How To Play Cornhole: 14 Steps (with Pictures) - WikiHow

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A Complete Guide to Playing Cornhole Download Article Plus, tips for improving your game Co-authored by Jeremiah Thomas

Last Updated: November 27, 2024 Fact Checked

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• Laying the Groundwork to Play
|
• Playing Cornhole
|
• Improving Your Technique
|
• Video
|
• Q&A
|
• Things You'll Need

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This article was co-authored by Jeremiah Thomas. Jeremiah Thomas is the Founder of Doylestown Pickleball based in Doylestown, Pennsylvania. With over 50 acres of facilities, Jeremiah and his team offer a wide variety of programming for kids looking to create, be active, and play on their dozens of courts and fields. Jeremiah is a certified PPR (Professional Pickleball Registry) instructor as well as a former college tennis player and instructor. He received his Bachelor of Education in Elementary and Early Childhood Education from Gwynedd Mercy University as well as a Master's in Educational Leadership and Administration from Delaware Valley University. This article has been fact-checked, ensuring the accuracy of any cited facts and confirming the authority of its sources. This article has been viewed 151,709 times.

Cornhole, sometimes called corn toss, bean bag toss, or baggo, is a lawn game popular in America. In this game, two teams throw bean bags into the holes of a goal board positioned on the ground to score points. With a few supplies and tools, you can make a Cornhole set of your own, or you could buy the game pre-made at a store. Either way, once you lay the groundwork for the game, it won't be long before you begin playing, and there are even ways you can improve your technique.

How Do You Play Cornhole?

Play cornhole with 2 to 4 players split into 2 teams. Position the 2 boards 27 feet (8.2 m) apart and facing each other. Each team alternates throwing bean bags at the opposite board. The first team that reaches 21 points wins.

Steps

Part 1 Part 1 of 3:

Laying the Groundwork to Play

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1. 1 Collect your Cornhole equipment. You'll need two sets of bean bags, with each set having four bags apiece. It's a good idea to choose two colors for your bean bags, one color for each team. This way, you can easily differentiate teams. Additionally, each team must have one goal board per team.[1]
   • Official Cornhole goal boards are 2 by 4 feet (0.61 by 1.22 m), with a hole 6 inches (15.24 cm) wide centered 9 inches (22.9 cm) from the top of the board. Larger or smaller boards might not work as well.
   • Bean bags larger or smaller than 6 inches by 6 inches (15.24 cm by 15.24 cm) may make the game too difficult or too easy.
   • You can frequently find and buy pre-made Cornhole games at general retailers, sports stores, and sporting goods stores.
2. 2 Arrange the team goals. Team goals should be set up on level ground opposite from each other. The front of each goal should be 27 feet (8.2 m) apart from the other. The goal hole of each board should be positioned away from the opposing board.
   • You may want to orient your playing area to face north and south. This way, the sun will have less of a negative impact on play.[2]
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3. 3 Gather players for your Cornhole game. You can play Cornhole with two or four players. Players should be divided evenly into two teams. Two-player teams will have a player at each goal board, and single person teams will always throw from the same board.
   • The rules of Cornhole are relatively simple. If you're in need of players for your game, even complete beginners can pick it up quickly and enjoy playing.
4. 4 Explain the rules. Each goal board begins with four bean bags apiece. The players at each goal board should alternate throwing bean bags at the opposite goal board until all four are thrown on one side. Then the opposite board players should do the same. This is repeated until a team reaches 21 points, total.
   • All throws should be made from behind the front of the board in an imaginary 3-foot ( .91 m) wide pitcher's box that extends the entire length of both sides of the board.
   • Bean bags that make it through the hole in the other team's goal board are worth three points. Bags that touch and remain on the board earn a single point. Bags knocked into the hole by another bag are also worth three points.[3]
5. 5 Choose a non-player judge to keep participants honest. When the competition is heated, players may argue about whether or not something was a foul. Because the Cornhole playing field is relatively large, it can be difficult for opposing teams to clearly distinguish fouls. A judge will help prevent this.
   • Although a judge is recommended for serious players and tournaments, a judge is not required to play this game.
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Part 2 Part 2 of 3:

