How to Play

This is a simple game. You're essentially playing doubles ping pong, alternating turns with your teammate and hitting some cups along the way. It's the best!

There are also some videos to see some game play examples in action.

Quickstart rules:

  • 2 players on each side
  • Place the 4 cups a paddle length in from each corner of the table
  • Add liquid or No Splash Cup Weights (sold separately) to the cups
  • Play to 15 points (must win by 2)
  • The ball must always clear the bar on serves and during play
  • 5 serves per player before switching to a player on the other team to serve 5 times
  • Serve diagonally
  • During gameplay, teammates must alternate turns (i.e. the same player cannot hit the ball two turns in a row for their team)
  • If the ball hits a cup, play can continue as long as the ball has only hit the table once
  • If the ball goes in a cup, PARTY! Also the team that made it gets a point ;)

Lob Pong detailed rules:

- There is a team of two on each side of the table.
- The first team to 15 wins (must win by two).
- Service Rules
  • The server serves for 5 points, then the serve goes to an opponent for 5 points and it rotates like that between all 4 players.
  • The serve has to be hit against the table, go over the bar and into the quadrant diagonal to the server on the opponent's side. 
    • There are no service faults, unless it is game point. You get one serve per point, so make it count. The opponent gets the point if the ball doesn't land in the quadrant diagonal to the server as explained above. 
  • On game point, the team with the lead is always served to, and the serving team cannot lose the game on a service fault.
    - Game Play Rules
    • The ball must always hit the table or a cup before it can be played.
    • Players must alternate hits during play, meaning the same player cannot hit the ball two turns in a row for their team. 
    • The point ends when:
      • a team does not get the ball over the bar and onto the opponent's side, or if
      • the ball bounces more than once on a side before being hit, or if
      • the ball goes in a cup, aka, a "sink".
      - Cup Rules
      • There are 4 Lob Pong cups placed on the table, a paddle length in from each corner of the table. 
        • Use the included removable stickers to mark the cup spots
      • Add liquid or No-Splash-Weights (sold separately) to the cups
        • Sink Rule:
            • The team that makes it in a cup gets a point.
            • If you win the game with a cup sink, that is a Walk Off, an amazing triumph! Stick one of the included Walk Off stickers on the white side posts and initial it so the feat is saved for eternity!
          • Cup Hit Rule:
            • During any given point, cups may get hit multiple times during the point (see Rebuttal Rules below). 
            • Rebuttal Rules:
              • The ball may be played off of a cup hit (aka a "Rebuttal"). Rebuttal's are one of the greatest joys of Lob Pong!
              • To play off of a cup hit, the main rule is the ball can only hit the table once, just like in regular gameplay.
              • That can happen in different ways:
                • The ball could hit the table first, then the cup and then it can be played, or
                • the ball could hit the cup first, then the table, then it can be played, or
                • the ball could hit the cup first, and it can be played directly out of the air.
                • NOTE: If the ball hits a cup and goes directly off the table without actually hitting the table, that still counts as a point for the team that hit the cup. In that situation, the cup hit is the same as a table hit. Thrilling stuff right!
              - Bar Hit Rule: It rarely happens, send us your video if it does!
              •  If a player hits the ball into the bar, his/her teammate can play the ball if it's still in the air (i.e. hasn't hit the table or ground after the bar hit).