Battleship Pong Rules & How to Play | The Dunk Tank Company

Our Battleship Pong rental is one of the most unique and talked-about games in our lineup — a creative mashup of classic Battleship strategy and competitive cup pong gameplay. Here's everything you need to know about how to play, plus tips for making it the highlight of your next event.

What Is Battleship Pong?

Battleship Pong combines the grid-based strategy of the classic Battleship board game with the competitive throw-and-score mechanics of cup pong. Two teams face off across a large game board, each defending their "ships" (cups arranged in a grid pattern) while trying to sink the opponent's fleet by landing balls in their cups. It's strategic, competitive, and completely addictive.

Equipment Needed

Battleship Pong game board (included in rental)
Cups arranged in grid formation on each side
Ping pong balls (included)
Water or your beverage of choice to fill cups
2 teams of 2 players each (can be adapted for more)

Basic Rules — How to Play

Setup: Each team arranges their cups in a grid pattern on their side of the board — mimicking ship placement in Battleship. Teams decide cup placement secretly before play begins.
Taking Turns: Teams alternate turns. On each turn, a player calls out a grid coordinate (like "B-3") and throws a ball at that position on the opponent's side.
Hit or Miss: If the ball lands in a cup at the called coordinate, it's a hit — that cup is removed. If the ball misses, play passes to the other team.
Sinking Ships: Cups grouped together represent a "ship." When all cups in a ship cluster are hit, the ship is sunk — announce it!
Winning: The first team to sink all of their opponent's ships wins the game.

Optional Rule Variations

Speed Round: Remove the coordinate-calling requirement — just throw at any cup you want for faster, more chaotic gameplay
Redemption Rule: The losing team gets one final round to sink remaining ships after the last cup is hit
Team Rotation: For large events, rotate teams in after each game so more players get involved
Tournament Mode: Run bracket-style tournaments throughout your event — great for fundraisers where you charge per entry

Tips for a Great Battleship Pong Experience

Use colored cups for each team to make ship tracking easy and visual
Set up a whiteboard or scoreboard nearby for tournament tracking
Have extra balls on hand — they roll away fast during competitive play
Add Event Staff to referee games and run the tournament bracket at larger events

Rent Battleship Pong for Your Next Event

Battleship Pong is a hit at graduation parties, teen events, corporate picnics, block parties, and fundraisers. It pairs perfectly with other Games rentals for a full activity zone — add Giant Connect 4, Skeeball, Axe Throw, and more for a complete competitive game experience.

We deliver throughout Flint, Grand Blanc, Swartz Creek, Burton, Davison, Clio, Flushing, Mount Morris, Linden, Lake Fenton, Fenton, Lapeer, Mundy, Rankin, and surrounding mid-Michigan communities.

Contact us to add Battleship Pong to your event rental!
📞 Call or text: (810) 221-1580