How to Keep Score in Cornhole

One of the best things about the ever-popular game of cornhole is that the equipment, game play, and cornhole scoring system are all simple. In this post we’ll give you a full run-down on how to play cornhole and how to keep score like a pro! For more information on how to play, check out our complete guide to cornhole, which includes a section on cornhole rules.

Cornhole Set-Up: The Basics

Before we get into the nitty-gritty of cornhole scoring, you need to be sure that your cornhole court is prepared correctly. Two cornhole boards should be set up facing each other and directly aligned, 27 feet apart (front edge to front edge).

Both teams get four bags that are different colors or distinguishable in some other way. The goal of the game is to be the first team to score 21 or more points. How points are scored is discussed in the next section.

Earning Cornhole Points

Players toss one bag at a time, alternating with their opponent until both teams have thrown all of their bags. That’s eight bags per inning. Cornhole points are given as follows:

• Throw a cornhole (bag goes in the hole): 3 points
• Throw a bag in-the-count (bag lands on any portion of the board): 1 point
• Throw a bag out-of-the-count (bag lands anywhere else): 0 points

It is important to note that bags knocked in the hole during game play will count as a cornhole. Bags that land on the board but are knocked off will be a bag out-of-the-count and not score any cornhole points. These are important factors to consider when devising your cornhole tossing techniques.

Cancellation Scoring

Points are tallied at the end of each inning using cancellation scoring, meaning that points scored by both teams will cancel each other out.

For example, if Team A scores 5 points in the inning and Team B only scores 2 points, then the total points for that inning will be 3 points for Team A and none for Team B. Because Team A won the inning, Team A will be the first to toss in the next inning.

A game cannot end mid-inning. All players must have a chance to toss their bags before the final score is tallied.

Other Options for Scoring

How to keep score while playing cornhole is pretty simple, though some players choose to mix up the rules a bit with these different approaches to scoring. The following rules are optional if you want to make the game run longer or shorter, depending on the rule. For a whole new scoring system, try 5-Hole, the new cornhole game.

• Skunks: There are two ways to calculate a skunk game. Players can call a skunk when the score is 13-0 at the end of any inning. Or, a skunk could happen if one team scores 7 points in an inning and the other team does not score any points. If the game is a skunk, then the team with the most points wins.
• Play to 21 Exactly: The official rules state that a team must earn 21 points or more to win the game. However, some players choose to play an alternate version where the team must get exactly 21 points. If a team scores over 21 points, then that team reverts back to 13 points. Both teams continue play until one team has exactly 21 points at the end of an inning.
• Win by 2 or More Points: Some cornhole enthusiasts choose to play with the rule that the winning team must win by 2 or more points.
• Tie Breaker: If both teams are tied at 21 points at the end of an inning, play continues until one team has a higher score at the end of an inning.

Foul Play

Cornhole is pretty simple, but there are quite a few ways that a foul can be called, including some lesser-known cornhole rules. Possible causes for a foul include:

• Overstepping the foul line: Boards are set 27 feet apart and the front edge of the board is the boundary line for adult play. Stepping beyond the front of your board is grounds for a foul.
• Bag hits the ground: Bags that hit the ground and bounce onto the board are considered a foul and should be removed from the board so that they do not impede game play for the rest of the inning. Players may not re-toss foul bags.
• Foul bags disrupting other bags: If a foul bag (i.e. one that bounces onto the board) either knocks another bag off the board or into the hole, then the foul bag must be removed and the original bag must be returned to its scoring position.
• 20-second limit: Cornhole bags must be tossed within 20 seconds from the start of the inning or from the previous player’s toss. Players who fail to deliver within the 20 second time limit will receive a foul.
• Bag pitched by another player or from a different pitcher’s box: The rules of cornhole state that cornhole bags must be pitched by the same player from the same pitcher’s box from the start of each inning. Players may swap out between innings, but whoever starts an inning must finish it or else a foul will be called.
• Bag removal from cornhole court: Any player who removes bags from the court prior to the end of an inning will have all of their bags declared foul from that inning.
• Dropped bags: Cornhole bags dropped by a player prior to pitching are not considered a foul and may be retrieved and pitched with no penalty.

Scoring Terminology

Now that you know all about how to keep score like a pro, here are some essential terms to make you sound like a pro too!

• Corn On The Cob: When a player puts every bag on the board
• Cornhole, Holer, Corn in the Hole: A bag that ends up in the hole (3 points)
• Dos Cornholes: Throwing two bags in the hole
• Get that corn outta my face!: A term used whenever you successfully counteract your opponent’s attempt to score. For example, when you put a bag in the hole immediately after your opponent does or when you successfully knock your opponent’s bag off the board
• Holy Moly Triple Cornholy: Throwing 3 bags in the hole
• Nothin’ But Corn: When a bag is tossed right through the hole without touching the board
• The Great Cornholio: A person that throws 4 bags in the hole. All present are required to bow down in reverence to this cornholer
• Woody, Boarder: A bag that ends up on the board (1 point)

Tools That Make Scoring Easier

If you are hosting a cornhole tournament, you’ll probably need an official way to track the score. Even unofficial cornhole events can benefit from a little scoring assistance, especially if adult beverages are involved!

There are plenty of options to choose from. Custom Corntoss has a score tower and score strips to attach to the cornhole boards (you can find these scoring tools with the other accessories in our shop). Other cornhole fanatics use a scoring koozie or a cornhole scoring app. Pick whatever keeps the game moving.