Beer Pong Austria Game Rules
Hard Facts
- In front of each team there are 11 cups: 10 for playing and 1 for washing.
- Which team starts is decided by scissors, rock, paper (best of 1).
- The body does not touch the table when throwing. The elbow may protrude over the table.
- Type of throw: air shot. The ball is thrown directly without contact with the table.
- Type of throw: bounce shot. The ball is thrown with table contact.
- Cups are only removed from the table after both throws by the team are made.
- If both throws hit, the team gets the balls back once and throws them again.
- If both balls hit the same cup, only this one cup disappears from the table.
- The bounce shot may be defended. If it hits, two cups disappear from the table.
- If the ball spins in the cup, it can be blown out.
- If there are 6, 3 or 1 cups in the rack, they are rearranged from the top.
- Rethrow: If the team that started has finished or is about to throw at the final whistle, the other team may throw again.
1. Basic Rules
1.1 Team
A team consists of 2 players (Sp.A1 & Sp.A2). There are always 2 teams playing against each other (Team A (Sp.A1 & Sp.A2) against Team B (Sp.B1 & Sp.B2)).
1.2 Playing equipment
Standard table tennis balls (= balls) are used as playing equipment, as well as 10 plastic cups (= cups) with a capacity of 0.5l per team.
1.3 Table & Markings
A table is 240 cm long and 60 cm wide. At each of the narrow ends 2 triangles are marked, in which holders ( = racks) are positioned in order to set up the cups correctly.
1.4 Starting position of the cups
Before starting, all 10 cups are to be placed in the triangle within the marking, using the racks provided, starting with 4, then 3, then 2 and finally 1. All cups are filled with water.
1.5 Types of throwing
Basically, a difference is made between Air Shot and Bounce Shot.
1.5.1 Air Shot
The ball is thrown directly at a cup. The opposing team is not allowed to defend the ball (e.g. by hitting it away). If the ball is touched above the table (especially above the cups), this is counted as a foul and as a direct hit (a cup must be taken off the table). If another cup is hit after a hit on the edge of a cup, it is considered a regular hit.
1.5.2 Bounce Shot
The ball is intentionally thrown so that it touches the table ( = bounce) before it goes into a cup. As soon as the ball bounces, it may be blocked by the defending team (e.g. by hitting it away or catching it). If the ball still hits a cup, no matter how many times it was bounced, 2 cups must be taken from the table. The attacking team may determine the second cup that must be taken off the table. A hit on the edge of a cup is not considered a bounce and therefore may not be defended!
1.5.3 Regular hits in irregular situations
If a legitimate defense attempt sinks the ball into one’s own cup, this is considered a regular hit!
If a ball first hits an opponent (also behind the table) and then into a cup, this counts as a regular hit!
Cups that have been hit may only be taken off the table when both throws of the attacking team have been made.
1.6 Throw Line & Leaning
The entire throwing phase must take place behind the vertically imaginary extension of the rear edge of the table. However, the attacking player may lean over the table as far as possible (= leaning), but must have a secure footing (not have to support himself immediately after the throw) and must not touch the table. If a player’s own cups are knocked over by leaning, they are considered to have been hit and must be removed. Neither teammates nor other aids may be used as supports!
1.7 Goal of the game
The goal of the game is to be the first team to hit all of the opposing team’s cups while your own cups are still on the table.
2. The actual game
2.1 Starting team
Which team starts is decided by rock paper scissors between one team member each (the first result decides = Best of 1).
2.2 Gameplay (example)
Team A starts and receives both balls. Player A1 and player A2 try, one after the other or simultaneously, to throw their balls into the cups in front of team B, either directly or by bouncing. Team A is attacking, Team B is defending.
2.3 Hitting possibilities
A1 and A2 both miss – now team B is attacker and gets both balls.
A1 hits, A2 misses (or vice versa) – the hit cup must be taken out and it can be drunk. Then team B becomes attacker and gets both balls.
A1 and A2 both hit – both hit cups must be taken out and it can be drunk. After that, team A receives both balls once again and remains attacker (see point 3.1).
It does not matter if the cups are hit directly or by bounce. In general, the team should always take turns drinking (see point 2.6).
2.4 Re-Rack
A re-rack means that the cups are re-formed. This must be done as soon as both throws of a team are finished. With 6, 3 and 1 cups remaining, the remaining cups are rearranged as a pyramid, starting at the top of the rack. The attacking team may not throw until the re-rack is completed, i.e. as soon as the hands are no longer touching the cups. Attention Bring Back (see point 3.1): Both players of a team must have finished their throw before a re-rack is executed.
2.5 End of game & re-roll
The game is over when a team has no more cups in front of them or the time is up (see point 4). If Team A has started, Team B may re-throw with both balls after the final signal, if Team A was throwing at the time of the final signal. This also applies if Team A hit all of Team B’s cups first. There is always a re-roll for the team that did not start.
2.6 Drinking rule
There is no obligation to drink!
3. Special Ruling
3.1 Bring Back
If (see point 2.3) both cups are hit, the attacking team gets both balls back and thus starts another attack attempt. This also applies if both balls are thrown at the same time and land in the same cup. Attention: If only one cup is hit with both balls, only this cup disappears! If both balls are sunk again during the second attack attempt, the attacking team does not get the balls back again. A perfect round therefore consists of a maximum of 4 hits in 4 different cups.
3.2 Blow
If a ball circles in the upper part of a cup, the ball may be blown out. This kind of „defense“ is always allowed, no matter which shot was executed.
3.3 Distractions
All attempts to distract the opposing team in any way are allowed throughout the game, provided that neither the cups, their formation, the table, the opposing team, nor the ball (except for bounce shots) are touched. Also, no gusts of wind may be created to affect the ball. In addition, the view of the cups must not be obscured at any time. If the hand is hit above the table, it is considered a foul and a cup will be removed from the table by the affected team. This cup is determined by the attacking team.
3.4 Interference
A player may only touch the cups to remove a hit cup from the table. If a player knocks over his own cups, intentionally or unintentionally, they are considered hit and are out of the game. Any contact with the table (= playing surface) or with the ball (except for bounce shots) above the playing surface, is considered as unauthorized interference in the game, thus as a foul and punished with a cup loss. The opposing team may determine the cup to be taken from the table.
3.5 Interference by third parties
If a contact with the ball is caused by a spectator or force majeure, the throw will be repeated. In principle, spectators are not allowed to physically interfere in the game. If they do, the throw will be repeated.