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It’s a lively Friday night, and a hushed crowd gathers around a lager-spilt table, eyes locked on a single ping-pong ball suspended mid-air. This isn’t just any game; it’s beer pong. It’s arguably one of the best party games of all time! Also, I just so happen to be brilliant at it (PJ O’Brien’s Ping Pong Champion of 2015). But where did this gloriously simple game of throwing balls into a cup originate? Where was beer pong invented? This article explores the history of beer pong, tracing its roots and exploring how it became the global party game it is today.
Unravelling Beer Pong’s Intriguing Past
What’s the backstory of this widely loved game that’s become synonymous with parties and college dorms? Originating from the United States, the birthplace and time remain somewhat mysterious.
So, where was beer pong invented? The general consensus points to Dartmouth College, an Ivy League institution in Hanover, New Hampshire, as the birthplace of this famous drinking game.
Sometime in the 1950s or 1960s, Dartmouth students began playing an early version of beer pong that more closely resembled table tennis, with paddles and all. Instead of just lobbing ping pong balls into cups as we know it today, they played an actual game of ping pong but added cups of beer on the table, turning the game into a hybrid of table tennis and drinking. The game evolved from there, and by the 1980s, it had taken on the form we recognise now: no paddles, just players trying to sink ping pong balls into cups of beer.
While the exact details may be lost to history (probably due to the nature of the game itself!), Dartmouth College remains widely credited with being the starting point. However, like many things in pop culture, the game quickly spread beyond its original setting. Beer pong found its way to other college campuses, evolving and adapting along the way.
What makes the origins even more interesting is that while Dartmouth is credited with the invention, variations of beer pong, like “Beirut,” also have claims to similar roots but slightly different rules. In some regions, there’s even a debate about whether “beer pong” should refer to the game with paddles or the one without them.
The Rulebook of Aces: Professional Beer Pong Rules
Imagine transitioning from cheeky rounds of beer pong in your mate’s backyard to a professional arena. The shift isn’t just in the ambience – the rules get a revamp, too. If you’ve ever been intrigued by how the pros play, you’re in for a treat. Here, we lift the lid on the professional beer pong rules, a far cry from those casual games you might be used to.

First off, the World Series of Beer Pong, the pinnacle of professional play, lays out stringent guidelines. The table’s dimensions are specified – typically 8 by 2 feet. The classic triangular formation you know and love? It’s still there but has precisely 10 cups filled with water or beer (your choice), and they’re often arranged in a 4-3-2-1 pattern.
“Re-racking” is a term you’ll want to familiarise yourself with. It refers to rearranging the remaining cups into a more consolidated formation, allowing for easier shots as the game progresses. Players can request a reformation after cups have been eliminated, usually twice in a match. This strategic element can turn the tides in your favour.
Another exciting rule? The “bounce shot”. If you bounce the ball into a cup, it counts for two, but beware! The opposition can swat it away once it hits the table.
Oh, and those spills? No, not “spillage is lickage”. In the professional arena, there’s no crying over spilt beer. Cups knocked over are considered taken out, adding yet another layer of strategy and caution to each throw.
Beer Pong vs. Beirut: The Great Debate
If you’ve spent time at college parties or chatted with die-hard beer pong fans, you’ve probably come across a heated debate: Is it beer pong or Beirut? While the two terms are often used interchangeably, there are actually some key differences between the games, and where you went to school might determine which name you swear by.
The confusion stems from both games involving cups of beer and ping pong balls. However, players use paddles to hit the ball into their opponent’s cups in traditional beer pong. This older version of the game, believed to have originated at Dartmouth College, is closer to a casual form of table tennis, except there’s beer at stake.
On the other hand, Beirut is the paddle-free version that most of us are familiar with today. Players toss or lob ping pong balls into the opposing team’s cups, trying to sink the ball and force their opponents to drink. No paddles are required. In fact, many people who play the paddle-less version of the game will still refer to it as “beer pong,” but purists may insist on calling it Beirut.
The exact reason for the name “Beirut” is unclear, but it’s speculated to have emerged during the 1980s. One theory is that it’s a reference to the Lebanese capital city, Beirut, which was in the news during that time due to the Lebanese Civil War. Some say the tossing of ping pong balls into cups mimicked the idea of aerial bombardment, leading to the game being called “Beirut.” But let’s be honest, the connection is a bit loose, and the true story may be lost in the beer-fuelled haze of college history.
