Are you looking for some special cornhole tips to up your game or just make your gameplay a better experience?
This article will walk you through different cornhole tips that will show yo how to get more from your cornhole experience and hopefully make your playing experience a little more enjoyable.
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1. Adjust the distance between boards
A regulation-sized cornhole court will set the cornhole boards 27 feet apart, measured from the front edges of each board.
For some people, 27 feet is just a little too challenging and that’s why a lot of people play 24 feet away.
Also, kids and the elderly or people with mobility issues usually throw their bags from 21 feet away.
The whole point of cornhole is to have a good time and if you’re struggling to even land a bag on the board then maybe you want to play at a shorter instance.
2. Choose the right filling for your cornhole bags
Before you every purchase any cornhole bags you should think if you want corn-filled bags or plastic resin filled bags.
Corn-filled bags are the traditional route to go. They will provide you with more slide because the corn will produce a fine dust that comes out of the bag as the corn begins to break down.
The drawback with corn-filled bags is that they eventually will break down too much over time and become bags that you probably don’t want to play with.
They also can attract critters or even animals and they can grow mold if they are not taken care of.
So if you don’t think you’re going to spend a lot of time taking special care of your cornhole bags then maybe you’ll just want to go with all-weather bags.
All-weather bags are usually filled with plastic resin pellets and they’ll almost always last you longer.
3. Consider using two sided bags
You may not be aware of this but you can find quality cornhole bags that have two different types of materials on each side. Typically, there will be a suede side which is ideal for sticking a landing such as when you want to block your opponent from scoring.
The other side is usually a standard duck cloth which is better for sliding your bag as it’s much slicker.
The pros are known to use two-sided bags so if you’re just starting out don’t get too worried about using two-sided bags just yet.
4. Flatten out your bags
A lot of people like to pick up their bags and then just immediately toss them at the cornhole board.
Instead, you need to first flatten out your cornhole bags like a frisbee so they are ideal to be tossed through the air.
This will help put a little bid of slide on the bags as the land on the playing surface.
The exception here is if you are purposefully bunching up your bags for a toss (which come people do).
5. Get a cornhole scoreboard
Cornhole is a lot of fun but sometimes it’s almost too fun and you forget to keep track of the score.
Having a scoreboard will help to prevent that from happening.
There are several different types of scoreboards you can get. Some will attach to your cornhole board on the back while others are free-standing boards, which often come with convenient drink holders.
6. Know the rules
Cornhole rules are very easy to learn and understand but a lot of people don’t ever take the time to learn some of the basic rules and concepts like what a pitching box is or what happens when a bag hits the ground and then lands on the cornhole board.
It’s a good idea to at least have one person you can consult who knows the rules so that you can have a smooth game experience.
You can read more about the cornhole rules here.
7. Attach a string to your board
Many people now measure out a 27 foot string (or 24 foot) and then attach the string to the inside of one of the cornhole boards so that they can easily measure out the distance between the cornhole boards.
8. Play with tailgate-sized boards (if needed)
Sometimes you might be a little pressed for space.
Regulation cornhole boards are 2 feet by 4 feet and they can be bulky and take up a lot of space.
For many people, getting a regulation-sized cornhole board can present problems with storing and transporting the boards. And if they have to play in a small venue, the boards can be a bit of a problem.
9. Level the playing field
If you’re not playing on a level surface then the boards might be prone to wobbling or shaking which can get annoying and affect your game play.
10. Play on a soft surface
Playing on grass or another soft surface is usually ideal because it allows the board to sink into the ground just enough to help absorb some of the shock when you toss your bags.
Sometimes playing on hard surfaces like asphalt or concrete can create a bounce on the board that can mess up your game.
The solution is to put down a towel underneath your boards to soften up the ground and mimix the effect of grass.
11. Use your natural cornhole technique
A lot of experienced cornhole players toss their cornhole bags with a nice spin that cuts down on crosswinds affecting the throw and also slides nice into the cornhole.
They also usually have certain grips and toss their bags with a specific form, such as while taking a step with the leg opposite their throwing hand.
This is a great approach if it works for you but I’ve seen successful cornhole players with vastly different throwing techniques.
Thus, it’s best for you to go with whatever throwing approach feels the most natural to you and is the most effective.
Don’t ruin your game if you struggle to put a good spin on your bags and just focus on getting the bags in the cornhole or as close to it as possible.
12. Keep the playing surface smooth (but not too smooth)
Your cornhole board should be smooth and sanded. Try to use a nice finish on your boards to give it a smooth surface that will allow the cornhole bags to slide.
13. Get brackets
If you’re playing with a group of people consider printing our cornhole brackets to makes things a little more competitive (and organized).
14. Avoid sandals or flip flops
If your throw involves a step (which many do) you run the risk of sliding in your sandals or flip-flops which obviously is not going to help your game.
So consider just wearing regular shoes (or no shoes) when playing cornhole.
And please, don’t be the person to stand on the board, regardless of what you have or don’t have covering your feet.
15. Drinking games
It’s no secret that cornhole is a great game to enjoy while enjoying a cold one.
But there are a few different type of drinking games that you can play while playing a game of cornhole.
It’s a great way to get more people involved with cornhole and to lighten things up a bit so that the atmosphere doesn’t get too competitive.
16. Get cornhole lights
There’s no reason that you should put down the cornhole after the sun sets since there are cornhole lights that you can purchase and attach to your cornhole boards.
Some of these lights only fit around the inside of the cornhole while others can be attached to the perimeter to the board.
These do require nails/screws to attach but installation is easy and these battery-operated lights can be a great way to extend game play well into the night.
17. Play in cornhole tournaments
You can find cornhole tournaments just about anywhere.
These are great ways to hone in your cornhole skills and get some competitive experience.
But they are also great opportunities to meet people as many of the tournaments can be low-key and a great place for socializing.
18. Have the right wardrobe
Try to avoid baggy shorts or pants especially if they have pockets or other things sticking out because they could affect your toss as you swing your arm through to release the cornhole.
I’m not saying you need to be wearing tights and most baggy clothes have gone out of style over the past couple of years, so this won’t be a major issue for many people, but just keep it in mind.
Final word
These tips should help your games run a little smoother and hopefully improve your game over the long-run.
The key to getting better is obviously practice but some of these tips should allow you to also have bit more fun as you continue to strive to get better.