How to Throw a Beer Pong Ball: Arc, Fastball and Bounce Shots
Want to sink more cups? Throw a soft arc. Hold the ball with your thumb and first two fingers, keep your elbow behind the table edge, and lob it high so it drops into the cup instead of smacking the rim. The fastball and the bounce shot have their moments, but the arc wins games. Here’s how to throw all three.
Jump to: Grip · Stance · Arc · Fastball · Bounce shot · Where to aim · Mistakes · FAQ
The grip
- Three-finger grip (our pick): thumb, index and middle finger, like holding a dart. It gives you the most control over the release.
- Two-finger pinch: thumb and index finger only. Lighter touch, a little less consistent.
- Palm or underhand: fine for fun, hard to repeat. Most good players don’t use it.
Whichever you pick, use it on every shot. Beer pong is all muscle memory, and the guy who switches grips every turn is the guy who loses.
The stance
- Square up to the cups, with your throwing-side foot slightly forward.
- Stay behind the table edge. Under the elbow rule most houses play, your elbow can’t cross the edge when you release.
- Hold your arm in an L, with your elbow about shoulder height and the ball near eye level.
- Throw from the wrist and forearm. Keep your shoulder still.
- Move around on your side of the table: lining up straight behind a column of cups means you only have to get the distance right.
The arc shot
The arc is the money shot. Lob the ball up so it peaks well above the cups and falls in at a steep angle. A steep drop gives you the whole mouth of the cup to land in; a flat throw only gives you the front rim to clear.
- Release when your arm points slightly up, toward a spot above the cups.
- Follow through toward the target, like a basketball free throw.
- A little backspin helps the ball die on a rim instead of bouncing off.
- Use it for: almost everything, especially the back cups and redemption shots.
The fastball
A fastball is a hard, flat throw straight at one cup. It’s harder to make, because the ball has to clear the front rim and stop before the back one, and it bounces out a lot. Where it shines:
- Hitting a single front cup, or the one cup left in a re-rack.
- Rattling a cup off the table, if your house plays the beaming rule.
- Getting a quick shot off before a distracted defense is ready.
The bounce shot
Under most house rules a bounce shot counts for two cups, but the defense can swat it as soon as it hits the table. To make it work:
- Bounce it low and close to the cups, so there’s less time to swat it.
- Throw it softly; a hard bounce flies over the rack.
- Pick your moment: when the defense is talking, refilling, or watching your partner’s shot.
- Don’t overuse it. Every swatted bounce is a wasted shot.
Where to aim
- Early in the game: aim at the middle of the rack. A shot that’s a little off still has cups around it to land in.
- On a single cup: aim at the back half of the rim with an arc. Short shots hit the front rim and bounce away.
- Pick a spot, not a cup. Focus on a point on the rim and look at it until the ball leaves your hand.
Which cups to go after, and when to call a re-rack, is covered in our beer pong strategy guide.
Common mistakes
| Mistake | What happens | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| Throwing too flat | Ball hits the front rim and bounces out | Release higher and let it drop |
| Changing your throw every shot | No consistency | Same grip, stance and release every time |
| Throwing with the shoulder | Distance varies wildly | Throw from the wrist and forearm |
| Leaning over the table | Shot doesn’t count under the elbow rule | Elbow behind the edge on release |
| Rushing after a miss | Misses come in streaks | Take a breath and reset your stance |
FAQ
What’s the best way to throw in beer pong?
A soft arc with a three-finger grip. It’s the most forgiving shot and the easiest to repeat.
Should you throw hard or soft in beer pong?
Soft. A soft arc drops into the cup; a hard throw bounces off rims and out of cups.
Does backspin help in beer pong?
A little backspin helps the ball settle when it clips a rim. Too much makes the throw harder to control.
Can you lean over the table?
Not in most houses. The elbow rule says your elbow stays behind the table edge. Tournament rules allow leaning but no body part on the table; see our rules guide for both.
Want to practice at home? Set up the Beer Pong All-Stars complete set and work through our practice drills.
Get better at beer pong: beer pong strategy, practice drills, our original beer pong tips. Settle the rules first with our complete beer pong rules guide.