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Everything you need to know to play this classic backyard game
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If you've ever heard of Polish horseshoes, you might be surprised to learn that the game has nothing to do with people from Poland. Actually, it's just a game played with two poles, so it's "pole-ish." There were evidently a lot of people who were dissatisfied with that pun because the game goes by many names, including the equally creative "beersbee" (a portmanteau of "beer" and "frisbee"). Read on to learn everything you've ever wanted to know about this entertaining backyard game, including how to make your very own DIY version.
Steps
Section 1 of 4:
Polish Horseshoes Setup
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Get 2 bottles, 2 poles, and a frisbee. Polish horseshoes is traditionally a drinking game, so beer bottles are typical. Poles are usually around 6 ft (1.8 m) tall, although you might prefer taller poles if you're playing with taller people. As for the frisbee, any kind of frisbee of any size or weight will do. This is the sort of game that's basically designed for you to be able to pull together at the last minute. [1] X Research source
- While you can buy a polish horseshoes set that includes everything you need, part of the attraction of this game is that you can easily make your own with things you have lying around.
- Keep in mind that you're going to balance a beer bottle (or similarly sized bottle) on top of the pole. Make sure the end is big enough to accommodate the bottle and low enough that someone can reach to position the bottles.
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Mark the low height on the pole with tape or a permanent marker. The defending team has to catch the frisbee after it hits the pole but before it hits the ground. If it hits the pole too close to the ground, it's just not fair—they don't have enough time to even try to catch it. Decide amongst yourselves where you want the fair zone to be. [2] X Research source
- You might want to play around a little to decide what height you think is fair. For example, you could have someone hold the pole while you lob the frisbee at various heights from a short distance so others can practice catching it.
- At the same time, decide what's considered out of bounds. If someone flings a frisbee too far away for anyone to catch it, they won't get any points. [3] X Research source
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Plant your poles in the ground about 25 ft (7.6 m) apart. As with the other aspects of the setup of this game, distances are approximate. The further apart you plant your poles, the harder the game will potentially be—depending on who you're playing with. Pound them at least a little ways into the soil so that they're relatively stable and won't fall over if someone barely taps them. [4] X Research source
- If you're using a length of PVC pipe for your pole, bury a wooden dowel in the ground and push the pipe down on top of the dowel to secure it.
- Ski poles are really popular options for DIY poles because the pointed ends easily plant in the ground.
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Set your empty bottles on top of the poles. Balance the bottles so they're relatively stable and won't just fall off if there's a strong wind. You might find that you need to plant your poles a little deeper into the ground just so they're a little less precarious. [5] X Research source
- You can use any kind of bottle! You might want to use plastic water bottles if you're worried about glass beer bottles breaking. You could also use an empty can rather than a bottle if that's what you have available.
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Section 2 of 4:
Polish Horseshoes Gameplay
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Choose teams and decide who will throw first. Polish horseshoes is typically played with 2 teams of 2 people. As for who goes first, that's up to whatever method you think is fair, but sometimes it's easiest to just flip a coin. [6] X Research source
- Decide amongst yourselves how you're going to rotate throwing. You might have one person throwing for the team the whole time or you might alternate. It doesn't really matter as long as everyone agrees ahead of time.
- You can also play Polish horseshoes as singles, although it can get a bit tricky for one person to try to catch both the frisbee and the bottle. [7] X Research source
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Throw the frisbee at the pole. As the throwing team, your goal is to knock the other team's bottle off of their pole with your frisbee. You can do this by either hitting the bottle directly with the frisbee or destabilizing the bottle by hitting the pole, causing it to fall. You score points when either the bottle or the frisbee hit the ground after the frisbee hits either the pole or the bottle. [8] X Research source
- If you hit the pole below the low height line you marked, you get no points from that throw, even if the bottle falls off and hits the ground.
- If the frisbee doesn't hit either the bottle or the pole, you don't score any points and the defending team isn't required to catch the frisbee (although they might as well, since they're throwing next).
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Defend your pole when the other team throws. So the throwing team is trying to knock your bottle off the pole—but they only score points if the bottle or the frisbee hits the ground. If you and your teammate manage to catch both the bottle and the frisbee, your opponents can continue to knock your bottle off all day long and never score a single point. [9] X Research source
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Continue alternating throws until a team wins. As soon as you catch (or retrieve) the thrown frisbee as the defending team, you become the throwing team. You can throw it immediately if you want, you don't even have to wait. But if you want to be nice, pause for a second and let the other team get ready to defend before you launch that frisbee back in their direction. [10] X Research source
- Decide how many points you want to play to before you start playing. Most people play to 21, but you might play to a lower or higher number if you want. [11] X Research source
- Typically, you have to win by at least 2 points. This can add a little heat when the score gets close. [12] X Research source
- This is also a game that you can just play and drink and have fun without even keeping score, so don't stress out too much about trying to remember the score when you're playing. If you're having a good time, everybody wins.
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References
- ↑ https://www.gettrampoline.com/outdoor-games/beersbee-frisbee-bottle-game-rules-diy/
- ↑ https://www.gettrampoline.com/outdoor-games/beersbee-frisbee-bottle-game-rules-diy/
- ↑ https://www.springsultimate.org/p/how-to-play-beersbee
- ↑ https://blogs.transparent.com/polish/is-polish-horseshoe-game-really-polish/
- ↑ https://youtu.be/yPW7HJ5fNBU?si=-oCk7iFh52c6ab_r&t=59
- ↑ https://www.thelawnclubnyc.com/games/beersbee/
- ↑ https://blogs.transparent.com/polish/is-polish-horseshoe-game-really-polish/
- ↑ https://www.yardiesus.com/play.pdf
- ↑ https://www.gettrampoline.com/outdoor-games/beersbee-frisbee-bottle-game-rules-diy/
- ↑ https://youtu.be/yPW7HJ5fNBU?si=-mokSfZFOhJp7pBY&t=132
- ↑ https://www.yardiesus.com/play.pdf
- ↑ https://www.thelawnclubnyc.com/games/beersbee/
- ↑ https://www.yardiesus.com/play.pdf
- ↑ https://www.springsultimate.org/p/how-to-play-beersbee
- ↑ https://www.yardiesus.com/play.pdf
- ↑ https://inhonorofdesign.com/2016/06/diy-yard-game-pole-ish-horseshoes/
- ↑ https://www.gettrampoline.com/outdoor-games/beersbee-frisbee-bottle-game-rules-diy/
- ↑ https://www.gettrampoline.com/outdoor-games/beersbee-frisbee-bottle-game-rules-diy/
- ↑ https://blogs.transparent.com/polish/is-polish-horseshoe-game-really-polish/
- ↑ https://www.yardiesus.com/play.pdf
- ↑ https://kammyskause.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/Fall-YGO-Beersbee-Rules.pdf
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