Beer Pong Rules and Scoring
Beer pong has no single governing body, so half of every argument is about whose house rules apply. These are the widely accepted ones — agree on them before you start and the game runs itself.
The setup
- 10 cups per side in a triangle: 4, then 3, then 2, then 1, pointing at the opponent.
- Each cup holds roughly the same amount, filled about a third.
- Two players per side, two balls per team, throws alternate between teams.
How a cup is scored
A ball landing in a cup removes that cup and its contents are drunk by the defending team. If both players on a team hit on the same turn, the team gets the balls back and throws again — the “balls back” rule.
Re-racks
Each team may ask for the remaining cups to be re-formed into a tighter shape, usually twice per game. Common shapes are the diamond at 4 cups, the triangle at 3 and the line at 2. The request must be made before throwing, not after a miss.
Redemption
When a team sinks the last cup, the other team gets a redemption round: they throw until they miss. If they clear every remaining cup, the game goes to overtime with 3 cups a side. This is the rule most worth agreeing on in advance — it decides whether a game can be won on a single lucky throw.
Frequently asked questions
By common convention yes, but only while the ball is still spinning inside the cup and has not settled. Many house rules restrict this to female players; agree on it beforehand.
A bounced ball that lands in a cup usually removes two cups instead of one — but the defenders are allowed to swat a bouncing ball away, which is the trade-off.