Equipment and Court
Layout:
Cornhole matches are played with 2 sets of bags and 2 platforms
There are 4 bags to a set. Each set should be identifiable from
the other; different colors work well. Bags should weigh 14 to 16 ounces.
Each platform is 2'x4', with a 6" hole centered 9" from
the top. Each platform should be angled, where the top is 12" higher than
the bottom. A regular court places the holes 33' apart, or 27' between the
bottoms of the platforms. Shorter distances can be used when younger players are
participating or there is not sufficient room.
Bags are tossed from the
pitcher’s box which is the rectangular area directly to the left or right of a
platform. The bottom of the platform forms the foul line. Players may not step
over the foul line while pitching.
Gameplay:
Cornhole matches are broken down into "innings" or
frames of play. During each inning, every player throws four bags. A
player may deliver the bag from either the left or right pitcher's box, but, in
any one inning, all bags must be delivered from the same pitcher's box. It is
possible that both players can throw from the same pitcher's box. Also, the
player gets a three foot box to throw in. Each player must deliver the bag
within twenty seconds. The time starts when the player steps onto the pitcher's
box with the intention of pitching. The player who scored in the preceding
inning pitches first in the next inning. If neither pitcher scores, the
contestant or team who pitched last in the preceding inning pitches first in
the next inning. Note: one foot cannot pass the back of the board while tossing
the corn bag, otherwise the point does not count.
Cornhole can be played as either doubles or singles. In doubles
play, four players split into two teams. One member from each team pitches from
one cornhole platform and the other members pitch from the other. The first
side of players alternate pitching bags until both players have thrown all four
of their bags, then the players pitching from the opposing cornhole board
continue to alternate in the same manner until all four of their bags are
delivered and the inning or frame is completed. In singles play, two players
play against each other. Delivery is handled in the same manner as doubles
play. Both contestants pitch from the same cornhole platform and alternate
their pitches until all of their bags have been pitched, completing the inning
or frame
In order to score, the bags must
either be tossed into the hole or land on the board. A bag that falls through
the hole is worth a value of three points. The bag can be tossed directly into
the hole, slide into the hole, or be knocked into the hole by another bag. A
bag that lands on the board and is still on the board at the end of the inning
is worth one point. If a bag touches the ground and comes to rest on the board,
it is removed from the board prior to continuation of play and not worth any
points. Usually, cancellation scoring is used. In one version of cancellation
scoring, bags that fall in the hole and bags that land on the board that are
pitched by opponents during an inning cancel each other out. For example, if one
team lands two bags in the hole and one on the board for seven points, and the
other team lands one in the hole and two on the board for five points, the
first team's score would be three, and the second team's score would be one.
This is because both teams had at least one bag land in the hole, cancelling
three points, and one bag on the board, cancelling one point, for a total of
four points cancelled from each team. Another example would be if one team gets
one in the hole and the other team gets three on the board, no points would be
cancelled and both teams would receive three points. In case of a tie, the team who ties
the game, must go first.
In another common version of cancellation scoring, the total score
for each team for the inning is totaled each round, and then the difference of
the two scores is awarded to the team with the higher score. It is thus only
possible for one team to score points each inning. For example, if one team
lands two bags in the hole and one on the board for 7 points, and the other
team lands one bag in the hole and two on the board for 5 points, 5 points from
the round would cancel out, and the first team would thus score 2 points.
Because only one team can score points in each inning, it is impossible for
teams to reach or exceed 21 points in the same inning, and therefore ties are
impossible.
A cornhole match is played until the first player or team reaches
or exceeds twenty-one points at the completion of an inning. The winning team
does not need to win by two or more points.