So, is there a definitive answer to the beer pong vs. Beirut question? Not really. It often comes down to regional differences. If you went to school in the Northeast, especially around Dartmouth, you might hear “beer pong” used for the paddle version and “Beirut” for the toss version. Elsewhere, especially where the game is played without paddles, “beer pong” tends to be the dominant term.
Fun Beer Pong Facts You Probably Didn’t Know
Beer pong might seem like a simple game—toss the ball, hit the cup, drink—but there’s more to this iconic party game than meets the eye. Over the decades, beer pong has developed its own culture, complete with quirky rules, intense competition, and some unexpected trivia. Let’s dive into some fun beer pong facts that you probably didn’t know!
1. There’s a World Series of Beer Pong
Yep, you read that right! Beer pong has gone pro. Since 2006, the World Series of Beer Pong (WSOBP) has been held annually in Las Vegas, where teams from around the world compete for a chance to win cash prizes—up to $50,000! It’s not your typical college party; these games are played on official tables, and the competition is intense. But don’t worry, the game still holds true to its roots, with plenty of fun and beer flowing.
2. There Are Official Beer Pong Tables – With Exact Measurements
Serious beer pong players take the game to another level. Official beer pong tables are a real thing, with specific measurements to make sure everyone plays on an even playing field. An official table is 8 feet long and 2 feet wide, with the cup rack positioned 6 inches from the edge. Think you’ve been playing with the wrong table this whole time? Well, there’s always time to upgrade!
3. “Elbow Rule” Is One of the Most Contested Rules
Ask any group of beer pong players, and the “elbow rule” will likely spark a debate. The rule says that when shooting, players’ elbows must stay behind the edge of the table. Seems straightforward, right? Not so fast. The rule is notoriously hard to enforce and has sparked many disagreements at parties. Some players take it very seriously, while others? Not so much. Either way, it’s a classic rule that’s bound to come up at any gathering.
4. Celebrities Love Beer Pong Too
Beer pong isn’t just for college students. In fact, several celebrities are known to be big fans of the game. Rapper Post Malone, for example, has publicly shared his love for beer pong and has even played with celebrities like country music star Morgan Wallen. Celebrities have even hosted their own beer pong tournaments for charity!
5. There’s a Beer Pong Robot
You heard that right. A group of engineers in Canada developed a beer-pong-playing robot aptly named VersaBall. The robot can play a full game of beer pong, using sensors and mechanical arms to shoot the ping pong balls with precision. It might not be ready for the World Series of Beer Pong yet, but it’s still a pretty cool party trick!
6. The Game Might Actually Have Ancient Origins
While Dartmouth College is credited with modern-day beer pong, some historians believe that the idea of combining alcohol with ball games dates back to ancient Greece and Rome. The Greeks had a game called Kottabos, where players would fling the dregs of their wine at targets. It may not be the direct ancestor of beer pong, but the spirit of mixing games and drinking goes back a lot further than we might think.
Summary
Beer pong, a popular party game, originated in the 1950s-60s at Dartmouth College, initially played with paddles and cups of beer on a table tennis setup. It evolved into the current form by the 1980s, with players tossing ping pong balls into cups without paddles. A similar game, Beirut, emerged with slightly different rules. Professional beer pong is played with strict guidelines, such as table size and cup formations. The game has a rich culture, including tournaments like the World Series of Beer Pong, fun facts, celebrity fans, and even a beer pong-playing robot called VersaBall.
FAQs
Where was beer pong invented?
Beer pong is widely believed to have been invented at Dartmouth College in the 1950s or 1960s. Originally, the game involved ping pong paddles and a table tennis setup, with players hitting a ping pong ball into cups of beer.
What are the official rules of beer pong?
Beer pong rules can vary by location, but standard rules involve two teams attempting to throw a ping pong ball into the opposing team’s cups, which are arranged in a triangle formation. Each team takes turns, and when a ball lands in a cup, the opposing team must drink the contents. The first team to eliminate all the opposing team’s cups wins. Some house rules may include re-racking, “elbow rule,” or bounce shot penalties.
Are there professional beer pong tournaments?
Yes! The most famous is the World Series of Beer Pong (WSOBP), held annually in Las Vegas. Teams from around the world compete for cash prizes, with the top prize going as high as $50,000. It’s one of the largest and most competitive beer pong events in the world.
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