Choosing A Beer Pong Partner

Now I know what your thinking. How hard can that be? But as recent events have continued too show it is ever important. As noted in my Beer Pong Basics Article I spent a lot of time training many as good partner and yet last week I found my self at a nearby frat party and partnerless. I ended up with a girl who was said to be good and I am sure on other days she might have been, but the one cup she hit did not help me make it out of the first round of the tourney. Any port in a storm is not a philosophy that works with beer pong partners and this is why this is today’s article topic.

In 2 v 2 beer pong, there is more to it than just how good you are. It has a lot to do with how good your partner is and how well you both interact. Just because you might be the best thing to happen to beer pong since the invention of the keggerator doesn’t mean that victory is assured. And just because your partner knows their way around an arc shot doesn’t mean that you are going to be untouchable. Yes it does help that your partner know that the object is to sink the ball into the opponents cup and it is a bonus if they can swat a bounce six times from Saturday. But skill isn’t everything in the team beer pong. A lot has to do with synergy.

You have to take the person’s full game into account. Are they the type of person that if they miss two shots in a row will they spiral into a pit of depression and miss the rest of the game? Can positive encouragement pull them out of their rut? Will their antics distract you from making the shots you need to? Will they whip out their junk as a distraction without giving you warning to shield your eyes? Will they bounce every shot even though the opponents are swatting every single one? These are only a few of the significant things to consider when looking at a person’s game. It is very helpful to watch a person play before you play with them. Hell try playing against them so you can see how they stand up to you and then try to dominate the rest of the field with them.

I like training partners because they are geared in to how you play and are always willing to consider your advice when their game is off. They also know your strategy and will work to make it more effective. That isn’t to say I always do great with those I have trained or that I haven’t partnered up well with people I haven’t trained. Some of my favorite partners are those I have not trained. Their style works well with mine and we can run tables just the same. Training is merely an option. I don’t recommend training beer pong players if you aren’t a decent player yourself. But if you are a reasonable player consider training a couple people. Trying to teach others actually helped me to understand the game fundamentals better as well as get a better respect for the intricacies and take my game to the next level.

It is always a good idea to experiment with new people as partners since your permanent beer pong partner will not always be at every beer pong table you are. Beer pong players and their partners should not be monogamous. There are few things more pathetic than a person who loses and uses the excuse that if their partner had been there they would have won. One of the more pathetic things is when they say that if they had their table t here they would have won. I proved that when two such losers were so pissed at the loss that they actually left the party and came back with their table. To make the story short I shamed them on their own table and they left the party shortly there after without their manhood.

Some ways to tell if you and your partner have good synergy:

1. Playing with the partner is fun.

2. They run defense when you shoot and you run defense for them.

3. Either one of you can really turn your game on when you need to.

4. You and your partner always seem to come through in the clinch.

5. There are a lot of bring backs and double cupping the last cup.

6. And finally you are winning a lot.

Some signs that you and your partner do not have synergy.

1. You find yourselves arguing a lot.

2. Most of the game both of you are off and neither of you is really on at the same time.

3. You can’t figure out why your losing even though you both seem to be doing alright.

4. All you want is for the game to be over so you can leave the table.

5. You rarely win and when you do you feel relief rather than joy.

Just because you don’t win with a person doesn’t mean that you should never play with them as a partner again. But look and see if there is a reason that you lose. I have known a few people that were good pretty much any time, I saw them play but not as good when they were my partner. They are still good and still fun, just not good to choose as a partner especially for a tournament. Synergy can be developed but it takes a lot of time and a lot of matches. If you wish to put in the effort and have a thick enough skin then be as stubborn as it takes and you will succeed.

Hopefully this will help some of you out there to find some good match ups. Remember that just because my article started with a bad match with a female player it doesn’t mean that all female partners are bad. There are many good stories I have about, this was just this particular time. If we played again the result could be different. So get out there, have some fun, and find you self a few good partners.