Party game like dodge ball, but with a table and tennis ball
June 6, 2022 5:06 PM

Last Wednesday I saw posted on imgur a video showing a group of teens sitting around a table playing a party game involving rolling a tennis ball on a table. It looked like a fun family game for all ages, with very simple rules. It was like a combination of dodge ball and the hand slap game, where the goal is for one player to tempt another player to grab for the ball, or to flinch and get eliminated. Does anyone know of a game like this and if there may be some rules posted anywhere?

I only watched it one time, and now I can't find the posting, but now I wish I knew more. Here are some rules they seemed to be using:

- one person controls the ball (the roller). only rolling allowed (no throwing)
- all others (the targets) have both hands, palms down, on table
- the roller rolls it to anyone of their choosing, but should be one target. if the roller loses control of the ball, they are eliminated
- if the target lifts their hand off the table but don't get control of the ball, they are eliminated
- whoever has control of the ball repeats this process, until there is only one person left
- the roller was free to move their hands anyway they wanted
- the players should avoid touching each other
- it may be that the target cannot lift the heels of their hands but can slide them?
- I don't know what happens if the ball rolls off the table. a reset? maybe the target becomes the roller but no elimination?


Anyone know of any game like this? I suppose the rules as I've just transcribed might work, but I'd like to know if there is any more "official" rule set or variation. TIA!
posted by Pig Tail Orchestra to Sports, Hobbies, & Recreation (1 answer total) 8 users marked this as a favorite
Doesn't sound like this, but here's some variations on "games with tennis balls and flat surfaces":

https://www.verywellfamily.com/play-the-7-up-game-1256803

https://www.sasp.co.uk/uploads/alternative-activities.pdf

https://gameonfamily.com/tag/ball-games/

Sounds fun, good luck!
posted by adekllny at 6:06 AM on June 7, 2022


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