all inquiries.