How to Get Better at Speed Stacking

Speed stacking (also know as sport stacking or cup stacking) is an activity created at a southern California boys and girls club in the early 1980s that has flourished into a sport played by thousands of people across the globe. The aim of the game is to stack specialized plastic cups in specific sequences against the clock or an opponent, with the current world record for a 'cycle' stack set at just under six seconds. Speed stacking can be played by anyone with the right equipment, and all stackers should be able to improve on their best time with just a little patience and practice.

Things You'll Need

  • 12 'Speed Stack' plastic cups
  • Stopwatch
  • Flat surface
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Instructions

    • 1

      Use both hands to speed stack, but never on the same cup. Each cup should be handled by only one hand as this reduces the risk of fumbling. Most people like to lead with the hand they use the most, so if you're right-handed try starting with your right hand (or with your left, if you're left-handed), but if this feels like it isn't working for you then just use the hand you feel most comfortable leading with.

    • 2

      Remain calm and think your way through your stacks. Reflect this in the way you handle your cups. Hold the cups loosely with a light, soft touch. When stacking, allow the cups to just slide down - don't slam. Slamming the cups doesn't improve your speed and you're more likely to experience fumbles. Hold the cups on the side, not from the top - if you hold the cups from the top then your hand will get in the way of your stacking, especially once you've begun stacking at speed. Start slow, stay calm and keep thinking about what you're doing.

    • 3

      Start by perfecting the 3-3-3 stack before moving on to the more difficult 3-6-3 or cycle sequences. Place three stacks of three cups in front of you on a hard surface and decide whether you want to start with the stack of cups on the right or the stack of cups on the left. Most right-handers begin with the stack of cups to their left, and vice-versa, but start with whichever side feels comfortable for you. Moving from right to left (or left to right) upstack each set of cups into pyramids of three, before returning to the set of cups you upstacked first to begin downstacking. Practice on your own at first to improve your speed stacking skills and then, when you feel that you're ready, try racing a friend, teacher or relative. If they've been speed stacking for longer than you, don't be put off if they can stack the cups faster - just remember, they've had more time to practice.

    • 4

      Fix fumbles when they happen, and never let them get you down. There are three main types of fumbles: the "tipper" (when your top cup tips over and falls off the pyramid), the "slider" (when an upstacked cup slides onto another cup below) and the "toppler" (when, during downstacking, the entire stack topples over). The speed stack rules state that "your previous stack or stacks must be standing before you can move on", so fix your fumble when it happens, even if it means downstacking the sequence of cups you were working on and going back to a previous stack to fix it. If you do fumble, don't get disheartened - even the best speed stackers will have fumbled many times.

    • 5

      Test your skills on harder sequences. These will take longer to perfect, but with a little patience and dedication you'll be challenging for that world record in no time. For the more difficult 3-6-3 and cycle sequences it's better to be able to see how to complete them correctly before attempting them, so if you know someone who is able to show you how to complete one of these sequences then ask them if they would mind spending a few minutes going over one with you, or watch the tutorial videos on the official Speed Stacks website.