If beer pong and flip cup had a wild, chaotic love child, it would be Flong drinking game. This fast-paced game is equal parts strategy, chugging, and party madness—and it’s taking college basements and backyard barbecues by storm. Whether you’re a seasoned pong champion or a flip cup underdog, Flong levels the playing field with a game that’s about speed, coordination, and a dash of chaos.
So if you’re tired of the same old beer pong tournaments or flip cup relays, buckle up. Flong’s coming in hot, and it’s about to change your party game night for good.
Table of Contents
Flong Drinking Game Rules
Objective
The goal of Flong is to be the first team to hit the final cup on the table and win the flip-off immediately after. Shooting skills and flipping speed both matter—no team can win without mastering both.
Setup
To play a standard 3v3 game of Flong, you’ll need:
- 1 Beer Sports table (8′ x 2′)
- 22 plastic cups (20 for pong + 2 for flipping)
- 2 ping pong balls
- 1 pitcher of water
- At least four unopened beers (12 oz each)
Cup Arrangement
Set up two 10-cup triangles (pyramids) on opposite ends of the table. Four cups in each pyramid must touch the edge of the table. Fill all 20 cups with water evenly.
Flip Zone Setup
Place one empty flip cup in the center fold quadrant on each team’s side. The designated “flipper” stands left of the shooters and uses that middle flip zone.
Pour about 2 oz of beer into the flip cups before every round.
Who Shoots First?
To decide who shoots first, both flippers perform a “Down, Up, Down” chant with their cups:
- Touch cup to the table
- Raise it up
- Touch down again
- Then drink and flip the cup
The first flipper to land a successful flip earns the first shot for their team.
Flong Gameplay Rules
- Each team has two shooters who take one shot each per round.
- If either shot lands in a cup, remove that cup from play.
- Both flippers immediately drink and flip their cups.
- The team that loses the flip-off removes an extra cup from their own side.
- Repeat the cycle: shoot, flip, remove.
Key Notes:
- A shot should not be taken until both flip cups are refilled with beer.
- The final cup must be hit and followed by a flip win to claim victory.
- Each team is allowed two re-racks when down to 6 cups or fewer, before any shots are taken in a round.
- A cup cannot be removed solely from a flip-off loss if it is the last cup in play.
Special Rules
- Shooter Switch Rule: Once a team has 5 or fewer cups left, they may permanently swap one shooter with the flipper—once per game.
- Heating Up & On Fire:
- Hit 2 consecutive shots? Call “Heating up.”
- Hit the 3rd shot after the call? You’re “On fire” and can keep shooting until you miss.
- Bounce Shot:
- Counts for 2 cups.
- Defenders may swat or catch a bouncing ball.
- If successful, one more cup is removed along with the hit one.
- Island Shot:
- Call a lone cup and name it.
- If hit, remove two cups.
- If done via bounce, remove three.
- Miss the called cup? No effect, even if it lands elsewhere.
- Additional Shots:
- If both shooters hit a cup in the same round, they each earn an extra shot.
- This can repeat until a miss occurs.
Flipping Mechanics
- A successful flip requires the cup to land fully upside down, flat and stable on the table.
- If the cup is teetering or assisted by a hand, it doesn’t count.
- Cups partially off the table but fully flipped are still valid if settled.
Key Notes:
- Excessive beer spills during flipping may lead to a loss for that round.
- Touching or interfering with other players’ cups or hands is illegal.
- If a ref cannot determine which cup flipped first, a sudden-death flip-off is initiated.
Flong Tournament: How to Host an Epic Bracket-Style Showdown
Let’s be real: once you teach people how to play Flong, one game is never enough. If you’re dealing with a crowd of thirsty competitors and folks hyped to flip their way to glory, it’s time to level up with a Flong tournament.
Build Your Bracket Like a Boss
You can go classic March Madness–style with a single elimination bracket, or spice things up with double elimination so teams get a shot at redemption (and revenge).
