Cup-Stacking Instructions

We have put together the following instructions on how to do cup-stacking. Hopefully with the added graphics, it will be easier to learn this fun sport!

You will notice that the instructions always start with the right hand. If you are more comfortable starting with your left hand, just use your left hand when the instruction says to use your right hand! But remember, speed is important in cup stacking, so using both hands is necessary if not absolutely essential.

But before we start, lets learn some basic tips about holding cups:

1.      Hold the cups from the sides and not from the top.  Your hands may get in the way of your stacking if you hold the cups from the top.

2.      Hold the cups firmly with the tips of the fingers. The palms and lower part of the fingers should not be in contact with the cups.  However, do not hold the cups with an 'eagle-claw' hand.

3.      Spread your fingers across half the length of the stack to get a good hold of the cups, with the last finger at the base of the cups to control any releasing of the cups.  Do not clench your fingers together.  This will result in you holding the cups tighter than necessary, and having less control over the cups.

4.      Once the fingers are in contact with the cups, do not try to manipulate/twist/turn the cups in your hand. 

5.      There is also no need to pass cups from one hand to the other.

6.      When up-stacking the cups into pyramids, make sure the cups are touching each other at the base. Leaving gaps between cups will cause the pyramid to be unstable as you stack upwards.  As you stack, gently push the cups towards the center or the neighboring cups to close any gaps.

7.      When down-stacking, let gravity do the work. It is not necessary to slam the cups too hard!  Down-stack swiftly with a scooping motion to bring up the stacks if necessary.

8.      Be patient and start slow to make sure you get the steps right.  Learning the correct stacking steps will ensure that you stack efficiently.

9.      Stack with both hands!

Wish to stack faster?  Try these advanced tips:

1.      During cup-stacking, tuck your elbows close to your body to have controlled and stable arm/hand movements.

2.      Be conscious of the spacing between your stacks.  Do not build your pyramids too close to risk knocking over them.  Neither do you want to build the stacks too far apart.  Remember, every centimeter the cups travel takes time!

3.      When there are space constraint, be creative and flexible to manage your space.  You can stack your individual pyramids in semi-circle (instead of stacking the base cups in a straight line), as well as slant your side stacks (instead of straight parallel to your body) so you take up less space yet be able to stack comfortably.

4.      It is always good to slow down at times to examine your stacking habits and find out if there are ways you can improve your speed.  Find the style that suits you best.  Video tape yourself, you just may be able to spot some bad stacking habits!

5.      Very importantly, think efficiency!  To be efficient in sport stacking means doing the least to achieve your objective of stacking fast.  Do away with unnecessary movements and steps.  Again, bear in mind, every centimeter the cups travel takes time!

  Up-Stacking

	Step 1) Place stack of 3 cups in front.
	Step 2) Pick up one cup from the stack using one hand (the right hand), and place it on the right side of the stack.
	Step 3) Using the other hand (left hand), pick up the top cup from the stack and place it on top of the other two cups.

Down-Stacking

For down-stacking of 3 cups, reverse the above.

Up-Stacking

	Step 1) Place a stack of 12 cups in front.
	Step 2) Pick up a cup with the right hand from the stack, followed by picking up a cup with the left hand from the stack. Place them on the table away from the stack. One of these cups has to face up (right hand).  As shown in the picture, the cup in the right hand is facing up.    Tip 1: Remember the twist of the right hand; you will have to assume this twist in the right hand when you pick up this cup to down-stack. Refer tip #4.   Tip 2: Be conscious not to place the 2 single cups too far nor too close to the main 10-stack.  Refer to advance tip #2.
	Step 3) From the remaining stack of 10 cups, take 5 cups in one hand (right hand), and take 4 cups in the other hand (left hand), leaving one cup on the table (the anchor cup).
	Step 4) Controlling with your ring/last fingers of each hand, place one cup from each hand beside the anchor cup. Keep the cups close together! (Tip #6).
	Step 5) Place one more cup from the right hand, on the right of the rows of cups on the table. Place a cup from the left hand in the center of the next higher level.
	Step 6) Place one cup from the right hand onto the second level. Place one more cup from the left hand onto the second level.
	Step 7) Place one cup from each hand onto the next higher level (third level).
	Step 8) Place the only remaining cup from the right hand onto the top of the pyramid. Again, check to make sure that there are no gaps in between the cups, and that the stack is not slant towards the front nor the back.

Down-Stacking

	Step 1) Reach for the 2 single cups on each side. When reaching for the cup that is facing up (the right hand as shown in the picture), remember the twist in the right hand as stated in Step 2 of the Up-Stacking phase. Holding them in each hand, invert BOTH the cups 180 degrees by twisting the hands, and tap the cups on the table. A common mistake here is to tap by turning the cups in the hand, instead of holding the cups in each hand, twist the hands, and tap. Definition of tap: - If base of the cup is facing up (mouth of cup facing up), then the cup should be tapped at the base of the cup. - If the base of the cup is facing down (mouth of cup facing down), then the cup should be tapped at the top of the cup. Another common mistake is that the stacker is so focused on inverting the cup that is facing up, he forgets to invert the other cup.
	Step 2) Holding a cup in each hand, raise the hands above the pyramid at the positions shown. The hands should be ready to slide the cups down. In this 'ready' state, both the bases of the cups should be facing down. If you have one or more cups facing up, then you have not followed Step 1 correctly. (Note in the picture, the right hand is used to slide the top most cup. Thus the hands movement is towards the right of the stacker. If the left hand is used to slide the top most cup, then the hands movement while down-stacking will be to the left of the stacker.)
	Step 3) Slide the cups down as shown, with both hands moving to the stacker's right.
	Step 4) Holding one cup in the left hand, and holding all the cups in the right hand, raise the hands and move the cups as shown.
	Step 5) When completed, the stacks should remain as 3-6-3 stacks on the table. Tips: To down-stack the 1-10-1, you only need 2 movements.  Imagine drawing an 'X' in the air with both hands.  You perform step 3 with both hands in one swift movement to the right, followed by step 4 in another single movement with both hands to the left.  Remember: be efficient and down-stack in the smallest movement necessary.