Playing Cornhole

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1. 1 Decide which team throws first. Now that you've got your teams assembled and the rules are explained, you're ready to start playing. Flip a coin to determine the team that throws first. After that, players should take their position beside or behind their goal board, alternating throws between teams.[4]
   • If you lack a coin, you can play Rock, Paper, Scissors to determine the starting team instead.
2. 2 Throw bean bags to score points. Following the rules carefully so as not to lose points to foul bags, throw your bags at the other team's goal board. Experiment with different underhand throws to find one that works best for you.
   • When using tall arc tosses, be sure to account for the wind, as it can have a significant effect on these throws.
   • Low arc tosses generally have more horizontal speed, resulting in more forward momentum. This can help your bag slide up the goal board into the hole.
   • Avoid throwing a bag higher than 5 - 10 feet (1.5 - 5.8 m). Tosses outside of this range suffer from decreased accuracy.
3. 3 Avoid committing fouls. Committing a foul in Cornhole will result in the foul bag being removed from play for that inning. Fouls occur when you play out of turn, step outside the pitcher's box while throwing, or when your bag touches the ground before coming to a stop on the goal board.
   • In official games, all players are expected to make each throw in under 20 seconds. Taking longer will also result in a foul.
   • You must always throw bean bags underhand. Overhand throws and side throws common in Frisbee are considered fouls.
   • As soon as a foul is committed, the foul bag should be removed from the board if necessary. Return any bags affected by the foul bag to their pre-foul positions.[5]
4. 4 Calculate the score for the inning. The end score of each inning is determined by cancellation scoring. This where you deduct the score of the lower point team from the point leader of that inning. Don't forget that bags knocked through the hole by another bean bag during play are worth the full three points.[6]
   • For example, if in a single inning Team A scored five points and Team B scored three points, the end score of that inning would be two points in Team A's favor.
5. 5 Start the next inning with the point winner. After you've calculated the points, you'll know which team was the point winner for that inning. This is the team that begins throwing the next round. If neither team scored in the inning, the first toss of the next round goes to the final pitcher of the preceding inning.
   • Continue playing innings until a team reaches 21 points. When that happens, the game is finished.[7]
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Part 3 Part 3 of 3:

Improving Your Technique

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1. 1 Aim for the front of the board. Even though the three-point hole is toward the back of the board, throwing at the front of the board improves your chances of sliding a bag into the hole or landing one on the board for a single point. When aiming for the back of the board, it's easy to overthrow and get no points at all.[8]
   • Landing bags on the goal board will create obstacles for your opponent. This can be a useful tactic for blocking points.
2. 2 Put a spin on the bags you throw. Hold your bean bag so it is flat in your hand. When you throw, keep your wrist straight and use your fingers to create lateral spin, much like a Frisbee. This will give your bag a better chance of sliding into the hole for three points.
   • As you release the bag, allow your index and middle fingers to stay in contact with the bag slightly longer than the others to help generate spin.
   • You must use an underhanded release in Cornhole. Even though the side throw common with Frisbees feels natural for putting a spin on the bag, it is illegal.
3. 3 Perfect your grip and stance. Each individual will be different, but generally, you should hold the bag with four fingers under it and your thumb roughly at its top center. Keep your knees slightly bent, and lean your body a little over your throwing arm so it can swing and throw freely.[9]
   • For the most consistent throw, try to keep your feet positioned the same every throw. A starting position with both feet close together is strong.
4. 4 Keep calm as you play. Tension or nerves can hurt your performance. Try to enjoy yourself and have a good time. If you notice you start getting worked up over the game, you might want to take a break or recenter yourself with:
   • Deep breathing exercises. Take a deep, full breath while counting to five, hold it for a five count, then release the breath on a five count.
   • Muscle relaxation exercises. Tighten and release each muscle or muscle group for six seconds, starting from the top of your body and working your way down.[10]
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Community Q&A

