Beer pong is the quintessential college drinking game that has grown into a global phenomenon. It is more than a simple way to pass the time and add some fun to drinking sessions; it has become a competitive sport with professional players – here’s looking at you World Series of Beer Pong stars. Like any sport, becoming a successful beer pong player requires strategies and refining techniques, just two of the things you will learn about in this article.
What is Beer Pong?
It is worth understanding the basic mechanics of beer pong before we delve into the various techniques and strategies the game’s top players use. Beer pong is typically played in an 8×2-foot table with ten solo cups containing beer (or sometimes liquor) set up in a pyramid shape at each end. The aim is to throw a ping pong ball into your opponent’s cup. The opposing team must drink the cup’s contents and remove it from the table if the ball sinks into the cup. The winning team is the one that eliminates all the opposing team’s cups.
Techniques for Beer Pong Success
Although beer pong is a light-hearted, fun drinking game, there are techniques you can apply to your game to help you leave opponents in your wake. While there is throwing involved in beer pong, you don’t need the skills that would have the NBA teams listed on the best betting sites online clambering for your signature, but consistency is the key to success. There is no right or wrong way to throw the ball, but you should be consistent. Find a shooting style that works for you and stick to it because you’ll develop muscle memory and find you hit shots more often than not.
Find your shooting style by starting with your stance. Stand with your feet shoulder-width apart, knees slightly bent, and slightly lean forward. This traditional stance provides you with balance and control, two essential elements of any top-tier beer bong player.
The way you hold the ping-pong ball can significantly impact your accuracy. Many players adopt a three-finger grip, using their thumb, middle, and index fingers to hold the ball.
Next up is perfecting your throwing arc. You should aim for a moderate arc on the way to the cup because an arc that is too low will miss, while one that is too high will be too easy for your opponents to swat away.
Lastly, try aiming for the back of the cup because it minimizes the chances that the ball will hit and then bounce out of the cup. The back of the cup is a small target, but training yourself to hit it consistently can be the difference between being on the winning or losing team.
Advanced Beer Pong Strategies
Experienced beer pong players often mix bounce shots into their shooting repertoire. Bouncing your shot off the table instead of a typical throw makes your shots difficult to defend against, as the ball’s trajectory is unpredictable. Consistently landing bounce shots takes plenty of practice, but all those practice shots will pay off when you see your opponents having to drink more than their fair share of cups!
Do not squander your re-racks; use them wisely to gain the upper hand. You can ask for a re-rack once you start eliminating cups. This essentially reorganizes the remaining cups into a more favorable formation, making it easier to land your future shots. The opposite works well, too. Rearranging your cups into a more challenging formation, leaving your opponents on the back foot. Re-rack rules differ between venues and competitions, so ensure you know all about them and use re-racks to your advantage.
Believe it or not, there are strategies and techniques beyond the physical aspects of beer pong. Psychological warfare and mind games come into play and can play a substantial role in your success or the lack of in your opponents. Trash talk is a common tactic, as it can make your opponents overthink their shots. However, you should not take trash talk too far because beer pong should always be fun; you don’t want to cause arguments or sour the atmosphere.
You should develop your mental game to remain calm and focused even when the pressure is on and distractions are plentiful. Staying composed when you and your opponent only have a single cup remaining will give you an edge at the table.
Those reading this article who are incredibly competitive and do everything in their power to win should aim to stay hydrated during a beer pong session. Although beer pong is a drinking game at its core, staying hydrated with non-alcoholic drinks will slow down the effects alcohol has on your body, allowing you to shoot more consistently and accurately.
Conclusion
Beer pong is an incredible drinking game that is bags of fun and promotes healthy camaraderie between teammates and opponents. The game’s simplicity and the fact you are likely to end up drunk are two of the main reasons for beer pong’s ever-increasing popularity. However, some beer pong players take the game seriously, employing advanced strategies and spending countless hours honing their skills and perfecting their technique.
Playing beer pong is not only about the competition and defeating your opponents; it is about socializing, enjoying good company, and creating lasting memories. Hitting the most unlikely of shots or enjoying an awe-inspiring comeback will be talked about by your circle of friends for years to come.
The next time you find yourself in a college dorm, at a backyard barbecue, or at a party where someone suggests a friendly game of beer pong, you will be well-equipped with your newfound knowledge of the art of this superb game. Combine these strategies and tips, practice and master the bounce shot, and prove yourself to be a formidable beer pong opponent. Cheers!