Infinite Bounce

Infinite bounce is a quiz format.

Every question is addressed to the team succeeding the team that answered the previous question. If no team answers the question, the next question (n+1) is addressed to the same team to which the previous question (n) was addressed. In some versions question n+1 is addressed to the team succeeding the team to whom the previous question (n) was addressed. After reversal of the order in which teams are questions, the general practice is to start with the team that was last in the original sequence. This is regardless of where the last question before the reversal ended.

Therefore in a way, the questions bounce from one team to another until they are answered. This format is particularly effective when the number of teams in the quiz is relatively large compared to the questions in hand. No team will need to wait too long to receive a question. A primary advantage is that total number of questions addressed to each team, either direct or passed, is approximately equal. The difference is never greater than 1.

The difference can be much larger in a direct-and-pass format, where the position relative to a particularly strong or weak team can bias the number of questions addressed to each team. Since the format also awards equal points for all questions, it ensures that the team answering the maximum questions wins, irrespective of whether the questions were direct (asked directly to the team) or passed (passed on from another team due to their inability to answer correctly).

Infinite Bounce is also referred to as Infinite Rebounds or Bouncer in some quarters.

Infinite Bounce was invented in the early 80s by Shankar Balakrishnan from Anna University in (then) Madras. It was swiftly adopted by IIT Madras, and became widespread soon after.