HOW TO MAXIMIZE YOUR CHANCES TO THROW A CORNHOLE EVERY TIME!
There are a number things that you must do if you want to throw a Cornhole every time. Read on, if you are interested in what they are. With the right throw and some consistency the odds of throwing a Cornhole are in your favor. Throwing a Cornhole is a lot less of a science than it is an art. There is no question that the perfect arc and the perfect slide will make you a Cornhole every time. The trouble is in actually throwing your bags with that perfect arc and slide every time. Here are some tips that will help you on your quest.
One of the most important parts of the toss is having the right arc. If you have too much the bag won’t move once it hits the board. Too much arc also adds air time which leaves more room for error. If the bag starts off course by just a little, the longer it has in the air, the further off course it becomes. This sticking power might be helpful for the one pointer’s, but might make a Cornhole a little more difficult as you’ll see below. Too little arc and your Cornhole bags might just slide off the back of the board. The perfect arc lets your bags slide on the board without getting too far out of control.
If you use the boards slide to your advantage, you will make more Cornholes. Don’t be afraid of the bag sliding if you want to make a Cornhole. It simply gives you a bigger target. If you play on different boards, you will have to adjust to all sorts of playing services. Some boards are really slick, and on some boards the bags just stick no matter how flat your arc. You will have to adjust your arc to accommodate.
Take a look at the pic below to show how to use slide to your advantage. To add a little science, think of this. Do you think your odds are all that great that you will throw your bag right through that 6in hole? Do you think you might up your odds by aiming for somewhere up the middle of the cornhole boards and sliding your bag till it drops in the hole? Sliding your Cornhole bags is the key to making more Cornholes. You really have about 3ft of error room by sliding. If your bag hits 6in or 2ft before the hole it doesn’t matter. Either way you still have a chance to make the Cornhole if you are using the slide to your advantage. The only thing you have to do is keep it straight.
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6 THROWS YOU HAVE TO TRY!
If you haven’t really settled on the perfect throw yet, this list is for you. Even if you have, it can’t hurt to give the rest of these a try. Everyone is going to find one that works best for them. But if you don’t try them all for a throw or two, you might be missing out on your perfect fit. They all have their unique advantages. Some are affected more or less by wind. Some of the folds are dependent on the bags being made with the right amount of fill. In the end, it’s just going to come down to what feels right. Take a look and give them a try.
The Basic Fold
This seems to be the most popular throw among Cornhole enthusiasts in our neck of the woods. Basically you flatten the bag and fill out. Then you just fold the bag right in half with an even amount of fill in each half.
The Double Fold
With this fold, you hold the bag by one corner. Next you fold the corner without any fill over the corner holding all of the fill. Then you fold the bag in half with the other two corners.
The Pancake
With this throw the bag is flattened completely. It can then be thrown under hand while resting flat on your hand. The most popular way to throw the pancake is by spinning it like a Frisbee towards the hole while keeping it as flat as possible.
The Sling
To throw the Sling, you hold the bag by one corner with you index finger and thumb. You then sling (as the name suggests) the bag to the hole giving the bag backspin.
The Fling
This throw is similar to The Sling. However, you hold this bag by one edge rather than a corner. You then pitch the bag underhand giving the bag backspin.
The Overhead
This is the only overhead throw on the list. You could mix one of the above folds with this method. However, generally the bag is just held in a ball and sort of shot towards the hole. I will add that this is probably the least consistent throw that I have seen, although it does work for some.
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The positioning of the feet is paramount in athletic endeavors. Think of baseball, boxing or power lifting. The same applies to cornhole. While hitting a fastball or knocking someone out may not be your goal, getting that bag to stay on the cornhole boards certainly is. Success starts at the feet and continues with the pitch.
Staggered stance
Pointing the toes is a common tactic in throwing darts that provides optimal body alignment and increased hand-eye coordination. Therefore, start with the foot of your dominant--or throwing--side forward. Square up to the opposite board with the toes of the non-dominant foot roughly at the heel of the lead. Make the hole the center of your focus and you are ready to let the bag fly. Either an overhand or underhand release works with this position.
Bowling stance
For this approach, the foot of the non-throwing side is planted after one step is taken. The pitch is brought up from behind and incorporates the momentum into the toss, just like with bowling. This is typically executed with an underhand, palm up release. However, an underhand, palm down toss and works. Either way, the objective is the same as with the staggered stance: to square up and release with perfect unison of force and accuracy.
Hip thrust stance
The hip thrust or "potty shot" stance is seldom used, but when implemented achieves deadly accuracy. Think of young children learning to shoot a basketball. They squat down, hold the ball between their legs, then stand and release. The same action occurs with the hip thrust. Stand with feet shoulder-width apart and squared to the hole. Squat into position with the bag either between the legs or just off the knee of the throwing side. For this toss, the bag must be held palm down and released with the flick of the wrist, like a backhand in tennis. Rise up, snap the hips open and release the bag at eye level. The delivery may be awkward, but when the bag snaps onto the cornhole board, or better, into the hole, it is worth it.