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• Question My teammate is very inconsistent and does not take my suggestions seriously. How can I improve her play? Community Answer You may not be able to help her play improve. If leaving her alone doesn't work and you still have issues, perhaps it is time to look for another teammate. Thanks! We're glad this was helpful. Thank you for your feedback. If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow Yes No Not Helpful 11 Helpful 21
• Question Generally how long will it take for a double team to reach 21 points? Community Answer Usually it takes somewhere between 15-20 minutes, but it could be a little longer if the score is closer. Thanks! We're glad this was helpful. Thank you for your feedback. If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow Yes No Not Helpful 7 Helpful 20
• Question What if an opponent knocks your bag off the playing surface? Community Answer Then those points are gone, unless it's knocked into the hole, at which point you get however many points you've assigned to getting the bag in the hole (generally 2-3). Thanks! We're glad this was helpful. Thank you for your feedback. If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow Yes No Not Helpful 8 Helpful 18

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Things You'll Need

• Cornhole goal board (x2)
• Bean bags (x8)

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References

1. ↑ https://www.playcornhole.org/pages/rules
2. ↑ https://www.playcornhole.org/pages/rules
3. ↑ https://www.playcornhole.org/pages/rules
4. ↑ https://anderson.edu/uploads/campus-life/cornhole.pdf
5. ↑ https://anderson.edu/uploads/campus-life/cornhole.pdf
6. ↑ https://mcckc.edu/intramurals/docs/Intramural_Rules_Cornhole.pdf
7. ↑ https://mcckc.edu/intramurals/docs/Intramural_Rules_Cornhole.pdf
8. ↑ https://www.uwyo.edu/rec/intramural-sports/_files/docs/rules/cornhole.pdf
9. ↑ https://www.uwyo.edu/rec/intramural-sports/_files/docs/rules/cornhole.pdf

More References (1)

10. ↑ https://psychcentral.com/lib/ways-to-accept-yourself

About This Article

Co-authored by: Jeremiah Thomas Kids Camp Leader This article was co-authored by Jeremiah Thomas. Jeremiah Thomas is the Founder of Doylestown Pickleball based in Doylestown, Pennsylvania. With over 50 acres of facilities, Jeremiah and his team offer a wide variety of programming for kids looking to create, be active, and play on their dozens of courts and fields. Jeremiah is a certified PPR (Professional Pickleball Registry) instructor as well as a former college tennis player and instructor. He received his Bachelor of Education in Elementary and Early Childhood Education from Gwynedd Mercy University as well as a Master's in Educational Leadership and Administration from Delaware Valley University. This article has been viewed 151,709 times. 40 votes - 85% Co-authors: 4 Updated: November 27, 2024 Views: 151,709 Categories: Backyard Games Article SummaryX

To play Cornhole, you’ll need 2-4 players, 2 Cornhole goal boards, and 2 sets of 4 bean bags. Position the Cornhole goal boards so the front edges of the goals are about 27 feet (8 m) apart. Each player or team stands at one of the goal boards. Flip a coin to see who goes first. On a player’s turn, they throw one of their bean bags underhand at the other player’s or team’s goal board. Then, the other player or team throws one of their bean bags. Continue alternating throws until each player or team has thrown all 4 of their bean bags. Bean bags that go through the hole in the goal board are worth 3 points, and bean bags that land and stay on the goal board are worth 1 point. To calculate the final score for that inning, the losing team’s score is subtracted from the winning team’s score. For example, if the winning team scored 5 points and the losing team scored 3 points, the winning team is awarded 2 points for that inning. Continue playing until one team reaches 21 or more points first and wins! Keep reading to learn how to avoid fouls like stepping out of bounds or playing out of turn! Did this summary help you?YesNo

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Reader Success Stories

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  Harley Quinnzel

  Nov 30, 2020

  "Helps me improve better with my sister. I now know how to play without throwing the bag the wrong way. I know a..." more

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Yes No Advertisement Cookies make wikiHow better. By continuing to use our site, you agree to our cookie policy. Co-authored by: Jeremiah Thomas Kids Camp Leader Co-authors: 4 Updated: November 27, 2024 Views: 151,709 85% of readers found this article helpful. 40 votes - 85% Click a star to add your vote

Harley Quinnzel

Nov 30, 2020

"Helps me improve better with my sister. I now know how to play without throwing the bag the wrong way. I know a..." more

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Aug 14, 2019

"This website covers the game so clearly that it gives you the confidence to get out there and play!" Share yours! More success stories Hide success stories

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