Cornhole, also known as beanbag toss, is a well-known backyard game. The game is popular thanks to its casual playing style and the fact that you don’t need much-specialized equipment to play.
Although you can set up a quick, friendly game without following too many rules, knowing how far apart to place the cornhole boards can help to keep the game fair and makes it a bit more challenging.
How far apart should cornhole boards be?
In a regulation match, cornhole boards need to be 27 feet apart. This distance is measured from the front edge of one board to the front edge of the other board.
You can also measure from the hole in the boards. This distance should be 33 feet. Boards should always be lined up and exactly opposite each other.
On either side of the cornhole boards are two areas called pitcher’s boxes. These boxes should be 4 feet long and 3 feet wide, and their front and back edges should line up with the cornhole board.
Players will stand in these boxes to pitch their beanbags at the opposing cornhole board. Stepping out of the pitcher’s box is considered a foul.
In a children’s game of cornhole, the court should be slightly smaller. Instead of 27 feet apart, the boards should be 21 feet apart.
Cornhole is usually played outside, but it can be played inside if you have a large enough space. If you play inside, it’s best to ensure that the room’s ceiling is at least 12 feet tall.
This ensures that you can toss the beanbag high enough.
How should you set up a cornhole court?
When setting up a game of cornhole, the most important thing to ensure is that you play on relatively level ground. Neither the cornhole boards nor the pitching areas should be higher than those on the other side.
The ground should also be free of rocks or sticks. Clear visibility of the opposing cornhole board is also essential.
How large should cornhole beanbags be?
Regulation cornhole beanbags should be 6 by 6-inch squares, and they should weigh between 14 and 16.25 ounces.
However, if you don’t have any regulation beanbags handy, you can use beanbags of almost any size.
Traditionally, the beanbags in cornhole are filled with dried corn, which helped to give the game its name. For modern play, beanbags can be filled with corn or silicone pellets.
How big should the cornhole board be?
Cornhole boards also have specific sizes. Each board is between 47.5 and 48 inches long and 23.5 to 24 inches wide.
The top of the boards are flat and have no rim, but there is a rim around the bottom edge of each board, and this rim is between 3 and 4 inches tall. The top wooden piece of each board is about 0.5 inches thick.
In a regulation match, cornhole boards need to be 27 feet apart.
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A cornhole board tilts up slightly, so the rear part is a bit higher than the front part, making it easier for players to score.
The front part of the board is only 3 to 4 inches off the ground, thanks to the rim that runs all around the board. Including this rim, the rear standing height should be 12 inches.
Each cornhole board has a hole near the back, through which players try to throw their beanbags. This hole should have a diameter of 6 inches, give or take a quarter of an inch.
The hole should be 9 inches from the back edge of the board and 12 inches from each side edge of the board.
How do you play cornhole?
Cornhole can either be played one-on-one or with two teams of two people. To begin play, the teams will flip a coin to decide who throws first.
Each team will then take turns standing in the pitcher’s box and throwing a beanbag at the opposing cornhole board. Players must toss their beanbags in an underhand style.
Each beanbag that lands on the cornhole board is worth one point. If a beanbag goes through the hole, the team scores three points.
You can also try to push beanbags that are lying on the board into the hole using subsequent beanbag tosses. Any beanbag that is pushed through the hole using another beanbag is also worth three points.
Each team gets eight beanbags. Once all beanbags have been thrown, you can add up the points to determine a winner. In regulation play, a team or player needs to reach at least 21 points to win.
