FAQs
This is a question that gets asked very often due to the fact there are many different names associated with the game. Cornhole, bean bag toss, bags, baggo, and tailgate toss are just a few of the names you might hear used.
However, the most widely accepted name of the game is cornhole.
When it comes to the top of a cornhole board, it is stated that the dimensions should consist of a hardwood plywood playing surface, measuring 47.5” to 48” x 23.5” to 24”. The tops of cornhole boards should be somewhere between 1⁄2” to 3⁄4” in thickness.
As far as the regulation weight of cornhole boards go, each board should weigh no less than 25 lbs. The diameter of the hole on the board should be 6” and centered 9” from the top of the board as well as centered from each side edge. The hole should be routed and smooth so bags do not tear or rip as they slide into it.
The front of the cornhole board should be 3” to 4” from the ground surface, whereas the back of the board should be close to 12” from the ground.
A large majority of the cornhole bags available use a duck cloth material for the exterior of the bag. There are two types of fills often used: either corn-fill or a resin-fill. These bags contain small plastic pellets. These pellets do not break down over time like corn might and can get wet with no problem
The regulation distance for a set of cornhole boards should be 27 feet. This measurement goes from the front of one board to the front of the other. As far as measuring cornhole distances before playing, you have a few different options. Approximately 9-10 paces should get you to roughly 27 feet. Obviously this can be a little more or a little less depending on how long your paces are.
The answer really depends on where you are playing your cornhole game. Official tournament rules state that the first player to score 21 points wins the game. This rule is used in tournaments to make sure rounds don't take too long.
As you may have noticed, many "backyard" players will enforce a rule where you cannot go over the score of 21. You must hit exactly 21 to win the game, and if you go over you are penalized and go back to a score such as 15.
As far as what kind of throws count as points, it is pretty simple.
- Bags that land inside of the cornhole board hole are worth 3 points.
- Bags that land cleanly on the board are worth 1 point.
- Bags that hit the ground before landing on the board do not count.
- Likewise, bags that are hanging inside of the cornhole hole (hangers), but do not go all the way through only count as 1 point.
There are a few different scenarios where you might be called for a "foul bag." One scenario is when you step over the throwing "line." Official rules state that the line is made up from the front edge of the cornhole board. You cannot throw past this line or you will be called for a foul.
Grass and sand are the most often used outdoor surface when playing a game of cornhole. Both of these surfaces make for a great, comfortable playing surface that is also gentle on your bags.
Carpet bags generally play slower than non-suede fabric bags. The carpet was designed to be stickier. Because of this extra stickiness, it’s easier to perform cut shots, roll shots, and bounce shots with carpet bags. Carpet bags can be harder to use for players who do not throw a perfectly flat bag. There are multiple types of carpet bags: herringbone, hyrbid, and regular carpet.
In cornhole, OPPR stands for Opponents Points Per Round and is a measure of how many points your opponent scores against you per round
In Cornhole, DPR stands for Differential Per Round. It’s basically the average number of points you score (or give up) against an opponent per round.
PPR stands for “points per round.” It’s one of the metrics that organizations like the ACL and ACO use to classify players into skill groups. PPR is meant to measure a player’s average score per round in a game of cornhole.