How to Play Beer Ball

A fast-paced, razzle-dazzle game that requires quick wits and even faster reflexes. Rebound the ball and dish it to your teammate.
Diagram showing how to play Beer Ball drinking game. Two teams stand on opposite ends of a table. Shoot diagonally at unopened beer cans.

What you need

Like two-on-two basketball, you need four total players, four unopened cans of beer, one good-sized table, and one ping pong ball.

Set Up

Divide into two teams. Place each beer can on the corners of the table, upside down. Do a coin toss to decide which team goes first.

Beer Ball rules - teams and turns

Play starts by player one shooting the ping pong ball diagonally across the table, attempting to hit the opposing team's unopened beer can. If player one misses, it is the next player's turn on the opposing team, and this rotation continues throughout the game. If player one hits the can, player two on their same team rushes to grab their beer, open it and start chugging. While player two is drinking, the opposing team must rebound the ball and tap it on the playing table while shouting "stop!" At this point, the player must immediately stop drinking, the turn is over and it is the next player's turn on the opposing team.

The first team to finish both beers completely wins. If you wouldn't confidently hold the beer upside down, above your head, the beer can is not considered empty.

Notes

When rebounding on defense, the ball can be passed (dimes are encouraged!)

If one player on the team has finished their beer, center the second beer on the table. Both players will drink from the shared beer until the game is over.