Beer pong started out being played on ping-pong tables with the goal of getting a ping-pong ball into a cup of beer on the side of the table. It quickly caught the imagination of college students, being easy to play, requiring no special equipment, and being a drinking game. Since it started sometime in the 80s, beer pong has grown to the point where just about everybody plays it. It’s a great icebreaker at parties. Even people who don’t drink play. They use water. Over the years, the beer pong table has evolved way past the old, unused ping-pong table in the corner. A beer pong table is a chance to show off your personality and your favorite interests. Over the years, tables have gotten with the ability to be more individualized.
Specifications
Let’s face it. While, in a pinch, just about any flat surface can be used to play beer pong, it’s a lot more fun on a regulation table. A regulation table is 8′ x 2′ x 27.5″. It’s typically made of aluminum or wood. Most of the tables fold down into a suitcase like size. Make sure your table has a built in bottle opener, for those times when guys bring really cheap beer without twist off caps.
Floating Beer Pong Tables
Just like the name implies, floating beer pong tables are perfect around water. Whether it’s the beach, the lake, or off the deck of your boat, floating beer pong is a great way to get people half naked. Sun, water and beer just naturally go together. Add some bikini clad girls and you can take it from there …..
floating beer pong table
Inflatable Beer Pong Tables
Inflatable beer pong tables, like their floating cousins mentioned above, can be used in and around water. There are no metal parts, so they are easy to wash down when you are done. They have the added advantage of reducing to less than one foot cube when deflated for easy storage, even in the trunk of a car, so that beer pong is never far away. With one of these, you can always guarantee that beer pong will be at the next party you attend. Bring it with you! – and you’ll be the hit of the party. The guy with the beer pong table always gets invited back.
Professional Beer Pong Tables
These tables are used for tournaments – yes, there a lots of beer pong tournaments – including the World Series of Beer Pong – with serious prizes and big attendance. Prizes go to the mid five figures. These tables are also used for practice by serious pongers.
professional beer pong table
What to Look For in a Beer Pong Table
When you’re buying a beer pong table you want to make sure it’s official regulation size unless you don’t have the room for one. You also want to make sure it’s very stable with strong legs that won’t wobble and spill your beer. Some really good tables have a nonslip area where the cups are stacked, again, to prevent beer spillage. You also want to make sure that the table has a good playing surface that gives a consistent bounce. It should also be easy to clean – as beer will be spilled. Great graphics, although a personal preference, help make the game more fun and are an important part of the whole beer pong experience. This is one of the places where you can support your team. Most tables fold so that you can slip them under the bed or in a closet. Make sure that it doesn’t take two guys to lug it around.
Due to the popularity of this game, there are official beer pong tables, regulation beer pong tables, light up beer pong tables, LED beer pong tables and even pink tables for sale now and many bewilderingly intricate custom designs as well!
Playing Surface
In addition to the physical styles, like folding or not, 7′ for 8′, another big deal is the playing surface. This is going to be staring you in the face the whole time, and also the way others see you. Just like your ride, you want it to represent who you are. The theme of the table could be sports based, country based (go Red, White and Blue), beer brand based or just a really cool solid black or white. And, of course, there is always the ever popular hot chicks model.
How to Make Your Own Beer Pong Table
In a word – Don’t! Sounds like a good idea, but . . it’s not. Sounds simple and cheap, right? Just take a slab of wood and slap four legs on it. And you saved yourself some money. First of all, it’s actually a piece of furniture, so it’s not as easy as it sounds. Some guys have built a table in their room , and then couldn’t get it out the door, because it doesn’t fold. And since it doesn’t fold, there is no place to store it. And home made tables are ugly. Go out and buy yourself a real beer pong table. You won’t be sorry.