Cornhole, or corn bag (bean bag) toss, is one of the most loved American summer games. It goes very well with a tailgate, family gatherings, and BBQ parties. You may also see people playing cornhole in bars, camping trips, and in your office common rooms for some fun.
If you have heard about cornhole and never played a game before, and are wondering how far apart cornhole boards are, then you are at the right place. In this article, we will discuss the distance between cornhole boards and how they are placed.
Distance between Cornhole Boards
Cornhole is often played in two variations
- Junior
- Adult
Let’ start with junior mode first.
Junior
According to the American Cornhole Association, the junior game is played with the boards 12-15 feet apart. You can place the boards anywhere in this distance. A 12-15 feet distance is ideal for little cornhole players. If you go beyond this distance, kids won’t be able to throw the bags near the board. A shorter distance than 12 feet can result in overthrows. Hence, a 12-15 feet range is the best and practical approach to set up a game for your kids. American Cornhole Association recommends the junior play line for children 12 and under.
Adult
For adults and players above 12, the boards must be 27 feet apart. This distance is also known as the adult foul line. By keeping the boards at least 27 feet apart, the game gets interesting. Cornhole bags are lightweight and can easily travel a distance of 27 feet and reach the hole on the board. You will notice that bags will sometimes go beyond the board while playing. It all depends on how you throw the bags. It is the regulation distance between the boards for a cornhole game.
So now that we know about the distance between cornhole boards, you must know the cornhole court layout.
Cornhole Court Layout
Court Length: The court length must be 40-45 feet. It means that the playing area must be at least 40 feet long. The board size may vary from one board to another. Hence, you must take it into account as well. A 40-45 feet long court will give ample space for pitcher boxes, players, and your companions.
Court Width: An 8-10 foot width is recommended for setting up a cornhole game. A cornhole board is 24 inches wide. You will need at least 2 feet of space for throwing corn bags from the pitcher box towards the opposite board. Considering this setup, a 6 feet width will work nicely too. However, 8-foot width is suggested.
Foul Line: It is an imaginary line parallel to the non-hole side of the board. You can also draw a line with chalk for strict rule compliance, but it is rarely needed for casual games.
Pitcher’s Box: Pitcher’s box is the area where players stand and throw the bags. An ideal pitcher box size is 4 feet long and 3 feet wide. The length of the pitcher box is equal to the length of the board. The players in each team will stand diagonally with the partners. The position can be exchanged after one inning of the game.
Board Placement: The two boards are placed exactly opposite to each other in a straight line. We recommend checking the alignment of boards with each other before starting the game. You can simply walk across the boards in a straight line to ensure they are opposite each other.
Is it necessary to follow the American Cornhole Association rules?
No. You don’t need to follow these rules to play individual games. You can play the game with a different set of rules, and court length like you play basketball, baseball, or soccer. What’s the charm in-game if you are not having some fun by keeping the boards 27 feet? Go ahead, place them 20 feet apart and have some fun.
However, if you want to enjoy the game in its true spirit, it is better to follow these rules. A tough game motivates you to play with all your effort and get some corn on the cob.
Final Words
Now that we know the appropriate distance between cornhole boards, you can always tweak it to have some fun. We believe that you are going to enjoy playing your next cornhole game.