Execution
Try all the variations of stances and find what works for you. Possibly a dart-throwing, hip thrust combo with an underhanded pitch might fit perfectly. Also, watch others and analyze the flaws in their form. Use their faults to perfect your own and implement an unspoken cadence or mental cue: Square, step, release. By the time your competition is frothily into their beverages all you will need to do is plant your feet, strike that perfect form, and then yell, "Hole!"
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Whenever I get together with friends to play cornhole we split into guys vs. girls. The inherent competition and the associated prowess for the gender that wins are obvious, but the subtle manipulations that take place between the sexes are less so. In a game such as cornhole, where sheer brute force does not equal superiority, these under-the-radar machinations become the deciding factor. Therefore, it is in each gender's best interest to examine the devices of the other. Here is a glimpse.
Thwarting Men
There are five areas of vulnerability that are common to the male cornhole player: tossing the bag with excessive force; concentrating on each toss (like with putting); becoming easily frustrated; cursing; and an unslakable desire to drink. For each there is a straightforward line of attack.
To offset the forcefulness of the throw, establish which male tosses the hardest and align him on the board with the most bounce. Most men will oblige a woman who asks “Could we switch so that I can watch my children?” Soon his bags will be ricocheting off the board leaving you open terrain to gently place yours.
To disturb the concentration simply speak loudly about a topic that is certain to get the male heated. Like sex. Or you could always offer a visual attention-grabber. Like something that relates to sex. Beer bottles come in handy. Honestly, how can he focus on the cornhole boards with that image dancing at the forefront of his thoughts?
For many athletes “getting inside the competitors head” is the pinnacle of dominance. The formula is simple. When a male misses a shot and curses his ability, agree with him and then reinforce the comment. For example, “You are a mess today. Something must be off. Are you feeling all right?” His ego will be bruised and his manhood called into question. Score one for the ladies.
Invariably men will curse. It is second nature when venting frustration, and if stifled, can cause an inability to shake a glitch. Therefore, if a male begins on a foul-mouthed tirade, ask him to clean up his language. This is a permissible request, especially if children are around. The task will consume much of his energy, and instead of telling the board to "F-off!", he will hold it in, and silently curse himself.
The men will want to drink after suffering all this manipulation, and the best way to exploit this situation is to get them drunk. Goad your competition into pounding for all those missed shots. Pretend to pound with them. Their pride will override their sensibility and soon they will be half in the bag.
If you implement these strategies in as cunning a manner as every woman should, in no time your competition will be watching his bag bounce erratically, will have lost his focus and his ability to vent his frustration, and will then most assuredly lose, to you.
Thwarting Women
There are five areas of vulnerability that are common to the female cornhole player: having difficulty reaching the board with her toss; chatting incessantly; dismissive behavior; child-watching; and improper placement of drinks. For each there is a method of counter assault.
If a woman cannot reach the cornhole board because of a lack of athleticism or strength, be chivalrous. Suggest that she take her shots from the Junior foul line (six feet in front of the board). This will appear like a kind gesture, but the guise will be revealed once you ridicule all shots from this distance, especially if she continues to miss. Embarrassment will ensue and any hope of success will be lost.
Women love to gab and this too can be used to your advantage. Much like with their distraction technique, insert a comment or question about a topic or individual that you know will get them incensed, and their chit-chat will evolve into an impassioned conversation across the field. They will lose focus on the game and become easy pickings.
When women make a mistake in a public setting they tend to "laugh it off". This saves face and is one of the double-standards that get under men's skin. Therefore, go with it. Laugh along. Laugh harder. Turn the transitional guffaw into a shining bolt of ineptitude. Confidence will erode before you catch your breath.
Women with children are on constant alert. If you are pitted against any mother, keep asking about her child. "Where did Johnny go?" "He's not going to climb that is he?" "How good is your health insurance?" Within moments the mother will be screaming her child's name and will have forgotten that she is playing a game.
Women tend to place their drinks off to the side while playing. Mostly to free up their hands, but also because their drinks tend to be mixed concoctions or contained in special glasses. You now have an easy target. That drink will spill with an errant bag toss or an accidental kick. This will force the female to leave the game to refresh her drink. This allows for distraction from outside forces, such as children and gossiping friends. If she returns, her interest will no longer be on the game.
If you move slowly and seemingly out of pure innocence, you will raise no red flags. Women are always suspicious of men's intent, and cornhole is just another platform for their paranoia, so tread with caution. However, success can be yours if you watch for the cues and then strike accordingly.
Know Your Enemy
It is paramount in any battle to understand your opponent. It is not enough to watch the surface. You must also read the messages that swim beneath. Therefore, be on the lookout for these behaviors and the myriad ones that exist in various idiosyncratic forms. Your game will improve and your friends will thank you for it. But beware, the other half of the species is watching you, too.
