Cornhole 101: The Basics

Welcome to the exciting world of cornhole – a game that may seem deceptively simple but offers a thrilling challenge for all skill levels. Let's dive into the fundamentals and kick things off with the cornhole board itself.

The Cornhole Board is a wooden board measuring 2ft x 4ft long with a six-inch diameter target hole, nine inches from the back of the board. 

The two boards are positioned 27 feet apart, each with a dedicated lane on either side. In singles play, one player competes against another, while in doubles play, two-player teams face off against each other, with teammates positioned on the same side of the board, directly across from their opponents.

The Cornhole Bags 

The typical cornhole bag is made from durable fabric, like duck cloth or canvas, and measures around 6 inches by 6 inches. Cornhole bags come in various colors and designs, allowing players to add a touch of personal style to their game. It's common for each team to have their own set of bags, usually with distinct colors or patterns, to differentiate them during gameplay. The quality of cornhole bags can vary, with some designed for casual play and others meeting professional standards. High-quality bags are often double stitched to withstand rigorous use and feature consistent weight and filling distribution to ensure fair gameplay. 

Officially licensed ACL cornhole bags provide three levels of playstyle, ranging from backyard BBQ competitions all the way to ACL Pro Circuit equipment, designed for premium performance.  

 

The Score 

In each round of cornhole, every team or player is allocated four bags. The opposing teams or players take turns, throwing one bag at a time until all eight bags in the round, or four bags per team, have been tossed. Scoring is as follows: a bag in the hole earns three points, while a bag on the board earns one point. However, we employ cancellation scoring. For example, if Team A scores nine points and Team B scores eight points, Team A would earn one point towards the overall score. We play with a 21 or over, no-bust rule. Unlike the casual backyard version, hitting exactly 21 points is not required. Going over the 21-point mark signifies victory and crowns you as the champion of your first cornhole game.