Dizzy Bat Rules: How to Play (Relay and Batting Versions)

Dizzy Bat is the funniest thing you can watch at a tailgate. Finish a drink, put your forehead on the end of a plastic bat, spin around it ten times, then try to run a relay leg or hit a pitch. Most people don’t get either. Grab a camera and a patch of soft grass.

What you need

  • A plastic wiffle ball bat (or one per team for a relay)
  • A wiffle ball or soft ball for the batting version
  • One drink per player per round, in a cup or can
  • Soft, open grass with nothing hard nearby
  • 4 or more players

Relay version

  1. Split into two teams. Each team lines up behind a start line, with its bat and drinks about 20 to 30 feet away.
  2. On “go,” the first player on each team runs to the bat and finishes their drink.
  3. They stand the bat upright, put their forehead on the handle end, and spin around it 10 times while their team counts out loud.
  4. They drop the bat and run back to tag the next player.
  5. The first team to have every player finish wins.

Batting version

  1. One player is the pitcher; everyone else takes turns at bat.
  2. The batter finishes their drink, then spins 10 times with their forehead on the bat.
  3. The pitcher tosses an easy underhand pitch. The batter gets three swings.
  4. Score however you like: one point per hit, or count how far the ball goes. Most points after everyone has batted wins.

Don’t be the guy in the ER

Dizzy people fall down. That’s the whole game. So:

  • Grass only, plastic bat only. Keep it far from the fire pit, the pool, the stairs and anybody’s car. Never a real bat, never a baseball.
  • Back up, crowd. The batter is going to swing wild. Give them room.
  • Put a buddy next to every spinner. Their job is to catch you, not film you. (Okay, both.)
  • Five spins is fine. So is a small pour or water. Nobody’s checking.

House rules

  • Beer in the bat: some groups pour the drink into the hollow end of the bat and drink from it. Rinse it out first.
  • Spin count: 10 is standard; 5 for a quick game, 15 for veterans.
  • Do-over: fall before you finish your spins and you start the count again.

FAQ

How many times do you spin in Dizzy Bat?

Ten is the usual count, with your forehead on the end of the bat and the other end on the ground.

Can you play Dizzy Bat inside?

We don’t recommend it. Dizzy players fall, so play on soft grass with plenty of room.

Can you play without alcohol?

Yes. The spinning does all the work; water or soda is just as funny.

More party games: Circle of Death (Kings Cup), Power Hour, Rage Cage, Slap Cup, Chandeliers, Quarters, flip cup, Boat Race, Beer Die, Beer Ball. See them all on our party games page, or play the classic with the full rules of beer pong.