Beer Pong Table Design

Ok - here's the deal, I enjoy the game of beer pong. I've seen this game played on top of picnic tables, counter tops, home-made table-like contraptions, even doors. People will do just about anything to find a large-flat surface to set cups and throw ping-pong balls on. As time went on, we eventually "upgraded," and dropped 120 bucks for a specially made beer pong table. The table was simple - a regulation-sized portable beer pong table, but the table's simple design gave it some pretty big design flaws. Beer pong is a wet game, full of spilled alcohol, spilled water, and wet ping pong balls bouncing on the table and the design of the table was hardly waterproof, and the table quickly warped (which threw the ping pong ball bounce off, which is a big deal if you are into bouncing the ball like I am.). The beer got warm sitting on the table, and worst of all when there was a spill the water, beer, and everything else flew off of the table all over the floor.

I am an Industrial Engineer for a POP display company. We work with a lot of the same materials that my beer pong table was made out of. I have a lot of knowledge on making products efficiency, and I have come connections in the manufacturing side of things.

Over the past few weeks, I have been designing the "ultimate beer pong table" and the goal is to offer it at an affordable price.

Check out more images of the concept on Flickr.

Here is a look at my current design intent:

1.) Portable.
I think the table should be able to be easily taken from one party to the next. Most tables fold up, but who says tables have to fold?

2.) Affordable
My goal is to try to sell this table for 150 dollars or less.

3.) Water-ready
This table HAS to be better than waterproof. This table has to be water-ready. There should be liquid management trays that flow the spilled contents into a drain, the top HAS to be waterproof, and for the love of god we have to do something to better-keep the bottom of the cups dry so they will stop sliding all over the place without compromising the freedom of the re-rack.

4.) Keep the Beer Cold
I think there should be some way to effectively keep the beer cold during the longer games played later in the night. Nothing is worse than drinking the last warm cup on the table after 1 hour of play against the idiot who has been texting all night instead of focusing on the game.


I've got a lot of it laid out, and believe it or not I currently have ALL of those design intents covered (I think, I still have to get some quotes on the cost, but I've got a good feeling so far.) I would love to start sharing some of this stuff with you guys. I assume if you've read this much you probably like the game enough to to be interested, and I'm confident that you would love to contribute by giving me some feedback on the designs and ideas that I talk about in this blog.

I started this blog to:

1.)Raise awareness about this idea, and get some feedback
2.)Connect with more manufacturers to work on better prices
3.)Gain support to get the manufacturing costs kickstarted
4.)Connect with bars, and other businesses to gain support (perhaps even sponsorship) for the tables

I'm not just making this table for me, I'm making it for everyone else too. I want your advice, your ideas, and your thoughts on everything I've written so far. Ultimately, we're here to make the best beer pong table this world has ever seen.

Here is a look at the current design:

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Here's a few questions I have for the community.

How "active" do you prefer a bounce? Do you prefer a more "dead bounce" or a very "live bounce?"

Do you think cup holders are important in the table? What about a spare ping pong ball holder?

Do you think 150$ is a reasonable price?

What do you guys think of the design intent? What else would your "ultimate beer pong table" have?