Official Cornhole Guide

A Complete Guide to the Official Cornhole Game

Cornhole is an outdoor game that is popular throughout the United States. This family-friendly pastime has a long history, even though it has only recently become a mainstream form of entertainment.

Also known as corn toss, bean bag toss, soft horseshoes, tailgate toss, baggy, and bags, cornhole is a reasonably simple game. The rules and gameplay are easy to understand, making it an excellent match for all ages and abilities.

With a minimal amount of equipment, the official cornhole game can be played just about anywhere. Because of its versatility, cornhole has become a necessity for popular activities like tailgating and backyard BBQs.

Cornhole is an enjoyable form of entertainment. However, it’s also a competition. Therefore, there are official guidelines intended to standardize cornhole gameplay. Below is an outline of the regulations regarding the equipment, court, gameplay, scoring, and more.

Cornhole Bags and Boards

Cornhole game sets consist of two pieces of equipment: the cornhole boards and bags.

To play, participants will need access to two cornhole boards and four cornhole bags per player. To easily distinguish points earned, each player should have a different colored set of bags.

Regulation Cornhole Board Dimensions and Requirements

• Official cornhole boards must be constructed from wood.
• The regulation size cornhole board dimensions are as follows:
  • The cornhole board size will measure 48 inches by 24 inches.
  • The standard cornhole size will be six inches in diameter.
  • The cornhole will be centered 9 inches from the top of the board and 12 inches from both sides.
  • From top to bottom, the front edge of the cornhole board will measure 2.5 – 4 inches.
  • The back edge of the cornhole board will be 12 inches from the ground.
  • The surface of the cornhole board must be free of blemishes that could impede play.
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Regulation Cornhole Bag Requirements

• The size of official cornhole bags will measure 6 inches by 6 inches.
• The final weight of the cornhole bags will be approximately 15 ounces.
• Two pieces of duck canvas will be sewn together with a quarter-inch double-stitched seam.
• Each bag will be filled with 2 cups of dried corn kernels.

Regulation Cornhole Court Dimensions and Layout

The game of cornhole is played on a court. While this court can be set up just about anywhere, there are certain rules that apply to its overall design and size.

• A large, rectangular area is needed–at least 10 feet wide by 45 feet long.
• If multiple cornhole courts are laid out side-by-side, there must be a 10 to 12 feet distance between each cornhole court.
• If the cornhole court is set up inside, there must be 12 feet of vertical clearance.
• The cornhole court must be level.
• Before play begins, all players must evaluate the condition of the cornhole court. Any obstacles should be removed before play. No changes can be made to the court once play begins.
• To reduce the sun’s effects, avoid courts aligned east to west.
• A pitcher’s box can be found parallel to each cornhole board. It extends three feet from either side of the board. All pitches must be made from this area—the players must remain in the same box for the entire inning.
• The foul line extends parallel from the front edge of each cornhole board. The official regulation distance between the front edge of one cornhole board to another is 27 feet.
  • The foul line for junior play will be a distance of 21 feet from the front edge of one cornhole to the front edge of the opposite board.
  • The foul line for adult play will be a distance of 27 feet from the front edge of one cornhole to the front edge of the opposite board.
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Regulation Cornhole Rules and Gameplay

• Before play begins, players must agree on a singles or doubles match.
• In a singles match, one competitor competes against another. Both competitors toss from the same board. After each inning, the players switchboards and aim at the other target.
• In double play, two teammates compete against two other competitors. One competitor from each team tosses from the same platform; the two remaining competitors toss from the other board. After each inning, the players switchboards and aim at the other target.
• A cornhole game is divided into innings.
  • In singles play, competitors pitch four bags each from the same board, alternating between players. The inning is complete when all eight bags have been tossed.
  • In doubles play, two opponents pitch four bags each from the same board, alternating between players. When two competitors have finished, the other two players toss their bags similarly from the other board. The inning is complete when all four participants have tossed.
  • Each board has two pitcher’s boxes. A player may toss from either side of the board but must remain in the same pitcher’s box for an inning. He or she may switch to the other pitcher’s box in the next inning if the player so chooses.
  • Once the player steps into the pitcher’s box, he or she has 20 seconds to toss the bag.
  • A player must toss with the same hand for the entire match (or tournament).
  • Pitching order:
    • The player who scored the most points in the preceding inning tosses first in the following inning.
    • If no one scored in the preceding inning, the competitor who pitched second would be the first player to toss in the following inning.
    • In doubles play, the player not tossing must respect the space of the pitching opponent. He or she must stand at least 2 feet behind the competitor.
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Fouls

The following actions are considered fouls. If one of these things should happen, the tossed bag must be removed from the court before play can resume:

• Crossing the foul line while pitching
• Stepping outside the pitcher’s box after entering it to toss
• Failing to toss the cornhole bag within 20 seconds of entering the pitcher’s box
• Switching pitcher’s boxes during the same inning
• Dropping the bag after the pitch’s forward swing has begun

Scoring

Earning Points:

