It's not uncommon for these challenges to make us want to quit or take a break. But we love the game, so what we really crave is consistency and enjoyment in our performance. The fact is, the game of cornhole becomes mental, not physical, once we have our mechanics down. In other words, your mindset and mental strength become just as important as your physical skill.

It's easy to see progress in the beginning when we are learning how to throw because the game is purely physical. We thrive during this time because mastering something physical isn't new. We've played other sports or had jobs where we see the direct result of our efforts reflected in our outcome. But once the game turns mental, most of us do not have a blueprint for how to navigate this. That's where the mental practice comes in.

Throwing more bags is great for nailing down muscle memory, but it will never help us master the mental side of the game. We need automation we can rely on that comes with practice, and a strong mental game to stay in our bodies & out of our heads so that we can utilize that automation we worked so hard for.

3 Steps to Mastering The Mental Side of Cornhole

Mastering the mental side of cornhole requires being present in our bodies, especially when things get hard and uncomfortable. This is different than operating out of the head where there is no automation and everything is efforted and exhausting.

Self-talk is another crucial aspect. We need to notice our self-talk and eliminate what's not helpful. This differs from trying to distract ourselves with crutches like alcohol or headphones because we are actually altering the language that plays when we play.

Lastly, we need to build a foundation of confidence that doesn't waver. This is different from confidence that comes from practice and wins which will constantly waver based on circumstances.

Why A Mental Game For Cornhole?

The importance of a mental game in cornhole becomes evident when the game switches from being mostly physical to mostly mental. This shift often leads to confusion when your results don't match your efforts. You might feel like you just can't get consistent anymore and say to yourself, "I just need to get out of my head."

Mastering the mental side of cornhole is about understanding and navigating these challenges. It's about learning to stay present in your body, managing your self-talk, and building unwavering confidence. And it's about establishing a weekly routine that helps you grow your mental toughness.

So whether you're in the learning phase, the automation phase, or the mastery phase of your cornhole journey, mastering the mental side of the game is a crucial step to leveling up your performance.

Try out the first module of a comprehensive course that teaches these 3 concepts for free over here! Get started today and transform your cornhole game. Remember, success in cornhole isn't just about throwing bags—it's also about mastering the mental side of the game.