Cornhole
Cornhole is a lawn game in which players take turns pitching cornhole bags—cotton duck bags filled with feed corn—at a raised platform with a hole in the far end. These platforms are usually made with plywood or occasionally plastic, and are often decorated. A corn bag in the hole scores 3 points, while one on the platform scores 1 point. Play continues until a player reaches the score of 21.
Rules
Platform size and layout
Regulation platforms measure 4 feet (1.2 m) × 2 ft (0.6 m)[1]. However, standard tailgating platforms usually measure 3 feet (0.9 m) × 2 ft (0.6 m)[2], but may vary. The height of the back end is 12 inches (30.5 centimeters) from the ground while the height of the front end can vary from 2½ to 4 inches. The Cornhole platforms are set 33 feet from the inside edge of each hole (the 6 inch diameter holes are centered 9 inches in from the back) while the player can stand anywhere from no further than the back of the platform but not any closer than the front of the platform. Additionally, there must be 12 feet of vertical clearance above the playing area.[1]
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. 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.
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.[1]
Scoring
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 cancellation scoring, bags that fall in the hole and bags that land on the board that are pitched by opponents during a frame cancel each other out. That is, if one player scores four points and the other player scores three points, the first player receives one point for the inning.[1]
Length of the game
A cornhole match is played until the first player or team reaches or exceeds twenty-one points at the completion of an inning. However, many play by the rule that states if a player or team goes over twenty-one, they go back to the amount they started with at the beginning of the last round. The match usually can not end in the middle of an inning. Thus, if a team that pitches first reaches or exceeds twenty-one points, the game does not end until the other side is allowed to pitch all of their bags and the inning is completed. [1]
Terminology
The following is a list of terms commonly used in a cornhole game :
- Air Mail or Swish
- A bag that goes directly in the hole without touching the board. [3][4]
- Ace or Cow Pie
- A bag lands on the board, which is worth one point.
- Cornhole or Drain "O"
- A bag falls in the hole, which is worth three points.
- Slider
- A cornhole that slides into the hole.
- Blocker
- An ace that lands in front of the hole, essentially blocking the hole from sliders.
- Back Door
- A cornhole that goes over the top of a blocker and into the hole.
- Hanger
- An ace on the lip of the hole ready to drop.
- Honors
- The team who tosses first, resulting from the team scoring last.
- Dirty Bag
- A bag that is on the ground or is hanging off the board touching the ground.
- Sally or Corn Patty
- A toss that is thrown too weakly and lands on the ground before reaching the board.
- Gusher or Double Deuce
- Four cornholes by a single player in a single round.
- Skunk
- A game that, by some rules, ends in an 11-0 score.
- Backstop
- A bag that lands past the cornhole but remains on the board creating a backboard for a slider to knock into without going off the board.
- Jumper
- A bag that strikes another bag on the board causing it to jump up into the cornhole.
- Hooker
- A bag hitting the board and hooking or curving around a blocker and going on the hole.
- Cornfusion
- When players or teams cannot agree on the scoring of a given inning.
- Police
- The cornhole referee.
- Shucker
- When a player pitches a bag and it strikes an opposing players bag knocking it off the board.
History
The true history of the game is unknown, though stories abound. Some people claim that one their ancestors invented it,[5] but none of these stories have been substantiated. One story claims that the game was first played during the 14th century in Germany, then rediscovered in Kentucky within the last century.[6] Despite debate about whether the game was actually created in the Kentucky farmland or the West Side of Cincinnati,[7] some sources credit the invention to western Cincinnati,[8] but by who or when is unknown.
References in the media
During his February 6, 2007, episode of The Colbert Report on Comedy Central, Stephen Colbert mentioned a cornhole tournament that takes place each year in Ohio's 18th Congressional District, with the District and its Representative Zack Space being the focus of the segment. Colbert described the game as a "cross between horseshoes and sodomy,"[9] jokingly referring to the more widely known connotation of "cornhole".[10] The music video for the 2005 Korn single "Twisted Transistor" references cornhole. The video is made in a Spinal Tap-esque manner, stating near the end that lead singer Jonathan Davis went down in music history after writing, directing and starring in a rock opera, known as "Korn Hole".
See also
- American Cornhole Organization, an organization that promulgates rules for cornhole and sanctions cornhole leagues and tournaments.
- Horseshoes, a game similar to cornhole.
- Ladder golf, another lawn game.
- Lawn game, a list of other lawn games.
References
- ^ a b c d e "ACA Official Rules of Cornhole". Retrieved 2008-09-13.
- ^ http://www.donkeyballgame.com/article.cfm/id/276776
- ^ "Cornhole Lingo". Retrieved 2008-09-16.
- ^ Shauna Scott Rhone. "By any name, game's appeal spreading quickly". Retrieved 2008-10-10.
- ^ Jim Butts. "Amounting to a hill of bean bags". The Daily Iowan. Retrieved 2008-11-16.
- ^ Helen Bebbington. "Cornhole Classic set at Nutter Center". Dayton Daily. Retrieved 2008-11-16.
- ^ Tannen Gliatta. "How to: play Cornhole". The BG News. Retrieved 2008-11-16.
- ^ Catharine Schaidle. "Cornhole tournament is in the bag". Journal Star. Retrieved 2008-11-16.
- ^ http://www.colbertnation.com/the-colbert-report-videos/81832/february-06-2007/better-know-a-district---ohio-s-18th---zack-space
- ^ http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=cornhole
BecoBall (similar game to cornhole) http://www.becoball.com