Cornhole Rules - The Guide For Fair Play
The objective of cornhole is to score points by tossing corn hole bags into the hole of the corn hole board. Sounds easy, but much harder than expected.
Equipment -
Cornhole Boards: Two rectangular boards, each measuring 2 feet in width and 4 feet in length, with a hole centered 9 inches from the top.
Cornhole Bags: Eight Razor Bags, four bags for each player, often with different colors to distinguish teams.
Game Setup -
Cornhole Distance: In the game of cornhole, the standard distance between the two cornhole boards is 27 feet, measured from the front edge of one cornhole board to the front edge of the other cornhole board.
Board Position: Position the cornhole boards on a flat surface, ensuring they are stable and not wobbling.
Game Play -
Who Goes First: Determine the order of play by a coin toss or any other fair method. The player that wins the coin toss gets to choose whether they want to throw first or second.
One At A Time: Take turns throwing one cornhole bag at a time.
Throwing Rules -
Underhand: Players must throw the cornhole bags underhand.
Front Edge: The cornhole bag must be released before any part of the player's body crosses the front edge of the cornhole board. The player's feet must not touch or step over the front of the cornhole board during the throw.
Direct or Slide: Cornhole bags can be tossed directly into the hole, slide onto the cornhole board and into the hole, or remain on the cornhole board to score points.
Scoring -
Bags in the Hole: A cornhole bag that goes through the hole without touching the ground is worth three points.
Bags on the Board: A cornhole bag that lands and remains on the board's surface is worth one point.
Cancellation Scoring: Only one player scores per round. The points of one player are subtracted from the points of the other player. The difference is the round's score for the player with higher points. If both players have the same score, it's a "wash" or no score.
Winning the Game -
21 or More: The standard winning score is 21 points or more, but you can adjust it for longer or shorter games.The first person to reach, or exceed, the designated winning score is declared the winner.
Additional Rules -
Foul Bags: Any corn hole bags that hit the ground before landing on the corn hole board or slide off the corn hole board are considered foul bags and do not count for scoring.
Distractions: Players should avoid distracting opponents during their throws.
Interference: Players should not interfere with or intentionally affect the opponent's throws.
Rule Variations: Rules can vary in different regions or among casual and competitive play, so it's best to clarify specific rules before starting a game.
Remember to have fun, practice good sportsmanship, and enjoy the game of corn hole with your friends and family!