Navigating a tailgate can be just as tiresome as it is fun!
With large groups of people, great food, and a drink or two, a tailgate is a haven for those looking to have a good time before an event.
While people are typically very excited for the event at hand, a tailgate can have some lulls if people are struggling to interact. Being the host is enough to worry about already, so if you are looking for a quick way to entertain your friends and family, this article can be a great tool!
How can you bring people together and create memories in such a short period of time?
Easy. Games.
There are some obvious examples of games, including the likes of Cornhole, Kan Jam, Ladder Ball and a plethora of other well known games. But what if you don’t own these games prior, or don’t have the budget to purchase for a potential one time use?
I didn’t.
That is why in this article I am going to tell you a list of my top 5 games to play at tailgate if you have a couple Ping Pong Balls.
5. Pong
Classics have a reason for staying around. Think of the movie “The Titanic”, Whitney Houston’s “I Wanna Dance with Somebody”, or your mom’s fresh ski jacket. Pong isn’t going anywhere anytime soon.
Goal of the Game
The basic goal of the game Pong is to make all of the opposing team’s cups by throwing the ball across the table.
Setup
What do you need? Make sure to grab some friends first and foremost.
Players for games range from 1v1 to 2v2, or if you have odd numbers you can very easily play 2v1.
Once you have your players, you’ll need your game materials. In addition to 2 ping pong balls, you will need 12 cups, and a table.
Divide the teams and give each team 6 cups. Each team will place the cups in descending order from the back of their table with the rims touching. 3 cups, and then 2, and then 1. Each team should look like they have a triangle or pyramid of cups pointing at the other team.
Once you have the cups, use water or any other other liquid and pour it into the cups. You don’t need a lot. Just enough liquid to make sure the cups don’t fall over when the ball hits them.
Give a team the balls to start
Game Play
The teams will then begin the game by taking turns throwing the balls across the table. If you have 2 players on your team, each player will get 1 throw, and if you have 1 player, you get 2 throws.
If a shot is made into an opposing team’s cup, the opposing team will remove that cup from the game.
Once both shots have been taken. The opposing team gets to take their turn.
The game continues until 1 team has made all of the opposing team’s cups.
For the full instructions and rules visit https://www.lowershelfgames.com/games/Pong
Why it’s Great for Tailgates?
Pong is a great tailgate game because of its simplicity. Throwing balls into a cup allows easy watching for audiences, and a very quick learning curve for new or inexperienced players. The set up is also simple and only requires 2-4 players.
Why it’s not Great for Tailgates?
Pong, unless all players are professional, is a slow game. At a tailgate, that can create some lulls if 2 teams are playing too long. In addition, it only involves 2-4 players. Leaving people out of playing can be difficult if slow.
4. Power Ball
Not the lottery, but can be just as exhilarating. Power Ball takes the energy from a tailgate and bottles it up into a ping pong ball throwing match. Just throwing? Oh no, make sure you got those running sneakers on as well, as Power Ball comes in at Number 4.
Goal of the Game
The goal of Power Ball is for your teammates to count to 21 seconds before the opposing players can.
Setup
What do you need? Again. Some friends.
Similar to Pong, players for games range from 1v1 to 2v2, or if you have odd numbers you can very easily play 2v1.
Once you have your players, you’ll need your game materials. In addition to two ping pong balls, you will need 2 or 4 bottles (depending on players), and a table.
Divide the teams and give each player a bottle. (If it is 2v1, give the solo player 2 bottles)
Once you have the bottles, place each bottle on the corners of the table (If it is 1v1 place the bottle in the center at the end of the table)
Give a team the balls to start
Game Play
The teams will then begin the game by taking turns throwing the balls across the table at the opposing team’s bottles. If you have 2 players on your team, each player will get 1 throw, and if you have 1 player, you get 2 throws.
If a player throws the ball and it hits the opposing team’s bottle, the player who threw begins counting out loud (ie. 1, 2, 3, 4, etc).
Meanwhile the team who’s bottle got hit must scramble to get the ping pong ball and touch it to the tabletop. (At which point the counting stops)
Once both shots have been taken. The opposing team gets to take their turn.
The game continues until 1 team has had both players individually count up to 21 seconds.
For the full instructions and rules visit https://www.lowershelfgames.com/games/power_ball
Why it’s Great for Tailgates?
Power Ball is a great tailgate game because of its energy. Much like tailgates, Power Ball is chaotic. There is a lot of scrambling, throwing, and cheering. The fast pace of the gameplay keeps other people involved, by switching out teams.
Why it’s not Great for Tailgates?
Power Ball is not a clean game. The nature of it is not great for a low-key or a tight tailgate area. There are a number of overthrows and could be a cause of annoyance for innocent bystanders.
3. Stack Cup
I went back and forth on this one, hence the reason I have it coming in at number 3. I grew up with Legos and Lincoln Logs, so the nature of building and stacking could have a subconscious bias over me. Nonetheless…
Goal of the Game
The goal of Stack Cup is to not be the last person to have their cup stacked.
Setup
What do you need? Surprise Surprise, you’ll need some friends. But this time you’ll need a lot of them!
Players for games range from 6-10. While those numbers can be reduced or increased, 6-10 is typical for the best gameplay.
Once you have your players, you’ll need your game materials. In addition to 2 ping pong balls, you will need 18 cups, and a table.
Place 16 cups into the middle of the table with their rims touching. Have everyone fill in around the table. Give the extra 2 cups to any 2 players across from one another.