Pro tip: Use a whiteboard or giant poster with team names like “The Flipping Menace” or “Balls Deep.” Or go digital with tournament generators and display it on a TV. The more dramatic, the better.
Ideal Tournament Size
- 4 teams = Quick but spicy
- 8 teams = Solid medium-sized party
- 16 teams = You’re hosting an actual house Olympics
How to Pick the Ultimate Champs
A few options:
- Best of 3 series for semi-finals/finals to build suspense
- Add “Final Flip-Off” sudden death round: each player flips solo, fastest total team time wins
- Winners get a cheesy trophy (spray-painted solo cup), custom headbands, or just eternal bragging rights
Penalties for Losers
- Must perform a group karaoke song chosen by the winners
- Wear ridiculous costumes the rest of the night (think: banana suits)
- Refill all the drinks for the winning team for the next game
Bonus Ideas
- Add a “Referee” to enforce chaos-control—especially helpful after a few rounds of beers
- Set up a “Flip Cam” station to film the most epic flip moments (and bloopers)
- Name your tournament something ridiculous like “Flongageddon 2025”
Go Wild: Themed Tournament Twists for Maximum Mayhem
Want your Flong tournament to go from “fun” to “full-blown legend”? Don’t stop at basic brackets—throw in a theme (or five). These over-the-top, party-perfect twists turn every round into a unique spectacle and keep your players on their toes (and sometimes on the floor).
1. Glow-Long Flong (Blacklight Edition)
Set up under blacklights with neon cups, face paint, and glowing balls. Add UV-reactive flip zones and dim the lights. It’s pong meets a rave, and no one’s leaving sober—or unphotographed.
2. Pirate Mode (High Seas Showdown)
Every player gets a pirate alias. Eye patches, bandanas, and “Arrrghs!” are mandatory. One player per team must play with a hook-hand (oven mitt or paper cone). If someone spills a drink, they “walk the plank” (i.e., hop on one leg the next round). Bonus: Rum shots as a mid-game penalty.
3. Wheel of Flong-tune (Spin for Your Fate)
Set up a spin wheel with absurd challenges that must be completed before each round:
- Flip with one eye closed
- Hop in place while shooting
- Perform an interpretive dance before flipping
- Use kitchen tongs instead of hands
- Say a dad joke with a straight face
4. 80s Aerobics Flong (Jazzercise Jam)
Think leg warmers, sweatbands, and synth music. Before each flip, players must do a quick aerobics move (think grapevine, jumping jacks, or pelvic thrusts). Miss a flip? Drop and give 5 flong push-ups (or vogue dramatically in shame).
How to Work Themes into Your Bracket
- Theme Rounds: Assign a different wild variation to each round of the tournament. Start with mild (e.g., non-dominant hand flips), escalate to unhinged (e.g., mystery drink cups, haunted house rules).
- Wildcard Matchups: Randomly draw two teams for a “Wheel of Flong-tune” duel during halftime.
- Final Boss Round: In the championship match, combine three insane modifiers (e.g., Glow-Long Flong, One-Eye Bounce Shot, and Interpretive Flip Dance). The result? Pure chaos and championship glory.
The Flong drinking game is more than a beer sport—it’s a rite of passage for the brave, the bold, and the party warriors among us. It’s the mashup we didn’t ask for but now can’t live without. You’ll laugh, you’ll flip, you’ll possibly fall over—but you’ll never forget Flong.
So gather your squad, cue the party playlist, and prepare to Flong like never before.
FAQs for Flong Drinking Game Rules
What happens if a player drinks their beer before a shot is made?
Drinking too early is a no-go. If a player drinks their beer before a ball successfully lands in a cup, that round is considered a loss for their team.
Can I grab the ball if it hits a cup and bounces into the air?
Yes, you can try to catch or swat the ball once it has bounced off a cup. However, if you deflect it into another cup—intentionally or not—that shot still counts as a successful hit.
What happens if my shot lands during a rerack?
If you shoot before your rerack is called or while your opponent is adjusting the rack, your shot still counts. If it hits a player’s hand during a rerack, it’s considered a miss.
