Getting Started with Cornhole: A Comprehensive Guide

If you've been on the hunt for a fun, engaging, and family-friendly game, look no further than Cornhole! This game, which has been gaining popularity over the years, is the perfect blend of skill, strategy, and luck. In this blog post, we'll guide you through everything you need to get started, from the equipment needed to rules, throwing basics, practice ideas, and how to find a Cornhole club in your area. Let's dive in!

Equipment Needed

First things first, to play Cornhole, you'll need a set of boards and bags. While you could technically go to Walmart or Amazon and buy cheap boards and bags, they'll likely need replacing sooner than later. It's better to start off with proper equipment.

The cost of boards ranges from $300-$500, while the bags will set you back between $50-100. But remember, the brand of boards matters less; it's more about the materials. Look for boards made from Baltic Birch Wood (3/4 inch) with a supporting structure underneath. The boards should be heavy for stability.

When it comes to bags, some reputable brands include BG Cornhole, Buffalo Boards, Gladiator, Lucky Bags, Ultra Cornhole, Fire Bags, Reynolds, Local, Titan Bags, and All Cornhole.

Rules of The Game

Once you have your equipment, it's time to familiarize yourself with the rules. The boards are placed 27 feet apart, from front edge to front edge. Games are played to 21 or more points, with no bust rule. Any cornhole bag that remains on the board's playing surface is worth 1 point, while a bag that passes through the hole at any time is worth 3 points. A bag that comes to rest touching the ground AND the board does not count as a point.

Cornhole uses a cancellation scoring system where the points of one player cancel out the points of their opponent. This means only one player/team can score in each frame. Both players play one board at a time and stay in their designated lane for the whole game (right or left). Players start the game at one board and alternate pitching bags until each player has pitched all (4) of their bags. In singles, players then walk to the end of their lane to the other board, take score, and resume pitching back to the other cornhole board. In doubles, the player's partner now pitches the bags back.

Players must deliver the bag with an underhanded release, and their feet must stay behind the line of the front of the board at the time of releasing the bag. The player/team who scored in the preceding frame pitches first in the next frame. If neither player/team scores, the player/team who pitched first in the preceding frame shall retain first pitch in the next frame. If bags become piled inside the hole and may interfere or obstruct with the next pitch, a player may request to rake (or sweep) the cornhole bags that have fallen inside the hole.

Throwing Basics and Practice Ideas

Ideally, you want to throw a flat, spinning bag. To get better at this, think about releasing the bag with your palm up. Play games with your friends and family (singles and double), try out "Deckarounds," and practice with "Ghost." You can also use the Scoreholio and ACL App for practice and tracking your progress.

Finding a Cornhole Club Near You

Want to take your love for Cornhole to the next level? Consider joining a Cornhole club. You can find clubs near you by searching in the Scoreholio or ACL app, searching Facebook, or simply Googling "cornhole in your area".

Summary

So there you have it - your comprehensive guide to getting started with Cornhole. Get your equipment, start playing, and have fun! Get your friends, family, and neighbors involved and find a club near you! We can't wait to see you on the pitch.