Pong Rules
The following rules have been designed to ensure fair play for all participants. Players are reminded to play responsibly and treat other players with respect. Any questions regarding the rules can be directed to World Beer Pong Tour Staff. Please note that drinking beer is 100% optional, and if you choose to drink, drink responsibly.
• Game Setup
Equipment
1. All official games are played on 8 foot tables, with 16 oz. clear GetBombed Cups and 40 mm 3 Star GetBombed Balls.
Cup Formation
1. 10 cups per team.
2. Starting formation is a "tight triangle" formation (rims touching), pointing towards the opposing side with the cups set up centered anywhere in the black triangle.
3. The 10-cup triangle must be centered on the table and the back row of cups must be at least 1 inch from the edge of the table.
4. Cups must not be tilted or leaned against the surrounding cups.
• Playing the Game
A. Shooting and Table Sides
1. Players will flip the provided coin for shot or table side. The winner of the coin flip will choose either first ball or second two shots. The loser of coin flip will pick what side they want.
2. When shooting the ball, you are allowed to reach over the table as much as you want, however if you knock a cup over, it will count. You are not allowed to use one hand for leverage on the table. Furthermore, you may not edge yourself around the table when you shoot.
3. Each player has one chance to shoot a ball during their turn. You must lob or toss the ball into the cup. No bouncing is allowed. The 2nd player must wait to shoot until 1st player's ball has been shot.
4. If a player shoots his ball before their partner's ball is sunk or out of play, it will be a missed shot. A ball is considered in play from the time it leaves a shooter's hand until it has hit anything OTHER than the cups in play (table, floor, hand, water cup). If a shot happens to land and stay on top of the cups, that shot will count as a miss.
5. When a shot ball lands into a cup, the cup must be removed from play. Offensive players must not shoot while cups are being removed.
6. If a cup falls over due to the force of a shot ball, the cup will count as a hit cup. No whipping the ball at cups to knock them over. Cups should be filled with enough beverage to prevent cups falling over.
7. Any ball that hits the table, a water cup or any foreign object such as a cup out of play or a beverage bottle will be deemed out of play. However, if a shot balls hits off a defensive player and goes in the cup, it will count as a made cup. If a player has possession of the ball (ball in hand for two seconds or more), and accidentally drops the ball in their own cup, this will not count as a hit cup.
8. Players are not allowed to move the cups on their side for any reason, unless requested by the other team to fix. Moving cups out of your way while you shoot is strictly prohibited. The first time this happens will be a warning and anytime after this will result in a 1 cup penalty.
B. Grabbing
1. The ball in play may be grabbed or swatted, however ONLY after it has already made contact with a cup, but not while the ball is in the cup. You may not touch the ball before the ball has hit a cup.
2. In the event of player interference prior to the ball making contact with a cup, a one-cup penalty will be imposed for the interference. The thrower who had his or her shot interfered with may choose the cup to be removed.
3. No Bouncing, Blowing, or Fingering will be allowed.
C. Reformation
1. Two racks are allowed at 2, 3, 4, or 6 cups. Racks must be asked for at the beginning of a possession (no mid-turn racks); for rule purposes, a ball back IS considered the beginning of a possession. You may ask to have the last cup centered, however only at the shooter’s request so a team should not rack at 1 unless the team asks for it. A one cup center should be moved back to one inch from the end of the table.
2. A 3-cup rack is a triangle with two cups in the back, and a 2-cup rack can either be cups side to side or one in front of the other. A four-cup rack is a diamond. A six cup rack is a standard triangle.
3. Cups which slide out of formation (regardless of rack status) can be put back into formation during the game. If a player asks to touch the cups or put it back in its formation the opponents must do so – courtesy rule.
4. During rebuttal, teams are only allowed to rack at the beginning of their rebuttal.
D. Rollback
1. In general, if both players on a team sink his/her shot on the same turn, that team will get one additional rollback shot. The only exception to this rule is during redemption.
2. The most cups a team can make in a single possession is 3, unless during rebuttal.
3. Either teammate may take the rollback shot.
E. Defense
1. Team on defense is allowed to distract the offense verbally but must not use excessive foul language, racial remarks or flash body parts.
2. The defensive team must keep both hands and all body parts behind the edge of the table when the other team is in the act of shooting.
3. Teams are allowed to swat a ball that is still in play (to prevent it from landing in a cup) but ONLY after it has made contact with the rim of a cup in play.
4. If a defensive player knocks over their own cup while swatting or if they accidentally deflect their opponent’s shot in the cup, cups WILL count and be removed.
5. If a defensive player's hand/arm comes in contact with a shot over the cup, this will be a goal tend and will count as a hit cup. No bumping the table on defense.
6. Players must not obstruct the view of the cups in any fashion when playing defense.
7. In the event that a player drops his/her ball into one of his/her own cups, no penalty is enforced.
F. Ending the game, rebuttals, and overtime.
1. If there is one cup remaining, and both players make the last cup in one turn, the game is NOT over: the opposing team must also sink all the cups including the last cup twice to force the game into overtime. The offensive team may request that the sunk last shot be removed from the cup. As mentioned before: shoot till you miss rebuttal and overtime is 3 cup no racks with the dominant team shooting first.
2. Should the team only hit the last cup once, the other teams both players will then each have the opportunity to 'shoot until they miss' with a chance to force overtime. Should they make all their rebuttal shots, overtime will be played with the team that hit the last cup first going first in overtime.
a. With one cup remaining, if Player A hits the last cup, Player B may request the ball be removed from the cup. If that cup is “double bagged” then in order to rebuttal, the opposing team must also “double bag” the last cup.
b. Rebuttal turn is 'shoot till you miss', which means 'Player A' shoots until he misses a shot and then 'Player B' shoots in the same fashion. You can only re-rack at the beginning of the rebuttal turn.
c. If a team is double bagged, and have multiple cups to make for a rebuttal, they must sink all the cups including the last cup twice.
d. Note: One player can make the last cup twice, in order to force overtime after being double bagged.
e. Overtime (3-cup)
a. Overtime formation is a tight triangle, point forward.
b. The dominant team shoots first (team that initially made the last cup)
c. The same redemption and rollback rules apply during overtime.
d. No racks
• Miscellaneous
A. Disputes
1. Any issues during the games with rules or players must immediately be addressed by a staff member. Do not wait for the game to be over to complain or dispute. Immediately stop the game and get the attention of a referee. All decisions made by are final and once a game is complete, it is complete.
B. Player Misconduct
1. Any player who has incidental physical conduct with the potential to do harm to another player may be subject to ejection from the venue/tournament at the discretion of tournament officials. Players must be wearing a shirt while playing at all times. In addition, any player acting inappropriate to another player or tournament official may be subject to suspension from the World Beer Pong Tour. Unacceptable conduct such as fighting, throwing cups, hitting tables, abuse of staff or other players can lead to ejection from the tournament without warning.
C. Absentee Players
1. In the event that a player is absent, no substitutions are allowed and the game will be pronounced a forfeit.
Any questions regarding these rules should be directed to WBPT Staff.
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