Championship Beer Pong (with or without beer)

We went over to our dear friends’ house the other night and I was (very belatedly) introduced to beer pong. Why have I never played this before? I went to College (and University) and I don’t remember missing any parties when I was there – but the wonder that is beer pong was never introduced into my competitive ~~drinking~~ sport repertoire?

Have you played it before? Am I the only one on the planet that hadn’t?

We played it with the kids – so really it was water pong – and I was schooled.

By our friends, by my Husband and by a 9, 10 and 12-year-old.

My competitive streak won’t allow that – so I decided to up the ante and create the championship of beer pong with this simple scrap wood DIY.

Basketball Beer Pong

Wood:

Backboard – ¼” ply cut to 6″ by 5″
Stand – ¼”-½” scrap wood cut to 9″ by 1 3/8″
Base – ¾” ply cut to 5″ by 5″
Hoop – ½” wood cut to 4 ¾” by 4 ½”

To get the rounded shape on my beer pong backboard (say that 5x fast), I traced a gallon paint can onto the ¼” plywood.

Then I cut the arch out with a scroll saw – but a jig saw will work just as well.

For the hoop section, I traced the rim of a solo cup about ¼” from the front of the block and about ½” in from either side. This will give a slightly larger back and will make attaching it to the backboard easier.

I drilled a hole inside the traced circle and then threaded my scroll saw blade through and cut inside the traced line. Make sure to cut inside the line and not on the line itself or your cup won’t have a lip to hang from.

Attach your beer pong base to the post with wood glue and finishing nails, or large staples if you have them. Clamp until dry.

Glue your backboard onto the post 4 ¾” above the base (~5 1/2″ from the bottom of the post). Use finishing nails or staples and clamp until dry.

The net for your championship beer pong is centred and glued to the bottom of the backboard. I used a few finishing nails to hold this in place as well. (ignore the hole in the base – that was a mistake I made… twice.)

I sanded everything smooth, (added chamfered edges to my hoop block by sanding the corner on an angle) and added a coat of primer and a bit of paint to make my basketball beer pong more professional looking.

That’s it! Four pieces of scrap wood, some wood glue and a few finishing nails and you are ready to play!

Spread your basketball beer pong nets out to regulation length, or make it more difficult by going even further.

Set it on your desk and take shots during conference calls.

Fill with beer in the evening with friends and with water during the day to play with the kids. Basketball beer pong is great backyard fun for everyone and easy to store when you’re done.