Once the 2 players have the cups, give them each a ball to start.
Game Play
The players will then bounce the balls into their empty cup in front of them.
If a shot is made into their cup they move the cup and the ball to their left. (unless a player makes it on their first try, at which point they can move the cup and ball to any player in the game)
The next player will then bounce the ball into the empty to cup while the other player is still bouncing their ball.
If you are trying to bounce the ball into the cup, and the player to your right bounces the ball into their cup first. They get to stack the cup to their left (ie. Your cup)
Once stacked, the cup stack will move to the next person to the left, and they will continue to try and bounce it into the (now) stack of cups. At the same time, the player who got stacked must grab a cup from the middle of the table and try to bounce it into the new single cup.
The game continues until there are no cups left in the middle of the table and there is 1 large stack of cups.
For the full instructions and rules visit https://www.lowershelfgames.com/games/stack_cup
Why it’s Great for Tailgates?
Stack Cup is great for tailgates because it gets so many people involved. Nobody likes to be left out, so playing a game like this a great way to create memories everyone can experience.
Why it’s not Great for Tailgates?
Stack Cup does have the tendency to get a little one sided. In that some players who are not very skilled can end up playing the entire game by getting continuously stacked. In addition, for players that don’t know how to play, there can be a slight learning curve.
2. Bowl Dash
Sprinting its way in at Runner Up we have Bowl Dash. If you were tired of using bowls for silly little things like cereal or soup, chef boy oh boy do I have the game for you.
Goal of the Game
The basic goal of Bowl Dash is to get 21 points before the opposing team
Setup
What do you need? 4 players.
Once you have your players, you’ll need your game materials. In addition to 2 ping pong balls, you will need 4 bowls, and table.
Divide the teams and give each team 2 bowls. Players on each team will be stationed across from one another and place their bowl in front of them on the corner of the table
Once all 4 bowls are on the table, fill each bowl with some water. It doesn’t have to be a lot (I would say 1/3 of the bowl).
Give a player on each team a ping pong ball to start
Determine a rule for the game where you can easily translate the number of points to a penalty. (ie. 1 point equals 1 jumping jack, and 5 points equals 5 jumping jacks)
Game Play
The teams will then begin the game by taking turns bouncing and/or throwing the balls into their teammates’ bowls.
If a shot is made into a teammate’s bowl. The player will yell out how many points they got.
Points are tallied by how many times the ball bounces before entering the bowl. (ie. If a ball bounces 2 times and lands into the bowl, the player will yell out “3”)
When a team yells out how many points they got, the opposing team must stop trying to score and complete the penalty before resuming play. (ie. if a team gets 3 points, the opposing team stops and does 3 jumping jacks)
The game is a dash, so unless you have to stop to complete a penalty, teams should be throwing or bouncing their balls at will.
The game continues until 1 team has reached at least 21 points.
For the full instructions and rules visit https://www.lowershelfgames.com/games/Bowl-Dash
Why it’s Great for Tailgates?
Bowl Dash is great for a tailgate because of the pace of the game! The nature of a dash means quick games and quick rotations of players. Additionally, the game is really funny! Especially if the penalty is difficult or silly to perform.
Why it’s not Great for Tailgates?
There’s not a lot of reason to dislike this game. The only downfall I see would be a lack of bowls.
1. Relay
Coming in at numero uno, we have the one and only Relay. Relay takes everything that is great about obstacle courses, track meets, and team chemistry; and puts it all into a perfect table top game.
Goal of the Game
The goal of Relay is remove all of your team’s cups before the opposing team.
Setup
What do you need? Grab your friends!
Players for games typically range from 6-10. That number can increase or decrease, but 6-10 is used for best gameplay.
Once you have your players, you’ll need your game materials. In addition to 2 ping pong balls, you will need at least 1 cup per player and 2 extra cups, as well as a table.
Divide the teams into 2 (typically counting off 1s and 2s is the best way). Set the cups up at the end of one side the table divided by the center line with the rims touching. It should look like 2 small islands of cups at one side of the table.
Once you have the cups, use water or any other other liquid and pour it into the cups. You don’t need a lot. Just enough liquid to make sure the cups don’t fall over when the ball hits them.
Have each teams’ players line up on their side of the table
Give the first player on each team a ball and an empty cup.
Game Play
The first player on each team will shoot their ball across the table into their teams’ cups.
If a shot is made into a team’s cup, the player who shot will then run down, remove the cup from the side of the table, and take the ball out.
The player will then grab the empty cup and attempt to flip the cup from the edge of table to land face down on the table. (ie. Flip Cup Motion)
Once the cup is flipped successfully, the player will flip it back up, and attempt to bounce the ball into the cup.
Once the ball is made into the cup, they give the ball to the next player on their team who will shoot on the remaining cups.
The game continues until 1 team has completed all of their cups.
For the full instructions and rules visit https://www.lowershelfgames.com/games/Relay
Why it’s Great for Tailgates?
Relay gets everyone involved. It takes 3 very classic games and movements and combines them into one game. It is easy to learn and very fun to play.
Why it’s not Great for Tailgates?
Coordinating everyone to play a game where they have to line up can be difficult, so make sure to be confident when setting teams up!
Get Playing!
The 5 games above are just some of the many games that exist using ping pong balls. The beauty in games lie in their creativity and adaptation to the group that they are being played by.
So use these games at your next tailgate, and find out just how entertaining and connecting games can be!
After looking at this list, what games would you add or remove?
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