Is a flip valid if the cup is wobbling or sliding on the table?
No. The cup must land completely upside-down and remain settled. If it’s still moving or you touch it to “fix” the position, it doesn’t count. If it’s flipped and stable—even if slightly hanging off the table—it counts.
What if my cup flies off the table while flipping?
The round continues. It’s your responsibility to maintain control of your flip cup. You or your teammate can retrieve it, but you can’t interfere with other teams or gameplay while doing so. If you do, your team loses the round.
Can I hold or prep my cup while I wait to flip?
No. You can’t touch your flip cup until your team is actually flipping. If you pick it up early, you’ll have to reset the cup on the table and restart the process.
What happens if the ball goes into a cup and then pops back out?
Only balls that come to rest inside a live cup count as made shots. If the ball spins out or bounces back after appearing to land, it does not count. Any flips that occur because of a “near make” are voided.
Can I use distractions to mess with the other team?
Distractions are allowed as long as they’re respectful and not physically disruptive. You cannot touch the table, cups, or players on the other team. Wind-blowing, shaking the ground, and verbal insults are not permitted.
Are there any rules about shooting form?
Yes. Both feet must stay on the ground during your shot. Your hand can’t cross the midpoint of the table, and your body or clothing can’t make contact with the cups or table edge.
What if my own cup gets knocked over accidentally?
Tough break—that cup is removed from the game just as if it had been hit by a shot. Handle your table space with care.
Can both teammates shoot and score in the same round?
Yes. If both players sink their shots, each gets an additional ball to throw. This cycle can repeat until one of them misses.
When can we call a rerack?
Each team may call two reracks per game. Reracks can only be called when your side has six cups or fewer remaining and must be declared before any shots are taken in the round.
Can we switch roles during the game?
Yes. Once a team is down to five or fewer cups, a shooter may permanently switch roles with their team’s flipper. This can only happen once per team per game.
What is a bounce shot, and how is it scored?
A bounce shot counts for two cups if successful. It can be defended with a swat once the ball bounces on the table. If it goes in, remove that cup and one additional.
What is an Island shot?
An Island shot is when a player calls out a cup that stands alone (not touching other cups). If they hit it, two cups are removed. If they call and hit it with a bounce, they remove three. If they miss or hit the wrong cup, no cups are removed.
What if both teams flip their cups almost simultaneously?
If it’s too close to determine a winner, a sudden-death “Down, Up, Down” flip-off is used between the two flippers to decide the round.
Can we use different drinks in the flip cups?
Yes. While beer is standard, you can use water, juice, or a mix—as long as all players agree beforehand. This is especially useful for pacing or non-alcoholic options.
What if someone shoots while we’re still filling our flip cups?
Flip cups must be filled before any shot is taken. If a team shoots prematurely, it’s the ref’s discretion to issue a warning or forfeit the round.
Are there specific rules for shooting form?
Yes. Both feet must remain grounded. No leaning across the table or touching cups during the shot. Your hand must stay behind the centerline.
What if I accidentally knock over my own cup?
It’s counted as a hit cup and removed from play—no exceptions.
Can both teammates shoot and score in the same round?
Yes. If both players hit their shots, they each get an extra throw. This can repeat until someone misses.
Can we use different types of drinks in the flip cups?
Yes, as long as both teams agree beforehand. Beer is standard, but you can alternate with water or non-alcoholic options for pacing.
What if someone breaks a rule mid-flip or mid-shot?
The round may be forfeited. Use a neutral ref or assign a “Flip Official” to make calls and keep things fair.
Can we swap positions during the game?
Yes, but only once. When a team is down to 5 cups or fewer, one shooter may permanently switch roles with the flipper.
Can I bounce a shot intentionally?
Yes. A successful bounce shot counts for 2 cups. But beware—your opponent can legally swat it once it touches the table.
Do flip cups have to be placed a certain way?
Yes. Cups should start upright, overhanging slightly off the edge. A valid flip ends with the cup upside-down, flat and stable.