Bucknell Pong

Bucknell pong is a drinking game played at Bucknell University that is loosely based on ping pong, owes much to Dartmouth Pong and is a popular form of "fast pong". At Bucknell, the game is known simply as pong.

History

The origin of the type of Beer Pong that is played with paddles has been widely credited to Dartmouth College. However, the version of Pong played at Bucknell differs from that played at Dartmouth and many other U.S. colleges and universities. At many colleges, especially those outside of the northeastern portion of the United States, the phrase "beer pong" generally refers to the game of "Beirut", a popular drinking game in which players take turns throwing a ping pong ball by hand at an opponent's beer-filled cups located opposite. No paddles are involved, and the element of defense or any kind of back-and-forth volleying is absent. Bucknell Pong, like Dartmouth Pong before it, is played with ping pong paddles and retains the same aspects of table tennis. One of the most fascinating and enjoyable aspects of the game is the extent to which the environment can alter play. Each venue will feature its own idiosyncrasies, which can baffle new players, aid seasoned players and produce dazzling, unique shots; much as every baseball stadium has its own charm.

Origins
Pong has been traced back to at least the 1950s as a casual attempt to combine the popular activities of drinking and ping pong. One of the earliest published photographs depicting a game of pong anywhere in the world appeared in Dartmouth's annual Aegis of 1968, on page 304. Pong spread through Dartmouth and soon caught on at other colleges. Pong was played at Bucknell as early as the late 1960s, and by the mid-1980s Pong was well established at several universities, including Bucknell. Bucknell's version of pong, by the early 1980s, was different than those at other schools, though was influential in the evolution of beer pong.

Evolution
While the rules of the game have evolved slightly since the late 1970s, the game has remained largely unchanged since that time. Changes in playing styles, like playing defense and bodying serves, as well as changes in the set-up, like the evolving use of the net.

Pong Today
Pong is played most in the houses of fraternities and various other college-affiliated societies, as well as in off-campus residences. Pong tables are often decorated with elaborate paintings and can be a focal point of a basement.

Rules
Pong is played in slightly different ways in different fraternity houses at Bucknell. The rules stated in this section are for the variant played by the Kappa Sigma house at Bucknell.

The Table
The Pong Table sits 36 inches off the ground and is exactly nine feet by four feet. The table should be constructed in three pieces with the outer two folding up and inwards. This is done to allow spilled beer to flow towards the center of the table, and ultimately underneath the table where it will cause the least disruption to play. Because the Pong Table is a close sibling to the ping pong table, two hinges for a net should be fastened at the middle point of the table. Additionally, a flattened ping pong net should lie between and connected to the hinges. While play can continue without the net, it serves an important purpose: It makes serving more difficult, slowing down the pace of the serve, and therefore making it easier to return or “Body” the ball. This can dramatically increase the pace of the game, especially when playing with experts.

The Paddle
While Pong can be played with actual ping pong paddles, the more traditional and acceptable way to play involves paddles which use sandpaper-like material as padding. One should break off the paddle’s handle by striking it on the floor. Many players prefer to remove some of the excess sandpaper grit of a new paddle by sanding the underside of the table or the floor. However, the sandpaper was instrumental in maximizing top-spin for a fast and low serve.

The Table Layout
Four 12-oz cups of beer should be placed on opposing sides of the table, one for each of the four players. The placement may be six inches from both the end and the side of the table, but it is most important that it remain uniform for all four players, ensuring that no team gains an advantage.

Typically, one side of the table is declared “Winners’ Side”, and the team that wins the previous match will play on that side while the challengers will use “Losers’ Side”.

The Music
The music played during the match can be controlled by the team on Winner’s Side. Music can be used as a psychological advantage by playing music the other team hates or by repeating an annoying song continuously.

The Cup
The FK-12 is the cup of choice. However, since 1997 it has been more difficult to find, and 12-SN cups have become the standard. If neither model is available, any 12-oz, translucent plastic cup will suffice.

