Ball in Bucket

The parking lot version of horse-shoes

Attention truckers:  Spend a lot of time at the truck stop and need something to do?  This could be just the game for you. 

Attention campers:  Tired of the usual games like horse-shoes, croquet, bocce ball, bean bag toss or hillbilly golf?  This game could be just the kind of change you are looking for.

Attention party people:  Want to try something other than board games, beer-pong, ping-pong, darts or pool?  Why not give this game a try?

Attention gamblers:  Sick of losing your money to chance games like craps, roulette, slots or even card games like poker or blackjack?  Learn this game and make a friendly wager with your opponent.

What is needed to play:

Not specifically, you need two buckets, two balls and a surface that the balls will bounce on. These materials could consist of just about anything you can find as long as they fit those simple guidelines. I have always used two five gallon buckets and two old tennis balls. I personally have played both on paved surfaces and dirt surfaces. Paved surfaces are ideal because you can usually get a better bounce with the ball and ensure that is travels in a straighter path. Dirt surfaces can be quite interesting, especially if they are slightly bumpy or on a slope. Nonetheless, the game is a blast and a challenge either way.


Rules of the game:

Set Up: Ball in Bucket can be played by either 2 or 4 people. The two buckets are placed apart from each other at a predetermined distance. I've always places my two five gallon buckets exactly 19 feet apart. Teams stand opposite each other and behind each bucket. If playing in a 4 player game, you and your partner will be standing on the same side. Randomly determine which team will throw first using a coin flip.


Play & Scoring: The object of the game is to bounce the ball or balls into the bucket on the opposite end. In a 2 player game, the same player bounces two balls towards the bucket on the opposite end. In a 4 player (team) game, both players toss one ball each on their teams turn. You cannot step past the bucket on your end as you try to bounce a ball into a bucket on the other end. You score points by getting the ball to bounce into and stay in the bucket on the other end. If the ball bounces into the bucket but then bounces out, no points are scored. Points are based on how many times the ball bounces before it goes into the bucket. One bounce equals one point, two bounces equals two points and so on. You play until one team reaches a predetermined score, usually 21. The score does not have to be exact, meaning you can go over.


Bonus Scoring (optional): If a team scores on consecutive shots with the exact same number of bounces, the score for the second ball would double. For example, if you make consecutive 2-bounce shots, you score 2 for the first ball and 4 for the second, for a total of 6. If you make a third consecutive shot, you double the previous score (4), and get 8 points. A fourth consecutive shot would be worth 16 in this example, and so on.


Bonus Ball (optional): If both balls score on the same turn, the opposing team will throw one ball back and the team who just scored will have a chance to throw it as a bonus ball. If using the bonus scoring option as described above, this bonus can be very advantageous.


Stakes: If you want to make this game really interesting, make a wager. Have each team put a certain amount of money into one of the buckets. The winning team gets to keep the money.

This game is not nearly as easy as you would think.  If you would like to learn how I discovered this game and a little background information, click the Ball in Bucket title at the top of this post or Click Here.  Good luck and enjoy!