Tossing the bag

This week let's head to the park, or backyard for some bean bag tossing fun.

The game goes by several names including Cornhole, so named because players take turns throwing bags of corn at a raised platform with a hole in the far end. A bag in the hole scores three-points, while one on the platform scores one point. Play continues until a team or player reaches the score of 21.

Other names for the game include the bean bag toss "Bean Bag Game", corn toss, baggo or bags. The version I have to review is a bean bag version available locally at Peavey Mart.

The game obviously owes a lot in its genesis to horseshoes. The game borrows a similar scoring system, and the throwing at a pair of targets of course reminds of tossing shoes at a peg.

There are rules which appear somewhat standard for the game. There are four bags to a set, and the bags should weigh 14 to 16 ounces.

Each platform is 2 ft x 4 ft, with a 6-inch hole centered 9 inches from the top. That appears pretty standard in terms of the target area in searching the Internet, but the version I have has a 7.5-inch hole, so variation remains between versions.

Each platform should be angled with the top edge of the playing surface 12 inches above the ground, and the bottom edge 3-4 inches above the ground. A regular court places the holes 33 ft apart, or 27 ft between the bottoms of the platforms.

In singles play each player delivers all four bags, tossing alternating between combatants. Once all the bags are thrown players cross the pitch, tally points and throw them back at the initial target.

Doubles have the same general format, but your teammates throw them back.

There are some very good reasons for its popularity starting with easy rules and while requiring skill to be good at it, the physical exertion is limited allowing young players to enjoy the game (they toss from a shorter distance), and for seniors to continue playing the game.

Well having played horseshoes on and off since I was young, my father being an avid player in his retirement years, it remains the tossing game requiring the greatest level of skill and strength, the shoes being hefty, and requiring a precise turn in flight to have a chance at a ringer.

I'll add Quoits, which I have not played is probably the equal of horseshoes for skill and strength needed.

Washers is difficult because the washers do seem prone to wind influence, and landing one in the tube for maximum points is very precise shooting.

Bean bag toss, with the large one-point scoring platform makes getting into the game easy, and with less skill.

But the easier elements of bean bag toss are also the game's greatest attribute as it opens the door to more players.

The game is also affordable, with a nice board which transports rather compactly for what is involved, like the one from Peavey Mart can be had for under $100, and if put away so the elements don't damage the boards, should last a long time for family use.

You can learn more about the game as a sport/recreation at www.americancornhole.com

If anyone is interested feel free to contact [email protected]