WIN AT BEER PONG.

by Greg Colfaz (NWM Staff Writer)

Hey from Cottonwood, Idaho. As opposed to the zillion card and dice games I’ve lost at (do to a case of zero luck), Beer Pong is one of the few drinking games I hold my own. Mostly ‘cause there’s skill involved. Granted it’s throwing balls at tiny plastic cups, so luck is still a pretty big part of the picture. However, if you follow these rules you can lower that “chance” factor by a significant amount.

HOW TO PLAY:

Here's a quick overview of the game. On a ping-pong board set up 6 cups in a pyramid (3-2-1) on each side. Fill each cup halfway up with beer. Split up in to two teams of two. Now the game starts. Each teammate takes a turn and shoots one ping pong ball at the cups. You make it in a cup the other team drinks. The cup is then removed. The first team to eliminate all the cups of the other team, wins.

THE RULES:

In the beginning, ALWAYS aim for the middle:

If you’re aim is off you have a better chance of sinking it in a nearby cup.

Follow through:

Think of it in terms of golf or tennis. If you have a fluid motion, your swing is way more consistent. Any jerky moves usually will cause a slice or the ball to sail off. Same rules apply to your BP shooting technique.

90 degree angle:

Some insist that your forearm to the elbow to the hand should form a right angle. It'll help you have a more accurate shot. I go either way.

Give it some arc:

A high floater has a much better percentage of connecting than a fast bullet of a shot.

After you’re a bunch of beers in, concentration is key:

Take a couple of seconds first to really aim for the cup. Your blurred instincts will tell you to just throw and hope for the best. Ignore it.

Mental games:

Getting in the head of the other team isn’t a bad thing. Screaming or yelling when they shoot is bad sportsmanship. Trading taunts before they shoot isn’t.

Keep a wash cup handy:

Have a cup of water on the side to wash the beer off your ball. Soak it for a couple of seconds (before you go) to give the ball some extra weight. It will help your shot.

***BONUS RULE*** Never underestimate the ladies:

Got my ass smoked by some hottie from North Idaho College in ’02.