The Serve
The serve will begin each game, and will follow every stoppage of play. If the team on Winners’ Side won their previous match, the other team serves first. If the team on Winners’ Side was awarded Winners’ Side either through a coin toss or because the side was vacant, the team on Winners’ Side shall serve first.

The serve must always be made to the person standing diagonally across the table. Thus, if the person on the right side of Winners’ Side serves, the person on the right side of Losers’ side should receive.

The serve needs to hit both sides of the table. If it doesn’t, the opposing team has the choice to accept the serve or to call out “One Side” or “No Sides” and give the ball back to the serving team.

If the team serving the ball hits any cup with the ball, that will be considered “A Hit” against the serving team and they will serve the ball again unless that would be the third hit against them. In that case, the serving team loses. If the serve knocks over a cup, regardless of how much beer is in the cup (or if the cup is empty), the serving team loses the match and must chug one cup of beer as a penalty.

Receiving the Serve
When the opposing team serves the ball, the receiving player can either hit it with his paddle immediately or choose to hit it off of his body for a better shot. The latter maneuver is called “A Body” and will be discussed more thoroughly below.

If the ball hits either of the receiving players’ hands, arms, or paddles, it is considered that player’s shot. Consequently, even if the serve hit no sides, if the receiving player hits it with his paddle, hand, or arms, they cannot ask the serving team to serve the ball again. If the ball comes back onto the servers’ side, they must either play the ball or pick it up and serve again.

==="Bodying" the Ball===
Players have the choice of either hitting the ball off of the table or “Bodying” it to either side for a better shot off of the ground. Because a player’s hands and arms are considered extensions of the paddle, you cannot Body the ball with either your hands or arms. If you do, this is considered a shot. You also cannot body the ball with your foot or your leg below the knee. This is a “Foot” and the player that does this should pick up the ball and serve. (See Illegal Sleaze below) Additionally, you cannot Body a ball that has already hit the floor, even if done by accident. If you see the other team do this, you can shout “Body off the floor” and that team is required to pick up the ball and serve it.

If the ball gets stuck in an article of clothing, that player may take one step before inducing the ball to drop on the floor, at which time normal play resumes. This is the same rule if the ball rolls into an empty cup.

Players should not lift their feet to body with their thighs (save this move for soccer), but generally jumping to body the ball is acceptable.

The Ball in Play
The ball is almost always in play. Whether the ball hits the floor, the ceiling, or an innocent (or guilty) bystander, the ball can still be played. Indeed, many players’ best shots come from a ball which has come to a complete stop on the floor.

The court is divided into two halves at the midpoint of the table. Each team should only hit the ball on their own side of the court. However, a team can try to Sleaze the ball and take a shot on the other team’s side of the court (See Illegal Sleazing below).

Defense
While the opposing team takes a shot, a player has the choice of playing defense (more commonly referred to a "D") by placing either their hand or their paddle in front of their cup. Some players consider this weak, but it is a common and acceptable practice. Defense only works against a ball that has already hit the table. If the ball hits the table first and then hits the defense, the player should pick the ball up and serve. If the ball bounces off of the defense onto the other side, that team must play the ball; the hand is treated like the paddle, and so defense can be considered a shot.

If the one team hits the ball and it hits the other team’s defense in the air, that will be considered a hit if it would have hit the cup were the defense not there. However, this is a difficult thing to ascertain. Ultimately, the team that shot the ball gets to make the decision of whether the shot is a Hit or not. However, the arguments of the bystanders and the other team should be listened to and respected. For this reason, playing defense can sometimes increase the risk both of the other team calling a hit and the ensuing arguments.

Calling a Hit
When one team calls a Hit because of their own merit, they should slap their paddles together twice. When a team gets a Hit because the other team either hit or bodied the ball into their own cup, or because they served into the other teams cup, they should slap their paddles together once.

