How to Play Bottle Bash: Scoring, Distance & Catching Rules
Bottle Bash goes by a pile of names: polish horseshoes, beersbee, frisknock, frisbee horseshoes. It is the same backyard and tailgate favorite every time. Two teams stand at opposite poles with a bottle or can balanced on top of each, and you take turns throwing a frisbee to knock the other team's bottle off its pole. The catch is that the defending team has to catch both the bottle and the flying disc before they hit the ground, so a single throw can swing the score four different ways. I love this one for tailgates because the gear is light, the rules are loose, and it gets competitive fast. Here is how to set it up, throw, and keep score.
What you need
- Two poles, usually ski-pole-style stakes, pushed into the ground (sets include these)
- Two bottles or empty cans to balance on top of the poles as targets
- One flying disc (frisbee)
- Four players split into two teams of two
- An open, flat area about 20 to 40 ft long with nothing breakable nearby
How to play bottle bash: scoring, distance & catching
- Set up the two polesPush the two poles into the ground directly across from each other, roughly 20 to 40 ft apart. A common starting distance is about 20 ft, but tune it to your space and skill. Balance an empty bottle or can on top of each pole.
- Split into teams and pick sidesMake two teams of two. Each team takes one pole and defends it. The two teammates stand on either side of their own pole, ready to catch. Decide who throws first with a quick disc flip or coin toss.
- Throw to knock down the bottle or poleOn your turn, throw the disc at the other team's pole, trying to knock the bottle off or hit the pole itself. Throws have to stay above a certain height (often knee or waist level) to count, which keeps people from rifling it dangerously low. Teammates alternate throws.
- Defend by catching everythingThe defending team tries to catch the incoming disc and, if it gets knocked off, the falling bottle before either touches the ground. Catching saves you points. Dropping a catchable disc or letting the bottle hit the dirt costs you.
- Score the playTally points based on what got hit, what got caught, and what got dropped (full breakdown in the scoring section). Then the defending team becomes the throwing team for the next round.
- Play to the target scoreTeams trade throwing and defending each round, adding up points. The first team to reach the agreed target, commonly 11, 15, or 21, wins. Many groups play win-by-two.
Scoring
- Pole hit, bottle stays on: usually 1 point to the throwing team if the defenders fail to catch the disc
- Bottle knocked off the pole and not caught before it lands: 2 points to the throwing team (some groups score 3)
- Disc thrown but the defenders cleanly catch it (and the bottle if it fell): no points for the thrower
- Defenders drop a catchable disc: the throwing team scores even on a miss in many house rules, so always set this first
- Knee or waist-height rule: throws below the agreed height do not count as scoring throws
- First team to the target score (commonly 11, 15, or 21) wins, often win-by-two
Distance & setup
Fun variations
- Polish horseshoes (classic): the standard version above. Knock the bottle off the other team's pole and out-catch your opponents. The name everyone's grandpa used.
- Beersbee height rule: enforce a strict waist-high minimum on every throw to keep it safe and fair, and replay any throw that comes in too low.
- Win-by-two: instead of a hard stop at the target, you must win by two points, which drags out the endgame and rewards a hot streak.
- Long-pole challenge: stretch the poles out to 40 ft or more once your group is dialed in. Far fewer knockdowns, way more dramatic catches.
Bottle Bash: Scoring, Distance & Catching rules FAQ
What is Bottle Bash also called?
It goes by several names for the same game: polish horseshoes, beersbee, frisknock, and frisbee horseshoes are the common ones. They all describe throwing a flying disc to knock a bottle off a pole while the other team tries to catch everything. Bottle Bash is one popular branded version of the set.
How far apart should the poles be in Bottle Bash?
Most groups set the poles 20 to 40 ft apart, with about 20 ft being a comfortable starting distance. There is no official regulation, so adjust for your space and skill. Move the poles closer for kids and farther apart as everyone's aim improves.
How do you score in polish horseshoes?
You earn points by knocking the bottle off the other team's pole or hitting the pole when the defenders fail to catch the disc. A knocked-off bottle that lands is typically worth more than a pole hit. Dropping a catchable disc usually gives the throwing team points too, so agree on the exact values before you start. First to 11, 15, or 21 wins.
Do you have to catch the bottle and the frisbee?
Yes, that is the heart of the game. The defending team has to catch the thrown disc and, if it gets knocked off, the falling bottle before either hits the ground. Clean catches stop the throwing team from scoring, while drops hand them points.
Why is it called polish horseshoes?
The name is old backyard slang and the origin is murky, but the 'horseshoes' part comes from the fact that you pitch toward a pole like in horseshoes, just with a frisbee and a bottle instead of a metal shoe and a stake. The game itself has no official governing body, which is part of why it has so many names.
Is Bottle Bash a drinking game?
It is most often played by adults at tailgates and cookouts, and the bottle on the pole is sometimes a drink, which is where names like beersbee come from. But the game stands entirely on its own as a skill game of throwing and catching. You can absolutely play it sober with empty bottles or cans, and it is just as fun.
Ready to play?
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