• Three Points: A hole-in scores three points. This is a bag that passes through the hole. It can be tossed there, rested there after sliding across the board, or knocked in by another bag.
• One Point: Any bag that lands on the board (but doesn’t pass through the hole) earns one point. However, the bag cannot touch the ground (or any other part of the court) before resting on the board.
• Zero Points: A bag that rests anywhere outside the board and does not pass through the hole earns zero points. Any cornhole bag that hits the ground before landing on the board is considered a foul and must be taken off the board before play resumes.
• The first team (or competitor in singles play) to reach or exceed 21 points wins.
• A team can win via a skunk. If one team scores seven or more points before the opponent scores any points, the team that has scored wins.
• A match cannot terminate mid-inning. Even if a team reaches 21 points, play must continue until the inning concludes.
• If teams are tied at or beyond 21 points at the end of the inning, play will continue until there is a winner.
• Using cancellation scoring:
  • Hole-ins cancel each other out. If Player A scores two hole-ins and Player B scores one, Player A earns only three points, and Player B earns zero. The hole-ins cancel each other out, and only the un-canceled hole-ins earn points.
  • Bags in the court cancel each other out. If Player A lands three bags on the court and Player B lands two bags in the court, Player A earns one point, and Player B earns zero. The in-the-court bags cancel each other out; only the un-canceled bags earn points.
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Cornhole Culture and Popularity

Since its inception, cornhole has become a staple in American entertainment. The popularity of cornhole is derived from a variety of factors:

• The game can be played anywhere. You don’t need a court like basketball, a field like football or even sandpits like horseshoes. Cornhole boards can be placed on just about any flat surface.
• People of all ages and abilities can play cornhole. The bags are light and easy to toss. The rules are relatively straightforward to understand.
• The equipment is simple to store and transport. The boards and bags take up very little space. Plus, boards usually come with handles, making them easy to haul from place to place.

Cornhole is most famously known for its contribution to tailgating parties. For American sports enthusiasts, the pre-game party is nearly as important as the sporting event. Fortunately, cornhole can help with that.

Because of its close association with sports, it is common for cornhole boards and bags to be customized with sport team logos or mascots. Additionally, cornhole games often turn into highly charged competitive activities.

But stadium parking lots aren’t the only place cornhole boards are erected. Cornhole is usually a staple for backyard parties, BBQs, family reunions, or just about any other outdoor activity.

Frequently, cornhole is taken inside too. Physical education teachers know cornhole is the ideal indoor activity when the weather is too inclement for outdoor learning.

In bars and pubs all across the country, cornhole has replaced traditional games like darts. Individual cornhole matches and tournaments take place in conjunction with drinking and socializing. Some bar patrons even turn the cornhole match into a drinking game.

While cornhole is often thought of as a form of entertainment, it also has practical uses. Many companies host cornhole tournaments as clever marketing events. Likewise, many charities and non-profit organizations host cornhole tournaments to raise money.

The Legends and Origins of Cornhole

The origins of cornhole are numerous and are indeed varied by region and legend. There are two main theories about how the game itself got started.

The Epic Saga of Cornhole: A German’s Brilliant Solution to Rock-Throwing Shenanigans

Picture this: It’s 1325, and a German farmer strolled home after a hard day of tilling fields. He stumbles upon a group of boys chucking massive rocks into a hole. Our farmer, being the responsible adult, warns them about potential injuries. But do kids ever listen? Nope!

So, our clever farmer hatches a plan. That night, he creates the world’s first cornhole bags by stuffing cloth with dried corn kernels. Talk about a corny invention! While he couldn’t find the rock-throwing rascals the next day, his family had a blast playing this new, less concussion-inducing game.

Legend has it that German immigrants brought this game to the colonies, where it gained modest popularity among farmers and pioneers. But cornhole hibernated until it was rediscovered in Kentucky in the early 1900s. Who knew corn could make such a comeback?

Cornhole: America’s Favorite Excuse to Stand Around and Drink Beer

Fast forward to the 1900s, where another legend claims a Midwest farmer invented the game to kill time between cow-tipping sessions. Meanwhile, some say Native Americans (particularly the Blackhawk tribe) were already tossing bean-filled pig bladders for fun. Talk about an offal good time!

The game’s modern resurgence allegedly began in Cincinnati’s west side bars. From there, it spread faster than gossip at a church picnic. Soon, cornhole became the ultimate tailgating activity because nothing says “sports fan” like tossing bags while chugging brewskis.

Over time, cornhole equipment got a makeover. The original cloth bags filled with corn kernels were about as durable as a sandcastle in a tsunami. Modern bags use tougher materials and plastic pellets, ensuring your cornhole career won’t be cut short by a little rain.

This equipment upgrade has been crucial to the game’s longevity. After all, what’s more American than making things last longer so we can play more and work less?

So there you have it, folks – the corny history of cornhole. Whether you believe the German farmer tale or the Midwest bar story, one thing’s for sure: cornhole has become the ultimate excuse for grown men to stand around, toss bags, and pretend they’re athletes. Now go forth and cornhole with pride!