Dipping

The first time your cup is hit during a match, you may choose to “Dip” your finger in your beer and fling the frothy residue at your opponent rather than drinking at that time. This should only be done if you believe that the hit to your cup was as the result of a Sleazee or if you think there is a better chance that you will die of old age before the other team could possibly muster up enough luck to hit your cup again before the match is over. If the other team gets another Hit after you have Dipped, you must chug your entire beer. Alternatively, there is rumor of an unsanctioned double dip with worstened consequences if the opposing team registers a third hit of the cup. Very few players use the double dip, and it is generally discouraged in normal play.

Knocking Cups Over

If a team knocks over their own cup with the ball, their paddle, their body, or by hitting the table, they lose and must drink a beer. This is true regardless of how much beer was in the cup (or if it was empty). However, if wind knocks over an empty cup, or if a third party knocks over a cup, their will be no penalty.

If one player knocks over his cup but picks it up while there is still more than an insubstantial amount of beer in it, the game can resume as if that team had already been hit twice (consequently they would lose if hit again). That player’s partner must also chug his beer.

If a player hits a ball (not on the serve) and knocks over the other team’s cup, his team automatically wins, regardless of how full the cup is. If one team knocks over the other team’s full cup or half-filled cup with a Hit, it is called a “Full Cup Knockover” or “Half Cup Knockover, respectively. In both cases the losing team must chug a beer in deference to the other team’s skill. The Full Cup Knockover is considered the most difficult shot in the game.

Dunking

If a player hits the ball and it lands into the other team’s beer, that player’s side wins the game and the other team must chug their beers. This is called a Dunk.

If a player serves the ball and it lands in the other team’s beer, instead of being penalized one Hit, his team will lose and must chug a beer in addition to drinking whatever beer they still have in their cups. The same is true if a player bodies or hits the ball into his own team’s cup.

Using the Environment

A player can influence the movement of the ball by hitting and moving objects in the room. For example, if the ball rests against a door, one can open that door to move it to a new location. Similarly, if the ball rests against a floor board, a player can kick the floorboard to move the ball away from the wall.

The “Sleaze”

There are two types of sleazes: legal and illegal ones. Because players can use the environment to their advantage, and because of the complicated nature of Pong, there are many opportunities to Sleaze.

Legal Sleazing

Regardless of what the ball rests against, a player can decide to move or hit that item to induce the ball to move. That means if the ball lands on a shirt on the floor, a player can pick up the shirt, take one step, and then have the ball drop so that he may take the shot.

When a legal Sleaze occurs, there is nothing the opposing team can do to stop it other than trying to shame the other team into picking the ball up and serving.

Illegal Sleazing

Like anything, illegal Sleazes are only illegal if they are caught. One can Foot Sleaze by kicking the ball to a better position. One can take a cup and scoop up the ball pretending that the ball came to rest there naturally. If they use these illegal tactics to get a Hit, the Hit counts.

The same is true of an “Over” shot. A team may only hit the ball from their own side of the court. If the ball rests on the other team’s side yet a player still tries to hit it, the other team must call “Over” and stop the ball. If they do not, the Hit will count.

It is the responsibility of the other team, perhaps with input from the audience, to see an illegal Sleaze and stop it. They can do this by calling out the violation and stopping the play by either picking up the ball or playing defense on a shot.

For example, if a player kicks the ball to a better location and then shoots, the other team should call out “Foot Sleaze”, “Foot”, or something else to indicate the violation. If the shot misses they are free to hit the ball as they like. They are also free to stop the ball in the air. However, if the ball hits their cup, the other team can call a Hit.

Tournaments

One’s Pong abilities are best tested in the tournament format because endurance becomes as much of an issue as skill. While there is some flexibility, tournaments are generally best of 5 matches, except for the finals and semifinals, which are best of 7 matches.

The tournament bracket should be written on the inside of a pizza box. In Bucknell’s Kappa Sigma House, the winners of the tournament should be recorded on a board that covers the window on Winner’s Side. However, groups of players can decide for themselves the best way to preserve the feats of those who preceded them.

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