Everything You Need To Know About Cornhole

Cornhole has gained much popularity as a socially distant game in this pandemic time. It has conquered all tailgating parties and backyard barbeques everywhere. Many versions of this game, like corn toss, soft horseshoes, bean bag, or bean toss, are played all over America. 

But to your surprise, it is not only a backyard game but is also recognized by three official organizations – American Cornhole League (ACL), the American Cornhole Organization (ACO), and the American Cornhole Association (ACA). These organizations conduct tournaments in the Cornhole game in the U.S. market. 

Origin Of Cornhole

The origin of this game is not clear. Some say it comes from China, while some say it is from Germany. If we talk about the United States, both Kentucky and Ohio claim to be the originator of this game. Honestly, this game has gained popularity in the last 10 to 15 years. At that time, cornhole began to appear in trendy bars in the Northeast and later became a frequent favorite game at parties and weddings. In 2017, after striking a deal with ESPN, this game officially came mainstream. From then, it has been turned into a viable professional sport by ACL. 

What Is A Cornhole?

Now let’s see how to play the game. It is pretty simple. According to official rules and regulations, cornhole players alternately throw bean bags onto an angled platform with a hole drilled on them at the far end. The platforms are 27 feet apart from each other. The player shoots from the “pitcher box” next to the opponent’s board. If a bag lands on the board, the player gains one point. If the bag passes through the hole, he earns three points. The first team to achieve 21 points wins.

Cornhole Court Layout

Like almost all other games, cornhole is played in its own “court.” The full size of the corn hole court must be 45 feet long and at least 10 feet wide. The field shall be set in the north to south direction to avoid the sun’s interference and enjoy the game better. If you are playing under a tent or indoors, there shall be a clearance of at least 12 feet high for tossing.

• Foul Lines: The imaginary lines that move along the front of the bean bag board are called foul lines. These are at a distance of 30 feet far from the contender’s hole in their board.  But this distance changes to 21 feet if teenagers or children are playing. So in the case of younger players playing, it proves beneficial to mark foul lines. 
• Pitcher’s Zones: The area for pitching is generally of the identical size as a cornhole board. This area is present on both sides of the bean bag board. The area is 4 feet by 3 feet; the player must stay within these dimensions for the roll to count.
• More Than One Cornhole Games: Each board shall be distanced from each other at least 10 to 12 feet if you plan to play multiple games.